Where To See The Most Beautiful Wisteria In Tokyo

It’s purple season again! Yes, the wisteria are blooming, and (did you even have to ask?) of course Japan has over-the-top displays of the good purple stuff. Peak season is mid-April to mid-May, so get thee to these spots right now to see the most eye-popping ones around…

ASHIKAGA FLOWER PARK

I admit that even if you totally stretch the definition of suburb, this park isn’t actually in Tokyo, but it’s so amazing, it would be wrong if I didn’t tell you to hop on a train and daytrip it if you can.

Getting to Ashikaga Flower Park without a car takes about 2.5 hours by train. To get there, plug your nearest station into the Train Finder or download a free Japan Travel mobile app to your phone (I use Navitime Japan Travel) with Ashikaga Flower Park Station as the destination.

Open: Every day, 9:00-21:00 from mid-April to the end of May

Admission: ¥1700 for adults

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HITACHI SEASIDE PARK

While you’re out near Ashikaga, a little further northeast is Hitachi Seaside Park, where the Baby Blue Eyes are also in full bloom. Conveniently close to the rolling hills of blue is an amazing display of wisteria:

Open: 9:30 – 17:00, closed Mondays

Admission: ¥410

Hitachi Seaside Park is about three hours northeast of Tokyo, near Mito. To get there, plug your nearest station into the Train Finder or download a free Japan Travel mobile app to your phone (I use Navitime Japan Travel) with Ajigaura Station as the destination. There’s a free shuttle bus that runs every nine minutes between Ajigaura Station and the park.

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Of course, you don’t have to go that far to see wisteria extravaganzas. There are quite a few awesome displays right in Tokyo. For example…

KAMEIDO TENJIN SHRINE

Dishing up masses of purple flowers since Edo-era artists were inking their woodblocks (see below), the Kameido Shrine has acres and acres of the stuff. It all blooms at once, and…well, see for yourself.

Open: Every day, no closing hours. Lit up until 24:00

Admission: Free

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HIE SHRINE

Smack in the middle of boring, corporate Akasaka, there’s a venerable island of shrine greatness. The Hie Shrine sits on a hill by itself, magnificently attired in red and gold.

Open: 5:00-18:00

Admission: Free

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NISHI-ARAI DAISHI TEMPLE

In the north end of Tokyo, Nishi-arai Daishi Temple is famous for its peony garden (which, if you’re lucky, will still be in bloom) but it also has an impressive pair of giant wisteria plants

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These next places have lovely displays of wisteria, set in gorgeous gardens.

KORAKU-EN

Open: Every day, 9:00-17:00

Admission: ¥300

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 HAMA-RIKYU GARDEN

View-worthy wisteria grows in two separate places at this huge stroll garden

Open: Every day, 9:00-17:00

Admission: ¥300

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KYU SHIBA-RIKYU GARDEN

This garden is always uncrowded, even though it’s right next to Hamamatsucho Station. Although it just has one trellis of wisteria, it’s an especially nice one, and the peonies and early iris are also in full bloom right now. A stroll through the deep green of this exquisitely-designed garden is always soul-restoring.

Open: Every day, 9:00-17:00

Admission: ¥150

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The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had