Just as Beautiful: 8 Places to See Wisteria Blooms in Japan

Japan is renowned for its cherry blossoms. In fact, Japan is often called the 'Land of Sakura' or 'Land of Cherry Blossoms.' However, did you know that there's another flower that's just as stunning as cherry blossoms? Yes, the flower in question is the wisteria, another breathtaking bloom that can be found across Japan. 

Wisteria is one of Japan’s native ornamental plants. It comes in many colors, such as purple, white, pink, and blue. Similar to cherry blossoms, wisteria also comes in various types, each with unique characteristics. Some have large petals, while others are smaller. 

This ornamental plant is challenging to care for, making it rare to find and relatively expensive. However, this is worth it due to the beauty of its cascading blooms when the plant is successfully grown and well-maintained.

If you're planning a trip to Japan and have seen cherry blossoms too often, check out our eight must-visit spots where you can admire the mesmerizing beauty of wisteria!

Kawachi Fujien (Fukuoka)

Kawachi Fujien is a wisteria flower park covering an area of 3,300 M2 and featuring two wisteria tunnels. This park also features maple trees that enhance its beauty in certain seasons. To reach this park, you can take a bus and head to Kamishigeta. Next, continue by foot for 45 minutes until you arrive at the park. Kawachi Fujien is open to the public from late April to early May, from 8 AM to 6 PM.

Ashikaga Flower Park (Tochigi)

Ashikaga Flower Park is very popular in Japan, known for showcasing not just one type of flower but a variety of blooms that change with the seasons. To experience the beauty of wisteria, you can visit this flower park between mid-April and mid-May.

To access this park, you'll need to transfer and change trains several times from Tokyo Station. First, you can take the Yamanote Line to Ueno Station and then transfer to the Utsunomiya Line to Oyama Station. Next, take a train on the Ryomo Line to Ashikaga Flower Park Station. From the final station, you'll only need to walk for 190 meters to reach the park.

Kaimeido Tenjin Shrine (Tokyo)

During wisteria season, the bridge and several areas around this temple will be adorned with beautifully cascading wisteria flowers. To reach this park, you can take the Yamanote Line at Tokyo Station to Akihabara Station. Then, board on the local Chūō-Sōbu Line to Kameido Station. From there, you'll only need to take a 1-kilometer walk to the shrine.

Hajima no Fuji (Tokyo)

This place offers a unique view of wisteria flowers, as the plants are estimated to be 800 years old. To get to this park, take the Chūō Line from Tokyo Station to Tachikawa Station. Then, continue by bus from Tachikawa-eki Kita-guchi to Haijima Daishi. From there, from there it’s just a 130-meter walk to reach the location.

Mandara-Ji Temple (Aichi)

Mandara-Ji Temple is another temple with a garden featuring wisteria plants that will bloom beautifully during its season. Wisteria flowers featured here come in various types, with one variety growing up to 75 meters long. To reach this temple, you can take the Inuyama Line from Meitetsu Nagoya Station to Konan Station. Next, continue by bus from Ichinomiya Station via Higashino and Oyamacho from Konen Station to Kochino-guchi. From there, it’s a 1.2 kilometer walk to the temple.

Jindai Botanical Garden (Chofu)

Jindai Botanical Garden showcases a diverse collection of flowers, ensuring a beautiful display year-round, including wisteria flowers. To get here, take the Yamanote Line from Tokyo Station to Akihabara Station, then transfer to the local Chūō-Sōbu Line to Kichijōji Station, and continue by bus to Jindai Botanical Garden.

Koshikawa Korakuen (Tokyo)

Koshikawa Korakuen holds regular events scheduled throughout the year according to the blooming season of each flower. If you want to experience the beauty of wisteria, you can visit in late April. It's very easy to access this garden, especially when you're already at Tokyo Station. You'll only need to walk for 3 kilometers to the garden.

Kasama Inari Shrine (Ibaraki)

This temple is home to wisteria plants that are around 400 years old. They have light purple color and will bloom between late April and May every year. To reach this temple, you can take the Yamanote Line from Tokyo Station to Ueno Station, then take the Jōban Line to Tomobe Station. From there, take the Mito Line to Kasama Station and walk 1.5 kilometers.

These are some places in Japan you can visit to experience the beauty of wisteria. Simply choose the one that is closest to where you'll be staying. However, before you finalize your plan, make sure to protect your journey with Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia. This insurance provides protection against various risks, such as flight delays, canceled flights, lost items, and illness during travel.

With our protection, you can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you're covered against unforeseen risks and expenses. So, don't forget to secure your trip today!