Searching for the best wisteria gardens in Japan? We’ve got the full list for you!
Wisteria, or fuji in Japanese, is as popular as sakura or cherry blossoms. Both trees produce colorful flowers, mostly in the spring months. Wisteria, however, has twining vines of flowers that often hang down to the ground, making them more dramatic.
In Japan, wisteria symbolizes love and longevity, that’s why you would see them often in arts, souvenirs, family crests, and formal kimonos. Wisteria festivals across Japan often take place in late April to mid-May when the flowers are in full bloom. This is the best time to visit wisteria tunnels in Japan!
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Where are the best wisteria gardens in Japan? Wonder no more. Check out our complete list!
1. Kameido Tenjin Shrine (Koto City, Tokyo)
One of the most famous wisteria gardens in Japan is found at Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Koto, Tokyo. This 350-year-old shrine is home to over 100 purple wisteria trees that bloom together. Every May, thousands of people watch them in full bloom in celebration of the Kameido Tenjin Shrine Wisteria Festival.
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2. Shindachijuku Wisteria Garden (Sennan City, Osaka Prefecture)
Located in Sennan City, Osaka Prefecture, Shindachijuku Wisteria Garden is not as flamboyant, but it’s definitely worth visiting if you are around the area. This hidden gem is located inside the residence of a local, the late Masahiro Kajimoto. He opened his garden to the public in the spring months every year and eventually became a local wisteria festival.
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3. Byodo-in Temple (Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture)
Byodoin Temple, a Buddhist temple built in the late Heian period (794-1185), is home to magnificent wisteria trees that never fail to bloom every spring. Located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, this wisteria viewing spot is popular among locals as it overlooks the Uji River.
4. Kawachi Wisteria Garden (Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
Wrapping our best wisteria gardens in Japan list is Kawachi Wisteria Garden in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. With over 150 wisteria trees of all colors and a 220-meter-long wisteria tunnel, Kawachi Wisteria Garden truly is one of the most iconic wisteria tunnels in Japan. Admission fee starts at 1,500.
5. Ashikaga Flower Park (Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture)
Ashikaga Flower Park in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture is home to almost 350 wisteria trees that are more than 150 years old, making it one of the best wisteria gardens in Japan. You can see all sorts of wisteria varieties here that produce flowers in rich pink, purple, white, and yellow colors. It’s also home to one of the prettiest wisteria tunnels in Japan that span 80 meters long. Don’t miss it! Admission fee starts at 600 yen.
6. Byakugou-ji Temple (Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture)
Byakugou-ji Temple in Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture has one of the best wisteria gardens in Japan, producing long, bountiful pink, blue, and purple flowers. Every mid-May, the temple celebrates its annual wisteria festival that’s worth checking out wherever you are in Japan.
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7. Shirai Omachi Fuji Park (Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture)
While you are in Hyogo, why not take a trip to Shirai Omachi Fuji Park in Asago City? Located on the slope of a mountain, Shirai Omachi Fuji Park definitely has one of the best wisteria gardens in Japan overlooking the park’s greenery, ponds, and fountains. Admission fee is 300 yen.
8. Tennogawa Park (Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture)
Tennogawa Park holds its annual Owari Tsushima Wisteria Festival every spring, showcasing colorful wisteria trees right within Maruike, an elliptical pond left by the Tenno River. Some of the hanging wisteria flowers create a reflection on the water, making it one of the best wisteria gardens in Japan. Better watch out for that lovely sight!
9. Mandaraji Temple (Konan City, Aichi Prefecture)
Mandaraji Temple and its nearby park hold the Konan Wisteria Festival in the spring months where 60 wisteria trees bloom in all their glory. The wisteria trees produce pink, red, white, purple, and blue flowers.
10. Kasuga Taisha Shrine (Nara City, Nara Prefecture)
The Kasuga Taisha Shrine and Kasuga Taisha Shinen Manyo Botanical Garden in Nara City have more than 300 wisteria trees spread across its 30,000-square-meter premises. Mesmerizing wisteria flowers drop down to the ground from some trees, measuring 1 meter long.
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