If you love watching the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom you’ll definitely want to see Wisteria in Japan. Read on to find out where to see Wisteria in Japan.
If “Japan” brings on images of Kimonos, gorgeous Cherry Blossoms and delicious Sushi, there is another popular sight that you cannot miss - The pretty and vibrant Wisteria!
Viewing the Wisteria and walking through the gardens can be a magical experience, something you must absolutely not miss, especially if you are visiting in April and May.
A word of advice: The Wisteria is known to be poisonous to animals, so take care if you are taking a pet along.
Read on to check out all the spots you can see the Wisteria in Japan:
Where To See Wisteria In Japan
Kaimeido-Tenjin Shrine (Tokyo)
Did you know that the Wisteria symbolises immortality and long life? This flower that blooms in the spring can live upto a 100 years. Like many Japanese symbols, the Wisteria also represents our consciousness that we keep expanding.
Tokyo is a city you are probably going to definitely visit on your trip to Japan, and it has one of the most visited Wisteria gardens in the country. If you are in Tokyo, walk through the Wisteria gardens at the Kaimeido-Tenjin Shrine.
As you step into the gardens and make your way on the Three Moon Bridges that lead to the main shrine, the Wisterias flanked by pink and red Azaleas make the perfect space to reflect on your past, present and future - something that the bridges represent.
These Wisterias bloom towards the end of April and are at their best during the month of May.
The 15th century Kaimeido-Tenjin Shrine is known to be a place where Japan’s students pray for academic success, so if you have a big exam or test coming up, you know where to go!
Location: 3 Chome-6-1 Kameido, Koto City, Tokyo 136-0071, Japan
Related: Things to do in Kochi Japan
Fujii-dera Temple (Osaka)
If you are visiting Osaka sometime mid April, check out the Wisteria in full bloom, in the Fujii-dera Temple. This is one of the temples on the Kansai Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage that many Japanese take in their lifetime.
During the Wisteria season, the Fujii-dera temple also showcases a sculpture, the famous Thousand-Armed Kannon. As this sculpture is placed for visitor viewing, the entire temple is donned by the purple Wisteria flowers, a perfect backdrop for this national treasure.
Enjoy the warm summer sun’s rays touch your skin and body as it makes its way through the lovely purple flowers as you walk under the Wisteria trees.
It’s considered good luck if you get tossed some o-mochi rice by the priests standing on top of a wooden tower during this celebration, so make sure you pay your respects and wish for something special!
Location: 1 Chome-16-21 Fujiidera, Osaka 583-0024, Japan
Related: Things to do in Ishigaki Island
Kawachi Fujien (Fukuoka)
The quick growing Wisteria is a long vining plant, and makes a very pretty arch to walk under. Many honeymooning couples make their instagram family go green with envy with romantic pictures snapped under these lovely purple and white flowers.
You can also join the group that is envied by visiting the popular botanical garden, Kawachi Fujien in Fukuoka, during the Spring months of April and May.
While the garden itself is not very big, I promise, you will spend at least an hour just looking around and taking in the mystical beauty of these flowers.
The huge tunnels that are formed by the flowers is where you will be transported to another world, and one where you will click a 100 photographs and have trouble settling on just one good angle.
The Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Gardens are very well known amongst tourists, so it might get pretty busy during the Spring, so make sure you book your tickets in advance and visit during the early hours when there might be fewer visitors.
Location: 805-0045 Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Yahatahigashi Ward, Japan
Mandaraji Temple (Aichi)
Aichi is a prefecture that is about 260 km from Tokyo, and a wonderful place to visit if you want to see the Wisteria. One of the places where you can experience this once a year wonder is in the Mandaraji Temple.
This Buddist temple is one many visit right through the year to let go of their worldly stresses and embrace the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. The well-maintained lawns and gardens have the Wisteria blooming as their crowning beauty once a year, during the last week of April, right until the second week of May.
Like everything unique to this temple, the Wisteria also blossoms in the rare green colours that you don’t get to normally see in most other parts of Japan.
It is believed that these trellises were laid almost 7 centuries ago, and every year and annual Wisteria festival is held by the temple, which attracts millions from across the world. The blend of this green with the purple and white flowers set in the serene temple ambiance makes this a heady experience.
Location: 202 Maehibocho Teramachi, Konan, Aichi Prefecture 483-8336, Japan
Manyo Botanical Gardens (Nara)
Nara is a prefecture in Japan, and a quick drive from Osaka. It’s a beautiful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities and a perfect day trip. While Nara is popular for one of the oldest shrines in Japan, it is also home to a garden of Wisteria.
For all the botanists and plant lovers, the Manyo Botanical Gardens is worth spending time in. With over 250 species of plants, you will go back with loads of knowledge.
Manyo has the Wisteria blooming from mid April until mid May, with the purple ones blooming first, followed by the white ones. Entry to the botanical garden is charged, and it’s a good idea to visit during a weekday when you will have lesser crowds and more time to let the spectacular sights sink in.
Location: 160 Kasuganocho, Kasuga Grand Shrine, Nara 630-8212, Nara Prefecture
Kasukabe Fujihana Garden (Saitama)
Kasukabe is a city in the prefecture of Saitama and home to the 1200 year old Wisteria tree.
If you are specifically making a trip to see the Wisteria, the historical Ushijima Wisteria is what is recommended, both for its history as well as its stunning beauty.
The Wisteria of Ushijima is very large, with the flower clusters measuring upto 2 metres long, making it seem like you are walking through a fairyland.
These are draped over trellises and as you walk through them you can feel the softness of the flowers caress your cheeks.
Every year there is an annual Kasukabe Wisteria festival that is held, with the main Wisteria attraction flanked by street performers, food stalls and musicians.
This is usually held during the last week of April, and one of the best times to be in Japan.
Location: 344-0004 764-2, Ushijima, Kasukabe-shi, Saitama Fujihana garden
Myofukuji Temple (Chiba)
If you are looking for a day trip out of Tokyo, Chiba is an interesting city to visit. About 40 km to the east of downtown Tokyo, Chiba has a small population and very fertile land.
This is evident in the Wisteria plants that were planted nearly 700 years ago in the Myofukuji Temple, that blooms beginning of May every year. This Buddhist temple is a vision of purity and Zen, and the Wisteria adds a lot of colour and vibrancy to it.
While most Wisteria around the country dies down by Mid May, the ones in Myofukuji temple go strong until the end of May. If you are visiting a bit late during the Spring, head here to not miss out.
Like many Wisteria gardens, this temple also has its maximum visitors during this season, so try and visit during the early hours of the morning or during a weekday.
Location: 1465 Myokencho, Choshi City, Chiba
Tennogawa Park (Aichi)
Aichi has another most visited Wisteria garden, the Tennogawa Park. Imagine stepping into paradise - that is the kind of jaw-dropping vision you will have when you step into this park.
The pergola stretches to 275 metres and is covered by the stunningly pretty purple and white Wisteria, dropping delicately along the sides. The flowers bloom between mid April and until the beginning of May.
The night view will have your heart skip a beat as the pond under the trellis reflects the lights in it like a million tiny stars, and the colours of the flowers over it.
This is also the time when the city gets really crowded with everyone wanting a piece of heaven, but it is well worth getting in. There are around 12 different varieties of Wisteria flowers housed in this park and over a 100 trees, making up the garden.
The Tennogawa Park is also a sought out venue for many events and festivals, and has witnessed quite a few wedding ceremonies in its lifetime.
Location: 496-0853 1, Miyagawa-cho, Tsushima-City, Aichi
Ashikaga Flower Park (Tochigi)
This park is located in Tochigi’s Prefecture in Ashikaga. It only takes up to 90 mins by train ride from Tokyo. Speaking about the flower park, it spans from 94000 square meters.
The Ashikaga Flower Park is renowned for its Great Wisteria and White Wisteria which appears from mid-April to mid-May. You will also find yellow wisteria in this flower park. It’s almost like a sunshine ray that glows on you when you look at it.
The most favorite purple wisteria is placed on top to give you a magical experience while walking through the park. It only takes 60 minutes to admire the flabbergasting view and you’ll enjoy every minute of it.
The park also uses lights that reflect on the wisteria flowers to make them look heavenly. You can take the most beautiful pictures here for your Instagram. This park features 11 different wisteria hotspots in various colors and you can experience them all at once.
The Ashikaga Flower Park is visited by 1.5 million visitors per year and is one of the most stunning wisteria spots in Japan. The park holds an event every year called ‘A Tale of The Wisteria’ between April and May. Make sure to visit the park during these months to encounter the most beautiful view of your life.
Byakugo-Ji Temple
This is one of the famous temples in Japan that has a long history of being an old temple in Tamba city in Japan. The temple is such a relaxing place to visit as it brings out a peaceful atmosphere. There you will find the ever-living wisteria flowers.
The wisteria flowers are known to have very long clusters and are called Kusahku Fuji that is 120 cm in length.
As known, they bloom during the months of April and May and the Byakugo-ji Wisteria Festival is held in these months. The temple has over 200 wisteria trees with different species that bloom fully during the spring season.
This temple has been the most favorite spot for botanists and visitors to admire the beauty of wisteria. There are several wisteria trees in this temple that are over 500 years old.
You’ll be able to witness wisteria trees in every corner here and I guarantee you, it’s the most beautiful site to admire these legendary flowers.
The wisteria flowers hang from the top and make it look like you’ve just arrived in heaven. You can enjoy the beautiful view along with the historical temple and take pictures which you can brag about for your entire lifetime.
Where To See Wisteria In Japan: FAQs
When can you see wisteria in Japan?
The wisteria season in Japan starts from mid-April and ends in mid-May and you can see them during this season.
Is there wisteria on Mount Fuji?
Although Fuji means wisteria in Japanese, there are no wisteria flowers on Mount Fuji due to very cold temperatures.
Where is the 200-year-old wisteria tree in Japan?
The 200-year-old wisteria tree in Japan is in Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi.
How many colors of wisteria can I see in Japan?
There are many colors of wisteria in Japan like purple, violet, white, pink as well as yellow in Japan. However, the most common color of wisteria are violet and purple.
Where can I see wisteria tunnels in Japan?
There are a number of wisteria tunnels in Japan, but one of the more popular ones is in Kameoka City in Kyoto Prefecture. It's called the Kameoka Wisteria Tunnel and is made of over 2000 vines. The tunnel is mostly purple, but it also has some pink, white and red blossoms dotting the sides.
The tunnel is around 60 meters long and about 4.5 meters tall. You can visit the tunnel from the end of March through the beginning of April, or in late April or early May.
Where can I see the best wisteria in Japan?
If you’re looking for the biggest and best wisteria, you have to go to Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Visit during the month of late April to early may for the best wisteria experience.
Which is the best season to see wisteria in Japan?
Wisterias bloom in the month of late April to early May in Japan. However, the blooming of wisteria highly depends on the temperature. Wisteria blooms when nights are cooler and days are fairly summer-like.
