11 Great Locations to Enjoy Wisteria Arbour in Japan

Japanese wisteria mesmerize people by its mysterious beauty and fragrance. Long strings of flowers in various colors are treat for eyes and souls especially when they are witnessed in great locations. Here listed are the popular sites to enjoy tunnels of wisteria for reasonable cost in a town or in a remote area. If you are to come Japan from mid April to early May, why don’t you enjoy wisteria in full bloom?

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1. Ashikaga Flower Park - Tochigi Prefecture

Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi is one of the best places to view wisteria in Japan. Various flowers give miscellaneous colors to the park year-round and over 350 wisterias among them is main attraction from mid April to mid May. Including grand wisteria aged over 130 years or 80m-long tunnel of white flowers, there are varieties of feasts for they eyes. It is conveniently situated within 90 minutes distance by a car or a train from the metropolitan area, thus is crowded in a peak period. 13 minute-walk from JR Tomita station.

HP: www.ashikaga.co.jp/english/index.html

HP: www.ashikaga.co.jp/chinese/index.html (中文)

Address: 607 Hasama-cho, Ashikaga-shi, Tochigi (Google Map)

2. Kameido Tenjin Shrine - Tokyo

Kameido shrine, conveniently located in the east of metropolitan area has been renowned as a great wisteria viewing-spot from the Edo-period. Flowers of over 100 trees bloom from late April in the ground open to public for free. During the wisteria festival in peak period, night illumination and many stalls also give fun. 15 minute-walk from JR Kameido station on Sobu Line or Subway Kinshicho station on Hanzomon Line.

HP: kameidotenjin.or.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 3-6-1 Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo (Google Map)

3. Yokosuka Shobuen - Kanagawa Prefecture

If you’d like to enjoy quiet stroll, how about considering Yokosuka Shobu-en within 2 hours-distance from Tokyo and 1 hour from Yokohama? The park featuring iris or Shobu in Japanese in June offers pleasant walkways in May with 250 wisterias of 11 varieties. The tunnels without trellis enable you to enjoy flowers at eye-level. Take JR Yokosuka Line to Kinugasa station, then a Keihin express bus to Shobu-en stop, and walk for 2 minutes.

HP: www.ryokukazouen.jp/iris/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 18-1 Abekura, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa (Google Map)

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4. Mandaraji Temple - Aichi Prefecture

An ordinary temple in the north of Nagoya turns into stunning place with about 60 wisterias of 12 varieties between late April and early May. Well-maintained gorgeous flowers, night lit-up, stalls, and other flowers such as azalea and peony attracts crowd of visitors afar. It takes about 25 minute from Meitetsu Nagoya station to Konan station, and you take bus from the station to Mandara-ji. It’s 2 minute-walk from the stop.

HP: www.aichi-now.jp/spots/detail?spot_id=180

HP: www.aichi-now.jp/?language=3 (中文)

Address: 202 Tera-machi, Maehibo-cho, Konan-shi, Aichi (Google Map)

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5. Tennogawa Park - Aichi prefecture

The park located in the west of Nagoya is the remnant of the surrounding areas which used to be renowned as the great spot for wisteria viewing. The main attraction is 275m-long wisteria trellis spreads over canal with 114 trees of 12 varieties. The length of clusters varies from 15 cm to 200 cm. Best time is from late April to early May though it is crowded with people for its convenient location. It takes 25 minutes from Meitetsu Nagoya to Tsushima station and about 15 minutes walk from the station to the park.

HP: www.aichi-now.jp/spots/detail?spot_id=208

HP: www.aichi-now.jp/spots/detail?spot_id=208&language=3 (中文)

Address: 1 Miyagawa-cho, tsushima-shi, Aichi (Google Map)

6. Refresh Area Miyama no Sato Forest Garden - Wakayama Prefecture

Miyama-no-sato Park is located in the center of mountainous area in Wakayama. It offers the Japan's longest wisteria trellis (1,646m in length) and gives wisteria festival from late April to early May. The hiking trail suits for good walker and family with children for a pleasant day-hike as the park has athletic field as well. Access by car is reccomended.

HP: kanko.hidakagawa.jp/eng/

Address: 202 Ubuyugawa Hidakagawa-cho, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama (Google Map)

7. Byodoin Temple - Kyoto

Originally constructed as a retreat of powerful politician, Michinaga Fujiwara, the elegant temple is known for its scenic garden with a back drop of symmetrical main hall. The wisteria in the garden said to be over 250 years-old is currently recovering from the recent pruning but its long strings of flowers still looks wonderful. You can find lots of wisterias dotted in surrounding area as well. About 15 minute walk from JR or Keihan Uji station.

HP: www.byodoin.or.jp/ja/index.html (Japanese Only)

Address: 116 Ujirenge, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Google Map)

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8. Kasuga Taisha Shrine - Nara Prefecture

Wisteria is the monogram of the Fujiwara clan enshrined and you can find it everywhere in the shrine. And 200 wisterias of 20 species features Man'yo Batanical garden in the ground. Among lots of wisterias found within the precinct, Sunazuri-no-Fuji with long strings found by the main building is renowned for its grace.

HP: www.kasugataisha.or.jp/about/index_en.html

HP: www.kasugataisha.or.jp/about/index_ch-h.html (中文)

Address: 160 kasugano-cho, Nara-shi, Nara (Google Map)

9. Shirai Omachi Fuji Koen Park - Hyogo Prefecture

Situated on the boundary area between Hyogo and Kyoto, this park opens exclusively to enjoy wisteria in bloom. The precincts of 7,000m2 have 500m-long wisteria trellis in total which are lit up during wisteria festival in May. The opening period changes to flower condition. 6km by a taxi from JR Wadayama station.

HP: www.oomachi.info/flowering/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 1008 Shirai, Wadayama-cho, Asago-shi, Hyogo (Google Map)

10. Byakugoji Temple - Hyogo Prefecture

Located in the boundary area between Hyogo and Kyoto, Byakugo-ji is known for its scenic garden year-round. Long strings of purple flowers called "Kyushaku Fuji" from mid April to mid May is especially breathtaking. Over 100cm-long clusters make 120m-long fragrant curtains and they are lit up during wisteria festival. It takes 8 minutes by a taxi from JR Ichijima station on Fukuchiyama Line.

HP: www.byakugouji.jp/ (Japanese Only)

Address: 709 Ichijima-cho Byakugoji, Tamba-shi, Hyogo (Google Map)

11. Kawachi Fujien - Fukuoka Prefecture

Kawachi Fuji-en is a private garden exclusive for wisteria which opens only wisteria blooming season in late April and autumn foliage. This place is renowned for its attractive presentation of about 150 wisteria trees of 22 varieties in a 10,000 m2 garden. There are many attractions including 80m and 220m long tunnels consisting of various colors. You can enjoy pleasant walk or picnic here, though access with public transportation is not convenient. It's worth visiting!

Address: 2-2-48 Kawachi, Yahatahigashi-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka (Google Map)

The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

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