7 stunning places to see spring flowers in Japan

For those keen to get away from it all during Golden Week (a series of national holidays in Japan when families and friends often take time off to travel together), nothing beats a nature-based trip. And with this huge annual holiday coinciding with spring, Japan’s bountiful and beautiful flower parks are the perfect choice.

From fields of moss-pink (also known as moss phlox) stretching towards the foot of Mount Fuji, to a breathtakingly beautiful 160-year-old wisteria tree, here are the seven most spectacular places to visit in Japan for spring.

Just an hour and 20 minutes’ drive from Tokyo (and a little longer by train), Ashikaga Flower Park is a captivating wisteria wonderland with a festival held each spring. The park is open year-round, with different flower varieties (there are also around 1,000 azaleas) blooming at different times. Stroll through whimsical blossom tunnels where the wisteria (fuji in Japanese) dangles through arched wooden trellises; from an 80-metre-long white wisteria walk to a tunnel that goes over a bridge and others that bloom bright yellow, violet, blue and pink.

Some of the wisteria are illuminated in the evenings, including the biggest attraction of all – the 160-year-old Great Wisteria Tree (or ofuji). Surrounded by water that reflects the petals and with a canopy that covers 1000 square metres, it’s a magnificent sight. Head back to Tokyo and spend the night at MIMARU TOKYO GINZA EAST, close to the train station.

The huge, photogenic Hitachi Seaside Park sits on the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, and is famous for its nemophila flowers (also called baby blue eyes). Blooming in spring – usually peaking in mid-April to early May – they cover the undulating hills in an azure hue that blends with the sea and sky to spectacular effect. Come summer, sunflowers, poppies and roses provide striking colour. In autumn, a carpet of round kochia bushes (summer cypress) turns the hills from lime green to flaming crimson.

Even in winter, Japanese plum trees bloom yellow and pink. Hike the trails that wind through the forest or hire a bike to explore nearly 11 kilometres of cycling paths. The park has wheelchair accessible-paths and there’s a little train that travels the perimeter stopping at numerous locations. For added thrills, check out the amusement park with rides including a roller coaster and a ferris wheel that provides a panoramic view of the park and sea. Round off the perfect day out with a picnic in the BBQ area. Stay a short drive from the park at the highly rated HOTEL R9 The Yard Hitachinaka.

Hitsujiyama Park is a national treasure located not far from Tokyo, on a hilltop just above the city of Chichibu. Watched over by the peak of Mount Bukō and surrounded by cedar forest, its flowering moss (or shibazakura)-filled meadows turn into a sea of pink, lilac and mauve in spring. From around mid-April to early May, this magnificent sight attracts droves of tourists and locals alike.

Over 400,000 of these dainty, delicate flowers have been planted in patterns around the rolling fields to create a beautiful floral display that is particularly dazzling in the sunshine. Check into the peaceful Shomarutoge Garden House, just 23 minutes away from the park by car and with a splendid view of Tokyo in the distance.

Only about three hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen plus regular train or bus, the small city of Tonami is home to an incredible tulip park of the same name. And the annual Tonami Tulip Fair (coinciding with Golden Week 2023) is an unmissable event. For two weeks, the fair showcases the park’s three million tulips, precisely planted in rows of vivid reds, oranges and yellows like a rainbow.

And be sure to check out the tulip-shaped observation tower. From here, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the entire park – There’s also a pond in which sculpted flower beds float, a small river running through the park, pretty waterwheels, bridges and walking paths that criss-cross the fragrant fields. Stay in a traditional Gassho-style Japanese building at the highly rated Guesthouse Kazura, a 25-minute drive away.

With snow-capped Mount Fuji forming the surreal backdrop and fields of vibrant moss phlox stretching towards the horizon, the Fuji Shibazakura Festival is an unmissable spring spectacle. It takes place in the beautiful Fuji Five Lakes region, which lies at the foot of the mighty volcano. The festival runs from 15 April to 28 May but the best time to see the flowers in full bloom is usually the first three weeks of May – perfect timing for a Golden Week trip.

Browse festival stalls selling pink moss in small pots, and all manner of flower-themed souvenirs. You can also try and take home some gourmet local food and produce – the Mt. Fuji Delicious Foods Festival happens at the same time, celebrating some of the best local cuisine like Fujinomiya yakisoba. Check into Hotel Asafuji for lake views and onsen (hot spring baths).

On the sparsely populated and spectacular island of Hokkaido, Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park is another great place to see moss-pink. Every year, mid-May sees an entire hillside of this enormous park erupt into a bright shade of fuschia, with a matching pink torii gate at the top of the slope. This gate marks the entrance to the park’s Yamatsumi Shrine, dedicated to the Shintō deities of the mountain.

There’s also an observatory with fantastic views of the surrounding landscape, a go-kart course, a pond where you can fish for yamame (a type of trout) and a campsite. If you’d prefer a luxe, indoors stay, the Hokuten no Oka Abashiriko Tsuruga Resort has its own open-air hot-spring baths and is only a half-hour drive from the park.

The historic Nishiyama Park on the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture was founded in 1856 by a local feudal lord as a recreational space for the general public. These days, it attracts visitors from far and wide for its resplendent natural beauty; from 1,600 maple trees that turn fiery red come autumn, to 1,000 cherry blossom trees that fill the air with pink petals come spring (usually peaking in early April).

But it’s the 50,000 azalea bushes coming into full bloom in early May that make the perfect attraction for a Golden Week holiday. Don’t miss the park’s traditional Japanese garden with a koi fish pond, or the observation deck where you can see as far as the Hakusan Mountains. Stay at the highly rated Dormy Inn Fukui Natural Hot Spring, just a half-hour drive or train ride from the park.