Miho Shimizu is a Japanese freelance writer settled in Shizuoka with her husband and two rabbits. Fascinated with traveling at the age of 18, she has spent most of her long holidays exploring incredible spots around Japan. Also love to listen to music, draw, and read novels over a cup of green tea.
This post may contain some affiliate links. When you click through and make a purchase we may receive some commission, at no extra cost to you.
Spring is one of the most awaited and warmly welcomed seasons here in Japan. Temperate breezes, flourishing nature, and the relaxing of atmosphere of the season breathe new life into one’s soul and serve as a much-needed resting point for many after the long harsh Japanese winter. Spring in Japan is when the country’s diverse fauna reaches full bloom, in turn creating beautiful sceneries laced with flower beds that attract large crowds every year to see nature’s beauty in full.
To celebrate and get into the mood of the season, every year there are a number of spectacular flower festivals held in and around Tokyo, which are the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the iconic city grind. Without further ado, here are the 10 best flower festivals near Tokyo in 2024!
▼Book our Private Tour in Tokyo!
- 1. Freesia Festival (Hachijojima, Tokyo)
- 2. Poppy Festival (Poppy Happy Square, Saitama)
- 3. Flowering (Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki)
- 4. Azalea Festival (Tsutsujigaoka Park, Gunma)
- 5. Spring Festival (Keisei Rose Garden, Chiba)
- 6. Flower Festival (Showa Kinen Park, Tokyo)
- 7. Sakura Tulip Festival (Sakura Furusato Square, Chiba)
- 8. Misato Shibazakura Festival (Misato Shibazakura Park, Gunma)
- 9. Great Wisteria Festival (Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi)
- 10. Azalea Festival (Shiofune Kannonji, Tokyo)
- Japan Wonder Travel Tours
- Other articles you might be interested in
1. Freesia Festival (Hachijojima, Tokyo)
Located approximately 287 kilometers south of Tokyo, Hachijojima attracts numerous visitors all year round. This subtropical island boasts a mild climate as well as diverse natural beauty that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Hachijojima Freesia Festival is held every year between mid-March and early April when the temperature reaches that sweet spot of light sunny rays coupled with a gentle breeze. Enjoy taking a relaxing stroll around the scenic island that is beautifully covered with over 350,000 freesia blossoms. Freesia flowers come in a variety of colors including pink, red, yellow, purple, and white. This unique phenomenon creates a rainbow canvas that stretches across the entire island. Visitors are also able to pick a small bouquet of freesia flowers for free as a memorable gift to take home.
Date: March 23 (Sat) – April 7 (Sun) 2024
2. Poppy Festival (Poppy Happy Square, Saitama)
Poppy Festival is an annual festival that takes place from mid-May to late May at Poppy Happy Square in Saitama prefecture. From Tokyo Station, take the JR Takasaki Line and it is around a one-hour journey to JR Konosu station by train. From there, it is only a 10-minute walk to Poppy Happy Square. The festival welcomes visitors as Japan’s largest poppy fields stretch all down the banks of the Arakawa River with more than 30 million poppy flowers. It is a perfect getaway from the city, and one can spend a peaceful afternoon while admiring colorful poppy flowers and taking in the idyllic surroundings. On a sunny day, you can expect a great view of Mt. Fuji featuring a colorful flower carpet of poppy flowers. Admission is free, however, visitors can pick up some poppy flowers to take home for just ¥100.
Date: May 11 (Sat) – 19 (Sun) 2024
3. Flowering (Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki)
Perhaps one of the most infamous flower spots in Japan, Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki prefecture is a literal heaven for flower lovers. From late March through May, this large park fascinates visitors with gorgeous flower fields filled with a wide variety of unique and exciting flowers, unlike anything you have ever seen. Late May is the best time to enjoy narcissus flowers which come in white and yellow however no matter what time of the year you plan your trip, something beautiful will always be in bloom. If Tulips are your favorite flower, April is the best time to make a visit as that is when it is best to take pictures and take a stroll through the pastel blue nemophila flower fields that rest across the scenic hillside.
Date: Various different flowers in bloom from March to June
4. Azalea Festival (Tsutsujigaoka Park, Gunma)
Tsutsujigaoka Park in Gunma prefecture is well-known for the spectacular Azalea festival held every year from mid-April to mid-March. This festival attracts around 200,000 people every year and is really something out of this world! The festival is open to the public from 9 am to 4 pm, and the admission is only ¥630 per person. (There is also often a discount if you visit during the off-season when azaleas are not in full bloom.) Walking around the park will allow you to enjoy the beautiful display of 10,000 azalea flowers that represent over 50 different varieties of the bloom.
Date: April 10 (Wed) – May 10 (Fri) 2024
5. Spring Festival (Keisei Rose Garden, Chiba)
Nestled in Yachiyo city, Chiba prefecture, Keisei Rose Garden is a perfect spot to appreciate a variety of elegant roses. The rose garden is home to over 10,000 colorful roses of 1,600 varieties which are planted across the beautiful garden, making it the largest rose garden in the Kanto region. The Spring Festival generally starts around mid-April and continues for two months until mid-June. Admire the elegant displays of roses that have been shaped in a number of unique ways along with impressive art installations. Smaller garden spaces are also found throughout the garden which showcases not only roses but also a variety of other lush green plants and flowers in season. Don’t forget to try a flavorful rose tea or coffee served at a drink counter and make your sojourn to the festival a day to remember!
Date: April 20 (Sat) – June 16 (Sun) 2024
6. Flower Festival (Showa Kinen Park, Tokyo)
If you are looking for somewhere close by to enjoy spring flowers directly in Tokyo, why not check out Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa City! This vast park covers approximately 165 hectares which officially makes it the largest national park in Tokyo. Only a 40-minute train journey from central Tokyo by train, the park is home to a wide range of seasonal flowers and plants which offers breathing taking glimpses of stunning scenery that is particularly eye-catching in the spring. The Flower Festival at Showa Kinen Park typically starts in late March with about 1,500 beautiful Sakura trees blooming across the park. Tulips, Shirley poppies, and rapeseed flowers come out in early April as well and continue to trail off throughout the summer. Enjoy a picnic, flower picking, or cycling along the cycle paths with your family or friends while appreciating the colorful spring flowers!
Various different flowers in bloom from March to June
▼Check Out Our Private Tour in Tokyo!
Experience the best of Tokyo with a private custom tour, guided by a knowledgeable professional. Whether it’s culture, history, art, food, gardens, shopping, or something else entirely, we’ll tailor the itinerary to your interests and schedule. With tours lasting 4-10 hours, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the city at your own pace. For the ultimate comfort, we can even arrange for your own car and driver. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your time in Tokyo truly unforgettable. Book your custom tour now!
7. Sakura Tulip Festival (Sakura Furusato Square, Chiba)
Sakura Tulip Festival is held every April in Sakura City, Chiba prefecture. While it might seem a tad counterintuitive at first, here the word “Sakura” doesn’t refer to cherry blossoms, but to the name of the city where the festival takes place. Sakura Furusato Square is the main venue of the festival which boasts a breathtaking display of tulip fields filled with colorful tulip flowers. Over 600,000 tulips of 100 different varieties enchant the eye along with the symbolic Dutch windmill standing in the center of the park. Admission is free and the park is open from 9 am to 4 pm during the duration of the festival.
Date: March 27 (Wed) – April 21 (Sun) 2024
8. Misato Shibazakura Festival (Misato Shibazakura Park, Gunma)
Misato Shibazakura Festival is held from mid-April to early May at Misato Shibazakura Park in Gunma prefecture. During the festival, the 2.9 hectares of flower fields in the park are completely covered with approximately 260,000 moss phlox flowers. Admission is ¥310 for adults and ¥100 for elementary school students. Enjoy the beautiful white, red and pink patterns spreading across the park in a nebula of colorful moss phlox flowers!
Date: April 6 (Sat) – May 5 (Sun) 2024
9. Great Wisteria Festival (Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi)
Ashikaga Flower Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ashikaga City, Tochigi prefecture. Opened in 1968, they attract more than 1.5 million visitors every year with otherworldly displays of colorful flowers that are enjoyed year-round. From mid-April, they annually host the Great Wisteria Festival which was chosen as one of the 10 best dream destinations in the world by CNN in 2014. They have more than 350 wisteria trees which include a particularly impressive grand wisteria tree that is 160 years old! The highlight for many however is walking through a wisteria tunnel, shrouded in blankets of purple and white wisteria flowers!
Date: April 13 (Sat) – May 15 (Wed) 2024
▼Let’s book Ashikaga Flower Park Private Tour from HERE!
10. Azalea Festival (Shiofune Kannonji, Tokyo)
Shiofune Kannonji is a traditional Buddhist temple nestled in Ome city in the western part of Tokyo. This temple’s history stretches back over 1,300 years ago and dates back to the 7th century. If you visit from mid-April to early May, expect to see stunning displays of 20,000 beautiful azalea flowers of 20 different varieties. Enjoy walking around the peaceful temple grounds and learn more about the historic buildings in addition to taking pictures of the bright magenta azalea flowers in full bloom! Admission is ¥300 for adults and ¥100 for children.
Dates: Middle of April – Early May every year
Which flower festival did you find most attractive? Whatever your answer is, visiting any of them will be a great way to welcome Spring and feel your spirits lifted as the petals of the flowers blossom.
Japan Wonder Travel Tours
Japan Wonder Travel is a travel agency that offers guided tours throughout Japan.
From private walking tours to delicious Food and Drink tours, we can help you organize the best tours just for you! If you want to explore Japan and learn more about the history and backstories of each area you are visiting, our knowledgeable and friendly English speaking guides will happily take you to the best spots!
In addition, we can provide you with any assistance you may need for your upcoming trip to Japan, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need some help!
▶Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Drink Tour
Explore the most lively and popular fish market in Tokyo and try some of the local’s favorite street foods and sake with one of our friendly and knowledgeable English speaking guides!
▶Tokyo 1–Day Highlights Private Walking Tour (8 Hours)
There’s no better way to explore an area than taking a tour with a knowledgeable local guide. You will have the chance to learn about the history and interesting background stories of Tokyo, as well as discover some hidden gems which can be hard to do without a guide.
▶Mt. Fuji Day Trip Bus Tour from Tokyo
Experience the breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji by visiting the highlights of the area on our guided sightseeing bus tour! Departing from Shinjuku in central Tokyo, you can travel comfortably to all of the best spots in the area by bus.
▶Kyoto Private Full Day Walking Tour
On this full-day private tour of Kyoto, you will be able to see the highlights of Kyoto in just one day and at the same time develop a deeper understanding of both the culture of the area and Japan as a whole.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more travel inspiration. Or tag us to get featured!
Happy traveling!
Stay informed of the best travel tips to Japan, the most exciting things to do and see, and the top experiences to have with the Japan Wonder Travel Newsletter. Every week we will introduce you to our latest content.
