With travel on hold, I revisited my trips by scanning all my instax photos. This day in 2018, I visited Kawazu in Japan to catch the early cherry blossoms. There are about 8000 cherry trees and it blooms a few weeks earlier than the Cherry Blossom Season.
📷: INSTAX MINI 90
More on my visit in 2018 to the admire the sakura blooms in Kawazu here.
The view of Mt. Fuji with a blanket of pink flowers is quite iconic and popularly found in posters and tourism related material for Japan. So when we were scheduled to visit Tokyo during the Fuji Shibazakura Festival was ongoing, we decided to take the train to Kawaguchiko.
We were able to catch the last few blooms on the last few days of this year’s Fuji Shibazakura Festival Since the peak of the flowers had already passed, bus and entrance fare were already discounted to Y1450 instead of Y2000. They had signages informing visitors that the peak has passed. But since we traveled all the way from Tokyo, we decided to continue to the park.
The best time to visit would be in late April or early May when flowers are at it’s peak and the grounds are covered in blankets of pink and white Shiba Zakura or lawn cherry.
Despite the limited patches of flowers, the trip from Tokyo was worth it. Luckily there weren’t any clouds covering Fujisan. It’s one of my visits wherein Mt Fuji was clearly seen the entire time we were there. The view of Mt. Fuji even with the remaining flowers was still amazing. I can only imagine how much better it would be at it’s peak.
When in full bloom, you can find about 800,000 moss phlox or pink moss. There are about 8 kinds of McDaniel’s Cushion, Mont-Blanc, Tama-no Nagare, Oakington Blue-eyes, Autumn Rose, Giant Rose, Scarlet Frame and Little Dot.
There is an observation deck where you can get a birds eye view of the park and plenty of food stalls to enjoy some local food. You can also dig out the pink moss for a fee of Y600. There are designated areas you can dig the pink moss and take home as much as you can fill the plastic bag they provide you. You are also provided a shovel you return after.
view from the observation deck |
Located at Fuji Motosuko Resort, you can take the festival bus from Kawaguchiko station directly to the site. . You can purchase tickets at the stall at Bus Stop #7 of Kawaguchiko Station. Bus ride takes about 30 mins. The first bus: leaves Kawaguchiko Station at 7:50AM and last bus leaves at 3:30 PM while the bus from the festival site’s 1st bus leaves at 8:30AM and last bus leaves at 5PM. You’ll need about 2 hours to enjoy the view. I would allot a little more time in case Mt. Fuji is covered by clouds.
From Tokyo, take the Azusa train from Shinjuku Station to Otsuki and transfer to the Fujikyu line to Kawaguchiko Station. If you have the JR Pass or Tokyo Wide Pass, the train to Otsuki is covered. If you’ll be using the other JR train passes, you’ll need to purchase a ticket for the Fujikyu Line. You can also use your IC Card like the Suica and ICOCA for this leg of the trip. You’ll also need to purchase an additional ticket, if you’ll be riding the express train. The connecting time for the trains is usually short so you’ll need to move fast or else you’ll need to wait 30 mins to an hour for the next train.
While in Kawaguchiko, you can check out other sites to enjoy a view of Mt. Fuji or take a cruise on Lake Kawaguchiko.
TIMETABLE:
to SHIBAZAKURA FESTIVAL SITE : ETD: 10:40AM ETA: 11:15AM
to KAWAGUCHIKO Station: ETD: 3:00 ETA: 3:52; ETD: 3:30 ETA: 4:05 last bus leaves at ETD: 5:00 PM ETA: 5:35 PM
WEBSITE: http://www.shibazakura.jp/eng/
ENTRANCE FEE: Y600 ; Y250 Children ( discounted tickets online) Y2000 entrance includes return bus
HOW TO GET HERE: Take SHIBAZAKURA BUS From Kawaguchi Station to Fuji Shibazakura Festival Site (30 mins) Kawaguchiko to Shibazakura Festival site(Shibazakura Liner - 30 mins direct to site)
NEAREST TRAIN STATION: Kawaguchiko Station
HOURS OF OPERATION: 8:00-5:00 PM
Here are a few of my favorite places to see spring flowers in bloom in and around Tokyo:
Colors abound with the flora in bloom during Spring. Apart from their iconic Sakura, you can visit different temples and parks to appreciate the flora.
The Cherry blossom season in Tokyo is normally from Mid March to Mid April. Other areas may be earlier or later depending on their location. Osaka for instance is in full bloom usually before Tokyo and Hokkaido blooms far later usually in May. There are a lot of tourists during this time thus prices for flights and hotels are usually higher.
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Cherry Blossom "Sakura" |
Depending on your date and destination, you can enjoy different flowers in bloom. Early spring, you can visit Kairukuen in Mito to see thousands of Ume or Japanese Plum. Sakura or Cherry Blossom are popular throughout Japan and are usually in its peak in Tokyo between the middle of March and April.
Japanese Plum "Ume" |
If arriving late in April, you can visit the azaleas in bloom in Nezu Shrine in Tokyo. Wisterias are usually at its peak in early May or late April. You can visit Kameido Shrine in Tokyo or take the trip to Asahikaga Flower Park to see the thousand-year old wisteria trees. In early to mid May, you can still visit the Asahikaga flower park and see the other varieties of wisteria, roses in full bloom, and the other flowers and plants.
KAIRUKUEN IN MITO (LATE FEB-APRIL)
But there are many other flowers you can see during spring in case you're early or arrive after the Sakura season. Plum blossoms or "Ume" are plentiful and bloom as early as February and blooms lasts longer. The Ume is usually the 1st sign of spring. This type of flower is often mistaken to be Sakura because it looks similar to the Cherry Blossom. But a closer look at the petals and branches can help you identify which one it is. Both type of flowers come in different colors and species. The Ume have rounded petals as compared to the sakura. Ume blossoms have a stronger scent than the Sakura.
In Kairukuen, Mito, just a 70 min train ride from Tokyo, you can see thousands of plum (“Ume”) and cherry blossom (“Sakura” )trees. There are about 100 types of plum trees in the 13 hectare park.
When we visited during the festival last year, there were English Speaking Volunteer Tour Guides that can tour you around the park. To get here you'll need to climb a set of steep stairs but there is a ramp on the left side of the entrance. Entrance
The Mousou Bamboo forest, which are giant bamboo similar to the bamboo groves in Kyoto can be found in the park. There is also a natural spring called the Togyokusen.
There is a historic three storey wooden building called the Kobuntei. You get to see amazing views of the park and Senba lake.
There is also Ume flavored soft ice cream you can enjoy
How to get here. From Tokyo, take the JR Joban train to Mito. Get off at Mito Station. From Mito Station, take any bus headed to Kairukuen (15 minute bus ride) During the season the Kairukuen (Temporary station may be open)the park is a short walk from train station.
Entrance Fee: FREE (Park) Y200 for Kodokan
Hours of Operation: Park: 06:00 AM -7:00 PM Feb 20 to Sept 30 ; 07:00 -6:00 PM the rest of the year Kodokan: 09:00 AM-5:00 PM Feb 20 to Sept 30 ; 09:00 AM-04:30 PM the rest of the year
ASAHIKAGA FLOWER PARK
One of the best places to see flowers especially Wisteria is in Asahikaga Flower Park. It takes about 2 hours on the train to reach Asahikaga Station. There are no bullet trains so if you can ride a rapid or an express train it’s best to take it.
The flower season of Asahikaga is divided into 8 floral seasons. From Early January to October. The most popular is the Wisteria Story, which is in Mid April to Mid May when the wisteria and azaleas are in full bloom. The Fujinohana story – Oto Festival are held during this season to showcase the Wisteria. There is also night illumination.
Purple Wisteria |
We had visited in mid May so only a few wisteria flowers were on the branches. |
roses in bloom |
In Mid May, there are only a few purple wisteria left |
There are wisteria tunnels around the park. There are several varieties and colors of wisteria – red, purple, white and yellow
Entrance Fee: varies depending on season Y300-1200 (March –mid april ) Y900-1700 (mid april to May), Y500-Y1200 (End of May to June) Y300-Y800 (July to February)
To see entrance fee : http://www.ashikaga.co.jp/fee.html
How to get there: take the train to Asahikaga Station from Tokyo about 2 hours. Then take the shuttle bus from Asahikaga Station. It’s a bit of a walk and the park isn’t seen from the main road so it’s easy to miss it.
Shuttle Bus Timetable: http://www.ashikaga.co.jp/news/details.php?id=7
Website: http://www.ashikaga.co.jp/english/
IN TOKYO :
NEZU SHIRINE (AZALEAS in APRIL)
The Nezu Shrine is a historic shrine known for its 300 year old azalea garden that features 3000 azalea plants. The shrine itself is free and the grounds around the azalea garden. An entrance fee of Y200 though if you'd like to get a closer look and enter the garden.
The Bunkyo Azalea Festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri) usually held mid April to early May when the 100 species of azaleas are in full bloom. This year is the 48th Bunkyo Azalea Festival will be held from April 8- May 5, 2017
Make sure to visit is the row of small tori gates.
How to get there: Nezu Station (C14) on the Chiyoda Metro Line; 5-10 minute walk
Website: http://www.nedujinja.or.jp (no English site – you can use google chrome or translate )
KAMEIDO TENJIN SHRINE
If you don't’ want to spend half to full day in Asahikaga, the best place to see about a 100 purple wisteria in Tokyo is at the the Kameido Tenjin Shrine. They hold the Fuji Matsuri in late April to early May. With the Tokyo Skytree in its background, the Kameido Tenjin is close to downtown Tokyo.. There are about 300 Ume or Japanese Plum trees in bloom and the Ume festival in the shrine is usually celebrated from mid February to mid March.
Wisteria Trees |
Entrance: Free
How to Get there; about a 15 minute walk from the North Exit of the Kameido Exit or from the North Exit of Kinshicho Station
Website: http://www.kameidotenjin.or.jp/english/index.html