[2024] Be enchanted by the beauty! 3 scenic spots in Okayama where wisteria blooms in full glory
Wisteria is a flower that can be enjoyed from mid-April to around Golden Week in May. We introduce places in Okayama Prefecture where you can see beautiful wisteria flowers, including a park boasting the largest variety of wisteria in Japan, rare varieties, and long wisteria trellises. (Updated 17/4...
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Table of Contents
- 1. Wisteria Park (Wake Town), one of the most diverse in the country
- Fuji Park event "Wisteria Festival"
- 2. The biggest Akebono Fuji tree in Japan! "Achi Fuji" (Kurashiki City)
- Achi Shrine's event "Fujimi no Kai"
- 3. A long wisteria trellis stretching over 900m! "Shibukawa Park" (Tamano City)
- Shibukawa Park event "Wisteria trellis light-up"
1. Wisteria Park (Wake Town), one of the most diverse in the country
This park is home to famous wisteria from all 46 prefectures in Japan (wild wisteria does not grow in Okinawa), from Hakodate in Hokkaido in the north to Bozu in Kagoshima in the south. With over 100 species, it boasts the largest variety in Japan.
There is a wisteria trellis with a total length of 500 meters in the garden, and a walkway runs underneath. When in full bloom, you can stroll around admiring the wisteria, surrounded by fragrant scents. Some wisteria grow in long clusters up to 1 meter, while others are as small as grapes, and they come in a variety of colors, from purple to white to pink.
Address: 1893 Fujino, Wake-cho, Wake-gun
TEL: 0869-93-1126 (Wake Town Industrial Promotion Division)
Access: About 15 minutes from Wake IC on the Sanyo Expressway
Fuji Park event "Wisteria Festival"
The Wisteria Festival is held when the wisteria flowers are in full bloom. During the festival, the area is lit up after sunset, creating a fantastical sight that is different from the daytime.
Late April to early May 2024 8:00-21:00 *End date will be determined according to the wisteria flower situation
*Pets are not allowed in the park (walking or holding). Pets are allowed as long as they are in a cage such as a pet carrier.
* Guide dogs are allowed in the park if they have a license and harness.
2. The biggest Akebono Fuji tree in Japan! "Achi Fuji" (Kurashiki City)
The "Achi Wisteria" that grows naturally in the grounds of Achi Shrine, located on the summit of Mount Tsurugata in the north of Kurashiki's Bikan Historical Quarter, is an ancient tree that is estimated to be 300 to 500 years old, and is the largest Akebono Wisteria in Japan. It is also designated as a natural monument of Okayama Prefecture.
It blooms every year around the end of April. Akebono Fuji is a rare variety of wisteria, and is characterized by its pale pink flowers that start out blooming and gradually turn white.
Address: 12-1 Honmachi, Kurashiki City
TEL: 086-425-4898
Access: 15 minutes on foot from JR Kurashiki Station. 20 minutes from Kurashiki IC on the Sanyo Expressway or Hayashima IC on the Setouchi Chuo Expressway.
Achi Shrine's event "Fujimi no Kai"
This is a festival to enjoy Akebono Fuji, a designated natural monument of Okayama Prefecture. Various events are held, such as tea ceremonies under the wisteria trellis, gagaku performances, and an exhibition of Japanese swords in the prayer hall.
3. A long wisteria trellis stretching over 900m! "Shibukawa Park" (Tamano City)
Address: Shibukawa 2-chome, Tamano City TEL: 0863-33-5005 (Tamano City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division)
Access: 20 minutes from Kojima IC on the Setouchi Chuo Expressway
Shibukawa Park event "Wisteria trellis light-up"
The wisteria trellis lighting, which began in 2022, has been upgraded. Some areas will be lit up to coincide with the flowering of the wisteria on the 900m-long trellis. The period and the locations of the lights will be extended!
Okayama Prefecture is located in the Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!
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