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Ashikaga Flower Park: Seasonal Highlights, Access from Tokyo, and Tips
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Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi is one of Japan's most celebrated public gardens, with thousands of beautiful flowers blooming through the seasons. We introduce its highlights and how to get there - it's less than two hours from Tokyo by train!
Written by
横浜に育ち、古都鎌倉の高校に通い、大学は超都会の渋谷、イギリスのロンドン留学時はなぜか日本食のイベントを立ち上げて料理人、現在はライターをしている未熟者です。 ブログ：一期一会
Ashikaga Flower Park: Famous for Its Wisteria Flowers
Ashikaga in Tochigi Prefecture is a city that boasts a long history and scenic nature. Access from Tokyo is easy, with many day-trip visitors coming here all year round.
Ashikaga Flower Park is an award-winning theme park where you can enjoy various types of flowers throughout the year. It is especially famous for its wisteria flowers, which make it a popular travel destination in May, and for its unique winter illuminations.
Read on to learn the seasonal highlights of Ashikaga Flower Park, access information, and other tips.
Ashikaga Flower Park: Seasonal Highlights and Tips
1. April: Tulips and Spiraea
2. May: Wisteria Festival
3. June: Hydrangeas and Irises
4. July to September: Water Lilies
5. October: The Purple Garden and Autumn Roses
6. November to February: Flower Fantasy Illuminations
Access: How to Get to Ashikaga Flower Park from Tokyo
Other Tips: Enjoy the Flower-Themed Snacks
Read also
1. April: Tulips and Spiraea - Heralds of Spring
After a cold winter, spring is the season when flowers finally start to bloom. Colorful tulips and spiraea tell us that spring has arrived.
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2. May: Wisteria - The Fabulous Wisteria Festival
During Golden Week, the wisteria flowers are at the peak of their beauty. They say many visitors come to check out the limited-time event called The Great Wisteria Festival.
The vibrant colors of the wisteria are a breathtaking sight. They say that such large-scale wisteria trellises are very rare even around the world. We recommend you pass through the wisteria tunnels, as it's an experience you can only try here.
From around mid-May, the spring roses start to bloom, filling the park with graceful red, white, and pink hues. The Spring Rose Festival at Ashikaga Flower Park lasts until around mid-June.
3. June: Hydrangeas and Irises
Photo by Pixta
As spring turns to summer, the park is covered in hydrangeas and irises in June.
The hydrangea is especially famous as a flower of the rainy season in June. Hydrangeas in various colors from deep blue to pink and white can be enjoyed during this season.
Photo by Pixta
The irises that bloom around the pond in Ashiakaga Flower Park are also a treat for the eyes! Most of these flowers bloom in refreshing hues of purple but there are also white varieties.
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4. July to September: Water Lilies
Photo by Pixta
The tropical water lilies adorning the pond are the highlight of Ashikaga Flower Park in the summer. These lovely blossoms come in white, yellow, pink, red, purple, and blue.
With approximately 1,500 tropical water lilies, some varieties bloom during the day while others bloom at night, allowing visitors to appreciate them at any hour. Water lilies have an enchanting fragrance, too!
5. October: The Purple Garden and Autumn Roses
In October, the park is covered in purple flowers. They're flowers called Amethyst Sage and are unique for their deep purple color. You shouldn't miss the fascinating view of the purple garden during this season.
Photo by Pixta
October is also when the autumn roses bloom. These elegant flowers make for lovely photos at Ashikaga Flower Park!
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6. November to February: Flower Fantasy Illuminations
Picture courtesy of PR Times
Ashikaga Flower Park's Flower Fantasy winter illumination event held from late October to early February has ranked first place in Japan's national illumination ranking and is one of Japan's three major illuminations to visit.
The whole park is decorated with about 5 million Christmas lights designed as blooming flowers of light.
Picture courtesy of PR Times
The decorative lights are designed to look like wisteria, lotus flowers, roses, and other blooms. The combination of flowers and Christmas lights is truly magnificent!
From Tokyo to Ashikaga Flower Park
The nearest train station to Ashikaga Flower Park is JR Ashikaga Flower Park Station. The park is a 3-minute walk away from the station.
To reach Ashikaga Flower Park from Tokyo, take an express train or a shinkansen from Tokyo Station or Ueno Station and change trains at Koyama Station for the JR Ryomo Line, then get off at Ashikaga Flower Park Station. The whole trip will last about two hours or less.
If you depart from Asakusa Station using the Tobu Isesaki Line, get off at Ashikagashi Station. A free shuttle bus is available on weekends and holidays from Ashikagashi Station to the park. The bus ride will take about 30 minutes. For more information, check out the official website.
Other Tips: Enjoy Flower-Themed Snacks
While at Ashikaga Flower Park, enjoy some of their flower-themed snacks, which are just as photogenic as the park itself! The product line-up tends to change every season.
One of the most popular treats is the Fuji Ice Cream (Wisteria Ice Cream), an original soft-serve ice cream inspired by the wisteria flowers. Its purple appearance and wisteria fragrance make it truly unique!
You can purchase it at the take-away corner near the front gate and to the right. How about enjoying it on a nearby bench or while walking around and admiring the park's flowers?
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FAQ
When to see wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park?
The best time to see the wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park is usually from mid-April to mid-May. This period generally coincides with the peak blooming season of the wisteria flowers in the park, offering visitors a spectacular display of cascading wisteria trellises in various colors.
How long to spend in Ashikaga Flower Park?
The ideal amount of time to spend in Ashikaga Flower Park can vary based on personal preferences and interests. Generally, most visitors spend around 2 to 3 hours exploring the park, enjoying the beautiful wisteria displays, strolling through the various themed gardens, and taking in the scenic landscapes. However, if you wish to leisurely immerse yourself in the beauty of the park, take photographs, or relax in the peaceful surroundings, you may consider spending half a day to a full day to fully appreciate all that Ashikaga Flower Park has to offer.
How to reach Ashikaga Flower Park from Tokyo?
To reach Ashikaga Flower Park from Tokyo, visitors have several transportation options available. One convenient route involves taking the JR Utsunomiya Line from Tokyo Station to Oyama Station and transferring to the JR Ryomo Line (rapid train) bound for Ashikaga Flower Park Station, followed by a short 15-minute walk to the park. Another option is to use the Tohoku or Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Oyama Station and then switch to the JR Ryomo Line for the remainder of the journey. For those preferring to drive, renting a car in Tokyo provides the flexibility of a direct 2-hour drive to Ashikaga Flower Park, allowing visitors to revel in the beauty of the park's wisteria blooms and explore its scenic gardens and attractions with ease.
What is Ashikaga Flower Park famous for?
Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, is renowned for its stunning displays of wisteria flowers, particularly the great wisteria (fuji) trellises that bloom in various colors during the spring season. The park is famous for its expansive and enchanting wisteria tunnels and trellises, including a more than 100-year-old wisteria tree that creates a captivating and picturesque experience for visitors. Ashikaga Flower Park is celebrated for its breathtaking wisteria displays, attracting tourists from around the world to witness the beauty and charm of these floral wonders in full bloom.
How old is the wisteria in Ashikaga?
The wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park includes several impressive specimens, including a great wisteria (fuji) tree that is over 150 years old. This ancient wisteria tree, with its thick trunk and sprawling branches, is a centerpiece of the park's renowned wisteria displays and adds to the park's allure and historical significance. Visitors marvel at the beauty and grandeur of this centuries-old wisteria tree, which is a symbol of the park's rich floral heritage and botanical treasures.
A Flower Park for All Seasons
Over a million people visit Ashikaga Flower Park every year to enjoy the seasonal flowers.
We warmly recommend you stop by as well! It's a great place to take wonderful pictures in Japan.
Ashikaga Flower Park
329-4216 607 Sakomacho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture
Ranked #1 in Japan in the illumination spot popularity ranking!
Enjoy the colorful and sparkling beautiful scenery at Ashikaga Flower Park!
Ashikaga Flower Park has received high praise, having been ranked number one in the country for seven consecutive years in the illumination rankings selected by the Night Scenic Lighters.
The 100,000㎡ park is decorated with over 5 million illuminations, and it is so beautiful that you will be amazed!
Of the more than 5 million illumination bulbs, almost all of them use LEDs, making them environmentally friendly.
There is also a souvenir shop and restaurant within the park.
*It will get cold in the evening, so it is best to bring a jacket.
Reference: The winter evening temperature near Ashikaga Flower Park is around 0°C to 5°C.
Read also
All pictures from PIXTA
Written by
横浜に育ち、古都鎌倉の高校に通い、大学は超都会の渋谷、イギリスのロンドン留学時はなぜか日本食のイベントを立ち上げて料理人、現在はライターをしている未熟者です。 ブログ：一期一会
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