Tokyo is truly an awe-inspiring city, with its massive public transportation grid, bustling human traffic and a plethora of restaurants, shopping centers and entertainment venues. Nonetheless, one thing the city does seem to lack at times is a little bit of green. Yes, there are parks, gardens and pockets of nature around Tokyo to give Tokyoites and travelers a bit of a refresher, but sometimes it doesn't compare to the beautifully vivid flower gardens that can be found around Japan. Here are our top favorite nature escapes near Tokyo.
1. Shibazakura at Hitsujiyama Park, Saitama Prefecture
Hitsujiyama Park features about 400,000 moss phlox in full bloom around April to early May. The park also has 1,000 cherry blossom trees, such as yoshino cherry, weeping cherry and double petal cherry trees! You can enjoy the flowers from different angles because of the park's hilly terrain.
Hours of Operation:8:00 to 17:00, April to May
Admission Fee: 300JPY
Access: From Seibu Chichibu Station / Chichibu Railway Chichibu Station: 20 min on foot, From Yokoze Station: 20 min on foot
Address: 6630 Omiya, Chichibu-shi
2. Hydrangeas at Kamakura Temples, Kanagawa Prefecture
Temples in Kamakura are especially gorgeous and charming during the blooming season of the hydrangea. They're in full bloom from about mid-June to earl July. Meigetsuin Temple and Tokeiji Temple are best known for their hydrangeas.
Meigetsuin Temple
Admission Fee: 300 yen (regular fee) Iris garden: 500 yen (open in June)
Access: 10-min walk from JR Kita-Kamakura St. the JR Yokosuka Line (about 1 hour from Shinjuku St.)
Address: 189 Yamanouchi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa
Tokeiji Temple
Hours: 8:30 to 17:00 (until 16:00 November to February)
Admission Fee: 100 yen (children) 200 yen (adults & middle school students)
Access: 3-min walk from JR Kita-Kamakura Station on the Yokosuka Line (about 1 hour from Shinjuku St.)
Address: 1367 Yamanouchi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa
3. Wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi prefecture
The Ashikaga Flower Park has one of the best wisteria garden landscaping, as well as the largest wisteria parks in Japan. In April and May the wisteria bloom in pinks, purples, whites and yellows, respectively. And if that doesn't sound impressive enough, the park also has a tree that is over 145 year old!
Hours of Operation: 10:00-17:00 to 18:00 (10:00 to 17:00 from late November through February)
Admission Fee: Depending on the condition of wisterias, 400–2100 yen (Adults) and 200–1100 yen (Children)
Closed: Open All Year Round
Access: From Asikaga-shi Station (on Tobu Isezak Line from Asakusa) 20 minutes by taxi
Address: 607 Hasama Town, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, 329-4216
For More Information:Ashikaga Flower Park
4. Baby Blues at Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki Prefecture
Hitachi Seaside Park has an array of the seasonal flower gardens, such as narcissus and tulip in spring, nemophila and roses in early summer, zinnia in mid-summer and kochia and cosmos in autumn. The nemophila (pictured below) spreads out like a vivid blue carpet of flowers.
Hours of Operation: 9:30–17:00 (this is subject to change depending on weather, season, etc.)
Admission Fee: Adult (15 years older) 450JPY, Child (under 15)Free
Closed: Mondays (Tuesdays when Monday is a national holiday)
Access: 15 minutes from Katsuta station on the JR Joban line
Address: 605-4, Mawatari Aza Oonuma, Hitachinaka-City
For Detailed Information: Hitachi Seaside Park
5. Shibazakura at Mt. Fuji, Yamanashi Prefecture
The Fuji Pink Moss Festival features 800,000 shibazakura, also known as moss phlox or pink moss, it's the largest collection of shibazakura in the Tokyo area.
Date:Mid-April to late May (Dates are subject to change according to the blooming season)
Admission Fee:500JPY
Access:30 minutes by bus from Fuji Kyuko Line Kawaguchiko Station
Address:Fuji Motosuko Resort, 212 Motosu, Fuji Kawaguchiko-machi, Minami Tsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
For more information, please feel free to contact us! We also have many unique sightseeing tours available. Check them out today!
