Wisterias (fuji 藤) are the highlight attraction in Ashikaga Flower Park. The beautiful gentle purple flowers trailing down from the trees forming a curtain are a sight to see. Forget the pink of sakura or azalea shrubs, lavender wisterias bring a mysterious elegant beauty to the round table of flowers.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Ashikaga Flower Park
- Storybook of Flowers, 8 Chapters through the Seasons
- Events to Look Out for
- Access and Entrance Fees
- Takeaway
Introduction to Ashikaga Flower Park
History
Ashikaga City of Tochigi Prefecture is truly blessed with nature, with mountain ranges, rivers, and most importantly Japan’s largest wisteria garden Ashikaga Flower Park. The park holds over 350 wisteria trees including the prefecture’s Natural Treasure, a 150 year old wisteria tree.
Originally established as Hayakawa Farm in 1968, the garden park was relocated to its current location of Hasama-cho in 1997 due to Ashikaga City's urban expansion plan. The new area was previously a wetland, so to make the soil suitable for plant growth, around 250 tons of charcoal was used to fertilize the soil.
Although wisterias are the main star here, there are also other flora to fill in the gaps when the wisterias are not in bloom. The park runs a unique flower calendar system in the form of a storybook spanning a year. Within a year, the park cycles through 8 “chapters”. With each chapter, a different theme and floral set up is presented to make things interesting all year round.
※ Ashikaga Flower Park, "What is Flower Park? / History of the garden" ※ Ashikaga City Tourist Association Site, "Ashikaga Flower Park"
Learn About Wisterias
Wisteria are called fuji 藤 in Japanese. The Japanese Wisteria is a cultivated species that’s native and unique to Japan. They are the sturdiest amongst the other Wisteria genuses which is a major feat considering wisterias are already hardy in general. Note that there is not just one, but many variations of Japanese Wisteria.
Purple is the most widely and commonly seen colour, but they also come in pink, white, blue, and other shades of purple like lavender and violet. Considered a creeper plant, it grows pretty fast and can stand harsh conditions. Aside from growing into a tree, they can grow along arches, walls, or even stand independently.
They have long lifespans, some Wisteria trees in China are around 200 years old. Though they don’t start flowering till at least 3 ~ 5 years of age.
※ Encyclopedia Britannica, “Wisteria”
Writer's Pick
Storybook of Flowers, 8 Chapters Through the Seasons
Without further ado, let’s go through the 8 chapters of Ashikaga’s unique flower calendar system.
Chapter 1: Heralding Spring 早春
As the chapter name implies, the theme is all about early spring or welcoming spring. January and February are considered winter and the coldest months in Japan. From the beginning of January till the end of February, winter flowers like winter clematis and Christmas rose bloom in the garden, bringing back colour and marking the oncoming end of winter.
Chapter 2: Spring Flower Festival 春の花まつり
We’ve truly entered spring in the second chapter in March and April. Bright cheerful tulips with their adorable cup heads welcome you, along with white Thunberg’s meadowsweet of the flower family, and dainty crocuses. Being this is Japan, let’s not forget the cherry blossom trees as well!
Chapter 3: Wisteria Story 藤の花物語
Ashikaga Flower Park’s biggest attraction bringing countless visitors to the park. From mid-May to mid-April, wisterias of different colours dominate the park forming curtains, ceilings, and tunnels. The nighttime illumination is also a spectacular sight to see with Ashikaga Flower Park’s illumination events winning grand prizes for years; more below.
Azaleas and peonies also complement the entire ground.
Chapter 4: Rainbow Garden レインボーガーデン
The 4th Chapter is a romantic one; bring your date on a romantic stroll through a rainbow field of roses. Pink, red, yellow, orange, white, blue - shades of roses that you’ve never seen before are available mid-May to mid-June. Whereas in the final weeks of April, welcoming you will be pink and white clematis and rhododendrons.
Chapter 5: Blue and White Garden ブルー＆ホワイトガーデン
Also called the Iris & Hydrangea Festival. The main colour theme is of course white and blue. And purple too actually, which is pretty close to blue anyway. Other flowers to look for in early June to early July are late clematis.
This garden that represents the whole chapter five is an actual shade of white and baby blue flowers - Iris, Hydrangea, and the late blooming Clematis.
Chapter 6: Water Nymphs 水辺に浮かぶ花の妖精たち
In this Chapter, the park pond joins in on the action. From late June to late November, tropical water lilies in shades of white, yellow, peach, red, purple, and blue bloom elegantly on the water’s surface. Though the water lilies last till November, technically this chapter ends in September.
On land, lantana and crepe-myrtle add to the beauty of the park’s surroundings.
Chapter 7: Purple Garden & Rose Garden パープル＆ローズガーデン
Almost at the end now, in the 6th Chapter we have 2 themes: Purple and Rose Garden. The entire park and along its parks is lined with purple amethyst sage. This chapter happens from October to November. If you missed water lilies in chapter 6, you have a chance to see them now. Coincidentally, roses bloom for the second time, the so-called autumn roses 秋バラ (aki-bara).
Chapter 8: Bejeweled Flower Garden 光の花の庭
A fitting grand ending to a great story is the Winter Illumination. With at least 4.5 million (450万) light bulbs used, it is the biggest illumination in Kanto. The illuminations last from the end of October to late January. Through these few months, the illumination itself changes themes. The first half up till mid-November features flowers; as November comes to an end a Christmas theme will be adopted.
Truly, a perfect conclusion to the end of the year.
※ Ashikaga Flower Park, “Eight Floral Seasons” (Japanese Only)
Events to Look Out For
Aside from the above scheduled flower calendar, there are also special events held by the park, particularly illuminations which we have mentioned in passing:
Fuji no Hana Monogatari 藤の花物語
This actually refers to Chapter 3’s Fuji Night Illumination that occurs annually through the Chapter’s duration.
Rose Garden ローズガーデン
In conjunction with Chapter 7’s autumn rose garden, the park may hold a special rose illumination event that also features rose water basins.
Hikari no Hana no Niwa 光の花の庭
The Garden of Illuminated Flowers refers to Chapter 8’s winter illumination. The greatest illumination in all of Japan that has won 1st Place 6 Years Consecutively in the Nationwide Illumination Rankings.
※ Ashikaga Flower Park, "The garden of illuminated flowers"
Access and Entrance Fees
Access from Tokyo
The nearest station is Ashikaga Flower Park Station on the JR Ryomo Line; the park is only 3-mins away from that station.
For travellers from Tokyo, the quickest way is via the JR Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen to Oyama Station. Then, transfer to the JR Ryomo Line.
※ Ashikaga Flower Park, "Transport / Access"
Entrance Fees
The park entrance fees are subject to the different event periods and availability of flowers, which is why rather than a fixed price, it is within a certain range. The prices for Adults are as follows:
|
Early Mach - Mid April |
300 yen ~ 1200 yen |
|
Mid-April - End May |
900 yen ~ 1800 yen |
|
End May - End June |
500 yen ~ 1200 yen |
|
Early July to End February |
300 yen ~ 900 yen |
※ Ashikaga Flower Park
Takeaway
Ashikaga Flower Park should be your biggest priority when visiting Tochigi Prefecture. Japan is famous for its four seasons and its each season’s characteristic beauty, and Ashikaga Flower Park makes it all the more obvious why that is so. From world class beauty wisterias, rainbow roses, winter night illuminations, and dancing water lilies, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to a fairy utopia no matter the season.
For more ideas for your Tochigi itinerary, have a look at this article:
Tochigi Prefecture: Strawberries, Flowers, Gyoza and More
