Ashikaga Flower Park is a flower theme park located in Tochigi Prefecture. It is famous for its wisteria flowers, which are usually at their best from late April to early May. The wisteria flowers are also illuminated, giving a different impression than during the daytime. In addition to the wisteria season, visitors can enjoy flowers in all four seasons. From fall through winter, the entire park is illuminated, which is also popular.
What is Japanese wisteria?
Japanese wisteria is a species endemic to Japan. Because it is a vine, wisteria blooms as if hanging down from a pergola called “Fuji-dana” (wisteria trellis), and is often seen in gardens and children’s parks.
Wisteria can also be found in japanese poems written around the year 800, which express the love for wisteria. The purple color of the wisteria flower is called “Fuji-iro”, which is the color of the wisteria flower.
In addition to Ashikaga Flower Park, wisteria at Kameido Tenjin in Tokyo is also famous.
Access
Tokyo Station—Tohoku Shinkansen(40min.)—Oyama Station—JR Ryomo Line(45min.)—Ashikaga Flower Park Station
Tokyo Station—JR Ueno Tokyo Line(90min.)—Oyama Station—JR Ryomo Line(45min.)—Ashikaga Flower Park Station
Riding the Shinkansen costs about twice as much as the Ueno Tokyo Line; the Shinkansen is recommended for those who have Japan Rail Pass!
Admission Fee
Admission fees vary depending on the blooming of the flowers.
During the wisteria season, the admission fee ranges from 1,100 yen to 2,100 yen; after 5:30 PM, it is 900 yen to 1,900 yen for the night time.
During the illumination season from fall to winter, the price is 1,300 yen.
Admission fees are as of April 2023.
Please check Ashikaga Flower Park’s official website for the admission fee on the day of your visit.
Facilities
The beauty of wisteria here has become known around the world after it was selected by CNN as one of the “World’s Dream Destinations for 2014”.
Colorful wisteria flowers can be seen on the 9.4-hectare site. The highlight is the large wisteria tree, which is over 160 years old.
Illumination in the fall and winter is said to be the cheaper admission fee compared to other facilities. The illumination expresses a garden of blooming flowers with light, and visitors can enjoy a fantastic illumination that takes advantage of the park’s many waterfront features.
The park has restaurants and souvenir stores.
Recommended entrance time and time required
Night admission starts at 5:30 p.m., so please arrive at the entrance by this time; it is still light at this time when the wisteria flowers are at their best from late April onward. Visitors can enjoy the wisteria flowers during the daytime and the dusk and lights at night.
During the illumination period, it gets dark earlier and the lights are turned on at around 4:30 p.m. During this period, no nighttime admission fee is set, so the price is the same no matter what time you enter.
It takes about 2 hours to walk around the park. Please allow at least this much time as you will be walking around the park and taking pictures.
Crowded season
The wisteria blooming season is crowded. Especially since the best time to see the wisteria blossoms coincides with the Japanese national holiday season known as Golden Week, the crowds are even greater during this time of year. The large park is filled with so many people that you can hardly walk around, whether it is daytime or nighttime. There are also long lines at restaurants.
If possible, it is best to avoid the Golden Week holidays. (The timing of Golden Week is slightly different each year depending on the day of the week. The peak time is usually around May 3 to 5.)