Now that we have enjoyed celebrating the Sakura season with outdoor Hanami parties and the warm Spring weather, some of us might be thinking: What can I do next? You can often think of the period between late April and early May as the in-between season, where the sakura trees have turned green, and you are waiting for the hydrangeas to bloom during the rainy season. However, you should not overlook the beauty of azalea flowers, Japan’s second seasonal flower in Spring.
Azalea, a Spring Seasonal Flower in Japan
Azaleas can be seen in various places in Japan, usually from mid-April to early May in the Kanto area. They are bright red, pink and sometimes white or purple flowers which grow in the form of bushes on side streets and across spacious gardens, some of which you can access easily from the city centre. The colorful scenery created by these flowers can remind of the warmer weather ahead.
If you are interested in seeing one of these beautiful flowers on a sunny day out, here are our 5 top recommended places to see Azaleas in and around Tokyo.
Rikugien Gardens
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Many beautiful azalea varieties at Rikuguen Gardens, the feudal lord’s garden, were planted back in the late 1600s when azaleas became a new gardening trend.
Location: 6-16-3 Hon-komagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0021
Access:
・7-minute walk from Komagome Station, JR/Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
・10-minute walk from Sengoku Station, Toei Mita Line
Hours: 9:00~17:00 (last entry at 16:30)
Prices:
・General ticket 300 yen
・Seniors (65 and over) 150 yen
URL: Bunkyo City Site
Shiofune Kannonji Temple
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Shiofune Kannon Temple is a Buddhist temple in Ome city famous for azaleas. The best time to visit is between mid-April and early May, just after sakura season. The Azaela festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri) is held on May 3rd every year and is scheduled to go ahead as normal this year!
Location: 194 Shiobune, Ome, Tokyo 198-0011
Access:
Get off at Kawabe Station, JR Ome Line. Take the Nishi-Tokyo Bus bound for Ozaku Station or the Toei Bus bound for Urajuku-cho and walk for about 10 minutes from Shiobune Kannon Iriguchi bus stop.
Hours: 9:00~16:00
Prices:
・General ticket 300 yen
・Elementary school student and under 100 yen
URL: Official Website
Nezu Shrine
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Nezu Shrine is popular for its 300-year-old azalea garden featuring around 3,000 azalea plants and over 100 different species, including several rare ones. As there are so many different varieties, there are azaleas to enjoy that bloom over different times during the month of April.
Nezu Shrine is home to the Bunkyo Azalea Festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri), a famous Azalea festival that includes food and craft stores, song and dance entertainment and more. You can find more information on the Nezu Shrine website! The festival is due to run from 1st April to 30th April 2023 this year.
Location: 1 Chome-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0031
Access:
・5-minute walk from Nezu Station, Chiyoda Subway Line
・9-minute walk from Sendagi Station, Chiyoda Subway Line
・6-minute walk from Todaimae Station, Namboku Subway Line
Hours: 9:30~17:30
Prices:
・Garden donation 300 yen
URL: Nezu Shrine Site
Kyu-Furukawa Gardens
Kyu-Furukawa Gardens is one of the Cultural Heritage Gardens of Tokyo. The gardens are a beautiful mix of Japanese and Western tastes, with both a Japanese garden and tea house and a Western-style rose garden and a large Western-style residence. If you’re looking for a unique backdrop for your Azaela pictures, this is it!
Location: 1 Chome-27-39 Nishigahara, Kita City, Tokyo 114-0024
Access:
・7-minute walk from Kami-Nakasato Station, JR Keihin-tohoku Line
・7-minute walk from Nishigahara Station, Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
・15-minute walk from Komagome Station, JR Yamanote Line
Hours: 9:00~17:00
Prices:
・General Admission 150 yen – a combination ticket with Rikugien is available for 400 yen.
URL: Tokyo Park Site
Heisei Tsutsuji Park
Visit Heisei Tsutsuji Park in late April to see the stunning Kurume variety of azaleas.
Location: 1 Chome-17-6 Nerima, Nerima City, Tokyo 176-0001
Access:
1 minute walk from the Central North Exit (Cultural Center side) of Nerima Station, Seibu Ikebukuro Line/Toei Oedo Line
Hours: No admission (Open 24 hours/day)
Prices:
・Free
URL: Nerima Website
Which Azalea Park Will You Visit?
We hope you have found a park you’d like to visit to enjoy the Azaleas! You might have seen beautiful pink and purple-flower bushes on the side of pavements and walkways around your local area, but the beautiful scenes of hundreds of azaleas are a sight not to be missed while you’re in Japan!
Related articles:
- National Park Guide: A Window Into Japan’s Precious Heritage
- 5 Trendy Cafes to Visit – Work, Rest, and Make Friends!
