No Need to Go to Kamakura or Hakone: Three Perfect Flower-Viewing Spots in Tokyo
Want to see hydrangeas but don't have time to go to suburbs like Kamakura or Hakone? Here are three hydrangea spots within Tokyo, including the familiar Ueno Park, which also offers hydrangea viewing!
Hydrangeas in Tokyo
In Japan, as spring transitions into summer, cherry blossoms quickly fade, but they are soon replaced by beautiful hydrangeas. The unremarkable shrubs in Japan's parks and gardens suddenly burst into colorful displays, and when you step into temples and shrines, you are greeted by serene hydrangea gardens filled with hundreds of plant varieties. In Japan, the hydrangea season aligns perfectly with the rainy season (also known as "tsuyu"), but fortunately, these lovely flowers look just as splendid under fresh raindrops.
Speaking of famous hydrangea spots in the Kanto region, many people think of Kamakura. JAPANKURU has previously shared an article about enjoying hydrangeas on the Hakoneη»ε±±ι»θ» (Hakone Tozan Railway). However, if you don't have time to go to Kanagawa, there are actually many hydrangea spots within Tokyo. Let's take a look with us!
Hydrangea Path at Asukayama Park (also known as Asuka no Koji) is hidden beside the railway tracks, just outside the central exit of Oji Station (JR Keihin-Tohoku Line / Tokyo Metro Namboku Line). You can stroll along the long, beautiful bushes while watching trains pass by. Although it is inconspicuously located away from central Tokyo, hidden behind the station, this may be one of the most beautiful hydrangea gardens in Tokyo, and (like all spots on this list) it is completely free to enjoy!
Asukayama Park was established by Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune in the early 18th century as a place for local Tokyoites to relax and enjoy the city. Decades later, it became one of Japan's first official parks. Today, the park can be reached from the station via some long stairs leading up to a plateau, which houses a museum and numerous cherry trees that bloom beautifully every spring. However, the hydrangeas in the park are mostly separate, neatly lined up on one side of the park at the foot of the hill, with blue, purple, pink, and white hydrangeas blooming among the green foliage!
γ114-0002 1-1-3 Oji, Kita City, Tokyo
Ueno Onshi Park
Ueno Park is likely the most famous park in Tokyo, with a history spanning centuries, having served as a temple, battlefield, and finally a place to rest and relax amidst the bustling city center. Many visitors tour the art and science museums, Japan's oldest zoo, and of course, the cherry blossoms in spring. But for knowledgeable flower enthusiasts, Ueno Park is also a must-visit during hydrangea season!
Walking along the main road of Ueno Park, under the green cherry tree shade, and along the stone steps by the waterside of Shinobazu Pond, you can see hydrangeas. The path to Ueno Toshogu Shrine is also filled with light blue hydrangeas. Ueno Toshogu is a quiet shrine hidden in the heart of Ueno Park. Look around, and beautiful clusters of hydrangea petals are blooming from the park's foliage!
Ueno Onshi Park
γ110-0007 Ueno Park, Taito City, Tokyo
Like many small shrines in Tokyo, Hakusan Shrine has a surprisingly long and serene history, dating back to the mid-10th century. The highlight of this shrine is the blooming flowers in its garden! Hakusan Shrine hosts the local Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival every year during the hydrangea season, inviting visitors to enjoy over 3,000 hydrangea plants spread across the shrine grounds and Hakusan Park.
Hydrangeas bloom along the paths, adorning the way to the main hall of the shrine, and line the walkways along the sides of the buildings. These are not just common hydrangeas; Hakusan Shrine also boasts rare and unique varieties, such as the uniquely shaped "Heaven's Tea" shrubs picked from Japan's high mountains. However, the star of the season is the "Mount Fuji Hydrangea" β a special trellis-framed hydrangea garden that resembles a small hill completely covered in dense, colorful hydrangea bushes. During the annual hydrangea festival, the gate opens for only a few days, and visitors line up to stroll to the top, surrounded by Tokyo's most beautiful early summer flowers.
γ112-0001 5-31-26 Hakusan, Bunkyo City, Tokyo
From sacred shrine grounds to narrow paths along railway tracks, Tokyo is full of blue and purple hydrangeas. Come find them! So this summer, bring an umbrella for the rainy season's drizzle, and spend a few days searching for the city's hydrangeas. You'll go home with some wonderful photos and even better memories.
