One thing that always surprised me about Japan, and, in turn, Japanese people, their extensive knowledge of the names for flowers and trees. I know this sounds odd, but before I left The US I could not tell you what an azalea was. Poppy? Cosmo? Nope. It’s all just flowers.
Living in Japan made me learn what the names of flowers around me were, and what time of the year they bloomed.
Winter boasts daffodils on Kasaoka’s Mushima. March-May cherry blossoms paint the country in a pastel pink hue. In the rainy season, hydrangeas flourish at Kibitsu shrine. July-August is lit up with sunflowers. September, the charming spider lily. October, cute little cosmos pop up. November is the chrysanthemum - from which the royal throne derives its name.
Late April to early March, however, is when dreamy wisteria emerges.
This season often gets less attention in comparison to the cherry blossoms it succeeds. But, the wisteria is just as remarkable.
The most stunning park in the country to view the wisteria is right in the land of sunshine: Wake, Okayama.
Fuji Park, not to be confused with Mt. Fuji, is home to over 100 wisteria varieties gathered from every prefecture in Japan. This makes it the best place in the entire country to view the wisteria! See here for my friend's video of our day in the park.
The entire wisteria trellis is approximately 500 meters long, and a popular spot for families and wedding photos.
The park is located about a 10 minute drive, 20 minute bike ride, and 45 minute walk from Wake station. Once you arrive, taxis will be lined up. Bicycle rental shops are also nearby.
Pre-pandemic, the area was lined with yatai (Japanese festival food stalls) and an entire event was made out of it. However, in 2022 covid still has a grip on the tourism industry and so the festivities were effectively canceled.
From the parking lot, cross the Spirited Away-esque bridge.
You’ll soon be met with a grand statue nearby Wake Shrine. The board will also have a mural dedicated to the Chinese zodiac.
The park was open with a 300 yen (about 2.8 USD) entry fee.
You can easily get a ticket from this vending machine. Elementary and junior high school students can enter for 150yen. Children under elementary age and handicapped people have free entry.
Walk through the arched tunnel and be transported into a fairytale world.
I would recommend putting aside about three hours if you are planning on going to take photos, and about one hour if you are just going to see the flowers.
At the end of the day, it is worth it to take a detour trip to the nearby Wake Ukaidani Onsen to relax in one of the nicest outdoor baths I’ve seen!
See the official Okayama Tourism Page for more!
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