It’s June already! June is a start of rainy season in Japan, gradually from south to north, except for Hokkaido. Unlike squalls in tropical countries that come with a violent gust of wind and intensive rainfall for a few hours in a day, during the rainy season in Japan, the rain tends to be heavy at times and continue all day, but it does not rain day after day. Usually, several days of rain and several days of sunny weather come alternately.
On those sunny days between the rainy days, the sky clears up and the air gets fresher, while the temperature does not rise so high as in the middle of summer. It makes a perfect day for an outing.
Why don’t you go out for viewing the flower of rainy season – hydrangeas?
Hakusan Shrine [Bunkyo-ku]
Hakusan Shrine (Hakusan Jinja, 白山神社) is just a 3-minute walk away from Hakusan Station on the Toei Mita Line and a 5-minute walk away from Honkomagome Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line. It is famous for Bunkyo Ajisai Matsuri Festival (Ajisai = hydrangea), which is one of the five flower festivals hosted by Bunkyo-ku. The festival is from Saturday, June 10th to Sunday, June 18th this year. Apart from the beautiful flowers of 3,000 hydrangea plants along the path from the shrine to Hakusan Park, you will see stalls selling food, beverage, and potted hydrangeas for you to enjoy the flowers at home.
Asukayama Park [Kita-ku]
You may have heard of Asukayama Park (Asukayama Koen, 飛鳥山公園) for cherry blossoms but actually it is also known for their hydrangea flowers. The park is just a stone’s throw away from Oji Station on the JR Keihin Tohoku Line and Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, so it is easy to go see the flowers even on a rainy day to avoid crowds.
In a 350-meter section of the road called “Asuka no Komichi”, also known as Hydrangea Road, about 1,300 hydrangea plants will welcome you.
Chokoku-ji Temple [Taito-ku]
Chokoku-ji Temple (Chokoku-ji, 長國寺) is usually known for “Tori-no-Ichi”, an annual auspicious Japanese festival in Asakusa that is traditionally held in November on days of the Rooster in the lunar calendar. “Iki Iki Ajisai Matsuri” festival is held in mid-June every year and this year’s festival is scheduled on June 18th and 19th. According to the official website of the festival, there was an exhibition of 100 different species of hydrangeas displayed at the festival last year. It must be a fun experience to see so many different species of hydrangea at a time.
Sumida Park [Sumida-ku]
Sumida Park (Sumida Koen, 隅田公園) is located in Asakusa, about 5 minutes’ walk from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Tobu Isesaki Line. If you are planning to visit Asakusa and/or Tokyo Sky Tree, this may be a perfect place to stop by. You could take some instagrammable photos of hydrangea flowers with Tokyo Sky Tree or Asahi Beer headquarters building in the background.
Koiwa Shobu Park
Koiwa Shobu Park (Koiwa Shobu En, 小岩菖蒲園) is a 4,900 sqm garden spread in the riverbank of Edogawa River. As the name of the park “Shobu” (=Japanese iris) indicates, its actually a garden famous for its 50,000 Japanese irises, blooming from May to June. Around the shobu flowers are the hydrangeas, blooming from mid-June to late June. Koiwa Shobu Matsuri festival is also held in the first half of June. This is where you can see Japanese irises, hydrangeas and enjoy the festival all in one place.
Takahata Fudoson (Kongo-ji Temple)[Hino City]
Takahata Fudoson Kongoji-Temple (高幡不動尊金剛寺) is also one of the places where Ajisai Festival is held every year. This year’s festival is scheduled from June 1st to 30th according to their website. For those who don’t want to miss the best timing to see the flowers, their official website (Japanese version) and Instagram also provide updates on how much of the flowers are blooming. There is a five-story pagoda in the premises of the temple. You could take a spectacular shot of the hydrangeas with the pagoda in the background and enter the photo contest held on the occasion of the festival.
Ajisai Park [Kodaira City]
Ajisai Park (Ajisai Koen, あじさい公園) was built in 1973, with the aim of becoming a popular hydrangea viewing spot. It is conveniently located near Kodaira Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, about 1,500 hydrangea flowers will be in full bloom from around mid-June to late June. According to the official website of Kodaira City, the flowers are about 70% open as of 30th May 2023.
Showa Kinen Park [Tachikawa City]
Showa Kinen Park (Show Kinen Koen, 昭和記念公園) is a national park located in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. More than 800 species of flowers and plants in the huge 165 ha park welcome the visitors all year round. Hydrangea flowers usually come into full bloom from mid-June to mid-July. While the hydrangeas are in bloom, the small pond in front of the fountain at the canal area is filled with hydrangea flowers, creating a lovely carpet of flowers. There are five gates to the park and one free zone. To best enjoy the hydrangeas, head for “Fureai Hiroba” from whichever gate you come in, but Nishi-Tachikawa Gate will be the nearest.
Don’t let the rain or humidity depress you. By visiting these places to see those tiny yet colorful hydrangea flowers, you will surely find a way to enjoy the rainy season in Japan.
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