Saturday, January 12, 2019

[Japan 3 in 1 itinerary] How to see Sakura, Tulips & Wisteria in a single trip!



Yup, it is possible, and you have to travel at the right time of the year. Japan, being a country that experiences both warmer and cooler weathers at the same time, can offer different seasonal flowers viewing opportunities within a short period of time. If you plan carefully, you may be able to catch all 3 seasonal flowers (sakura, tulips & wisteria) in a single (2 weeks) trip! Here's how to go about doing it.

Cherry blossom (sakura) season in Japan lasts from March to May in different regions of the country. While Tulips and Wisteria begin to peak right when the Sakura viewing season is ending. So the trick is to go to the northern cooler prefectures for sakura, and then come back down south to catch the tulips and wisteria in the warmer central regions. The last week of April and first week of May would be the perfect time to travel for this purpose. Refer to sample itinerary below.




Sakura

Iwate Prefecture
Day 1-2
D1 – Kitakami Tenshochi Park 北上市立公園展勝地
D2 – Morioka Castle Ruins Park 盛岡城跡公園(岩手公園)/Ishiwarizakura 石割桜/Takamatsu Park 高松公園の池

Kitakami Tenshochi Park

Kitakami Tenshochi Park

Kitakami Tenshochi Park

Kitakami Tenshochi Park

Takamatsu Park

Takamatsu Park

Morioka Castle Ruins Park

Morioka Castle Ruins Park

Morioka Castle Ruins Park

Rock breaking cherry tree - Ishiwarizakura

Ishiwarizakura

Ishiwarizakura

Aomori/Akita Prefecture
Day 3-5
D3 – Aomori/Hirosaki Park 弘前公園
D4 – Akita/Kakunodate 角館 Samurai district & Hinokinai river (武家屋敷 & 桧木内川)
D5 – Aomori/Ashino Park 芦野公園

Hirosaki Park

Hirosaki Park

Hirosaki castle, Hirosaki Park

Weeping cherry at Hirosaki Park

Hirosaki Park

Flower boats, Hirosaki Park


Kakunodate

Kakunodate

Kakunodate

Samurai district, Kakunodate

Hinokinai river, Kakunodate

Hinokinai river, Kakunodate

Hinokinai river, Kakunodate

Train station, Ashino Park

Ashino Park

Ashino Park

Ashino Park

Ashino Park

Cafe (former train station), Ashino Park

Hokkaido Prefecture
Day 6-8
D6 – Matsumae Castle 松前城
D7 – Hakodate Park 函館公園
D8 – Goryokaku Park 五稜郭公園

Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle

Hakodate Park

Hakodate Park

Hakodate Park

Hakodate Park

Hakodate Park

Hakodate Park

Hakodate Park

Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku Park

Goryokaku Park

Plum blossoms, Goryokaku Park

Tulip/Wisteria/Nemophila**

Toyama/Tochigi/Ibaraki Prefecture
Day 9-11 (possible to base in Tokyo and make day trips out using JR Pass)
D9 – Toyama/Tonami Tulip Fair 砺波チューリップフェア
D10 – Tochigi/Ashikaga Flower Park 足利花園
D11 – Ibaraki/Hitachi Seaside Park ひたち海浜公園

**Bonus tip - the Nemophila flower (also called Blue eye flower by locals) is also in season around the same time as the Wisterias, so why not make a trip to see them as well!

Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Wefie time, Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Shibazakura, Tonami Tulip Fair

Shibazakura, Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Tonami Tulip Fair

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

150yr old large wisteria tree, Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

80m wisteria tunnel, Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Nemophila flowers, Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park


There you go, gorgeous flowers in various magnificent parks for you to enjoy during spring season, all in one single trip! Do check out my other posts on how to plan a sakura chase here, and the hottest sakura viewing spots in Tohoku region and Hokkaido. Enjoy!