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
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| Kitakami Tenshochi Park |
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| Kitakami Tenshochi Park |
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| Kitakami Tenshochi Park |
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| Kitakami Tenshochi Park |
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| Takamatsu Park |
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| Takamatsu Park |
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| Morioka Castle Ruins Park |
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| Morioka Castle Ruins Park |
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| Morioka Castle Ruins Park |
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| Rock breaking cherry tree - Ishiwarizakura |
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| Ishiwarizakura |
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| 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
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| Hirosaki Park |
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| Hirosaki Park |
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Hirosaki castle, Hirosaki Park
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| Weeping cherry at Hirosaki Park |
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| Hirosaki Park |
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| Flower boats, Hirosaki Park |
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| Kakunodate |
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| Kakunodate |
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| Kakunodate |
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| Samurai district, Kakunodate |
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| Hinokinai river, Kakunodate |
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| Hinokinai river, Kakunodate |
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| Hinokinai river, Kakunodate |
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| Train station, Ashino Park |
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| Ashino Park |
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| Ashino Park |
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| Ashino Park |
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| Ashino Park |
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| 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
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| Matsumae Castle |
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| Matsumae Castle |
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| Matsumae Castle |
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| Matsumae Castle |
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| Matsumae Castle |
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| Matsumae Castle |
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| Matsumae Castle |
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| Matsumae Castle |
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| Hakodate Park |
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| Hakodate Park |
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| Hakodate Park |
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| Hakodate Park |
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| Hakodate Park |
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| Hakodate Park |
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| Hakodate Park |
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| Goryokaku Park |
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| Goryokaku Park |
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| Goryokaku Park |
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| Goryokaku Park |
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| Goryokaku Park |
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| Goryokaku Park |
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| Goryokaku Park |
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| Goryokaku Park |
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| Goryokaku Park |
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| 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!
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Wefie time, Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Shibazakura, Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Shibazakura, Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Tonami Tulip Fair |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| 150yr old large wisteria tree, Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| 80m wisteria tunnel, Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Ashikaga Flower Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Nemophila flowers, Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| 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!
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