Easy day trips for peak spring colors
While cherry blossoms may steal the spotlight in spring, the Greater Tokyo area offers a diverse range of equally stunning floral displays. From vibrant fields of tulips to the cascading beauty of wisteria and roses, these flower fields invite you to experience spring in a new light. Perfect for an easy day trip, the gardens and parks below not only provide incredible photo opportunities but also a peaceful escape from the urban hustle.
Bloom timing shifts with the weather, and some locations host seasonal festivals, so checking official updates before you go is essential. Weekday visits are recommended where possible.
Canola Flowers at Soleil Hill in Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Spring arrives in a sweep of yellow at Soleil Hill, where approximately 100,000 canola flowers blanket the park’s open fields. On clear days, you can catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji floating on a sea of yellow against the wide skies of the Miura Peninsula. According to official updates, the blooms are expected to last through late March, making this one of the earliest large-scale spring displays in the Shonan area.
When: From now until late March
Where: Soleil Hill Park
Tulips at Akebonoyama Agricultural Park in Kashiwa, Chiba
Around 160,000 tulips bloom each spring at Akebonoyama Agricultural Park, spreading across a 1.2-hectare flower field in front of the park’s Dutch-style windmill. The tulips typically peak from early to late April, creating a vibrant, postcard-perfect landscape. With free admission and parking, the park makes for an easy and photogenic spring outing.
When: Late March to late April
Canola Flowers from a Steam Locomotive in Nikko, Tochigi
Each spring, a bright yellow flower field frames the passing steam locomotive, the SL Taiju. Revived in 2017 after a 50-year hiatus, it runs between Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa-Onsen stations, traveling through open countryside with the Nikko mountain range rising in the distance and rivers flowing alongside the tracks. The Kuragasaki SL Flower Garden, cultivated by locals, lies between Daiyamuko and Okuwa stations. Watch the yellow blur past your window, or stand among the flowers as the steam rolls by.
All seats are reserved — ¥1,000 in addition to the boarding fare — so booking online in advance is recommended.
When: Early to late April
Where: Kuragasaki SL Flower Garden
Azaleas at Shiofune Kannonji Temple in Ome, Tokyo
Every spring, the hills behind Shiofune Kannonji Temple in Ome transform into a bowl of pink, crimson and white. Around 20,000 azalea bushes blanket the circular slope, wrapping the temple grounds in spring colors.
In 2010, a towering Peace Kannon statue was enshrined at the summit, creating a striking composition: flowers below, Kannon above and visitors walking in between.
When: Early April to early May
Where: Shiofune Kannonji Temple
Wisteria at Gyokyoji Temple in Iwata, Shizuoka
Curtains of violet bloom at Gyokoji Temple in Iwata, home to the 850-year-old Kumano Nagafuji, a nationally designated natural monument. The wisteria here are rare, known for their unusually long flower clusters that cascade downward in dramatic purple strands.
Five additional trees are also recognized as natural monuments of Shizuoka Prefecture.
When: Mid- to late April
Where: Gyokyoji Temple
Lupine Flowers at Komorebi Flower Field in Namegawa, Saitama
From around late April, approximately 40,000 lupines bloom at Komorebi Flower Field in Saitama’s Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park. Often called “reverse wisteria” for their upright, tower-like blooms, the purple, pink and white flowers bask beneath canopies of trees. Komorebi describes sunlight filtering softly through leaves and here, that hazy light gives this 2,000-square-meter field a fairy-tale feel. Bloom timing varies slightly each year, so checking updates before visiting is recommended.
When: Late April to mid-May
Where: Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park
Roses at Acao Forest in Atami, Shizuoka
From late April, around 4,000 rose bushes spanning 600 varieties burst into bloom at Acao Forest in Atami, transforming the hillside gardens into vivid corridors of color. Spilling over arches and trellises, the roses create a fantastical landscape set against the sparkling sea. The 660,000-square-meter park features 13 themed gardens, Coeda House, designed by Kengo Kuma, and seasonal workshops offering rose-inspired treats.
When: Late April to June
Where: Acao Forest
