Hydrangea season is comparable to the cherry blossom season in Japan for a good reason. Just like with sakura, the great appreciation for this flower can be seen in everyday life. From a variety of merchandize decorated with hydrangea, such as pottery or home décor, to a number of gardens solely dedicated to hydrangeas, Japanese people love flowers and flower viewing is one of the favorite pastimes in this country. hydrangea Japan
If you love hydrangeas and would love to experience their season in Japan, this article will help you plan your trip!
Best time to see Hydrangea in Japan
Hydrangea starts to slowly bloom with the first rain of the season, which is around mid-June and lasts until mid-July. This, however, depends on the amount of rain – if the rainy season is not “wet enough”, hydrangeas will die earlier. In temples and parks, the flowers are taken care of and they are watered regularly so visitors can enjoy their beauty for a long time. hydrangea Japan
Where to see Hydrangea in Kansai
There is simply something comforting about hydrangea’s fluffy flowers. For Japanese people they mark the start of summer and the rainy season when nature is the most alive. I don’t know why, but the flowers here are much bigger than I’ve ever seen and they play with bright colors. They truly bring out the best out of the gloomy rainy season. If you are visiting Japan in June and July, don’t get upset about the weather, but rather embark on a ‘hydrangea hunt’. Here are some of the best places in Kansai area where to see hydrangea. hydrangea Japan
Kyuanji Temple - Ikeda, Osaka
Kyuanji temple is a tranquil temple set on a mountainside on the north of Osaka. It features several ponds, fountains and landscaped gardens but, of course, it is the most famous for its blooming hydrangea in summer. The staff of the temple picks up fallen flowers and they fill a fountain with them, which makes a perfect backdrop for your photos. hydrangea Japan
Beside hydrangea you can see many other seasonal flowers in Kyuanji Temple. Check their website for the full list here.
Useful Information about Kyuanji Temple
How to get to Kyuanji Temple
Kyuanji temple is located in Ikeda city on the north of Osaka and to get there, you will have to take a bus. The closest train station is Ikeda station. You will get to Ikeda station by Takarazuka line from Umeda station in Osaka. From Ikeda station take the bus number 138 that will take you to Kyuanji bus stop located directly in front of the temple.
Opening hours and entrance fees
Kyuanji temple is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. The entrance fee to the temple is 300 yen.
What to do in Ikeda
Ikeda is a great half-day trip from Osaka. You will find here popular Cup Noodles Museum where Momofuku Ando created for the first time ever famous instant ramen. I wrote a guide to the Cup Noodles Museum for Osaka.com and you can read it here.
Mimurotoji Temple - Uji, Kyoto
Mimurotoji is a great place to visit not only for its beautiful hydrangea garden, but also for its 20,000 azaleas (blooming in May), or the spectacular lotus pond (lotus flowers bloom at the end of July and beginning of August). The quaint temple is located in Uji on a mountainside on the south of Kyoto. During our visit there was also a local market in front of the temple where you could buy seasonal sweets or pottery decorated with hydrangea flowers.
The terraced hydrangea garden features over 10,000 flowers. Be aware though that this place is very popular and can get busy over the weekend.
Uji is a great place to visit if you are looking for a unique destination with a countryside charm. Check my article about the top places to visit in Uji for some inspiration!
How to get to Mimurotoji temple
The closest station to the Mimurotoji temple is Mimurodo station. You can get to Mimurodo station with Keihan Line from both Kyoto and Osaka. If you would like to explore the town of Uji as well, you can get off the train at the Uji station and walk up to the temple for about 2 km.
Opening hours and entrance fees to the Mimurotoji temple
The temple and the garden are open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, but it may change during public holidays. The entrance fee during peak season (when the flowers are in full bloom) is 800 yen, otherwise it is 500 yen. You can check out the official website for any updates and annual events here.
Nagai Park - Osaka
Nagai Park is located on the south of Osaka and it may not be big in size, but it features great sports facilities and a botanical garden with around 10,000 hydrangea flowers surrounding a small stream. Because it’s a little bit further from the city, it is not too crowded and you can take some beautiful photos here.
Beside hydrangeas you can also admire here roses, palm trees, irises, water lilies, rhododendrons, wild flowers and many other. Within the park, there’s also an open-air ‘boho’ bar and a Museum of Natural History showcasing paleontology exhibits.
How to get to Nagai Park
Nagai Park is located on the south of Osaka. The closest station is Nagai station and you can easily get there by Midosuji metro line, from both Umeda and Nanba stations.
Entrance fees
The entrance fee to the park is free of charge but if you would like to visit the botanical garden, the admission is only 200 yen. The entrance to the Museum of Natural History is 300 yen.
Toji Temple - Kyoto
Toji temple in Kyoto was founded in the 8th century and it is famous for its 5-storey pagoda that is the tallest pagoda in Japan. The temple grounds are really large and beautifully preserved with many seasonal flowers blooming all year round. Besides hydrangea, you can admire here wisteria in May, irises at the beginning of June or blooming lotus pond at the end of July. There are also a few weeping cherry trees and a lot of maple trees that create picturesque autumn foliage in November.
Toji is truly a magnificent temple to experience. We visited on a rainy day where there were not any flowers to see and it was still beautiful. I am personally planning to come back in autumn. The temple is part of UNESCO World Heritage and every month on the 21sh there’s a flea market at the entrance of the temple.
How to get to Toji temple
Toji temple is only 1 km away from the Kyoto station (about 15 minute walk). You can get to Kyoto station from Osaka with JR line, Nara line, San-In line, Kintetsu line, Tokaido-Sanyo line or Thunderbird.
Entrance fees and opening hours to Toji temple
Toji is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. The general admission fee is 500 yen, but it can vary depending on season or special events. You can always check the entrance fee on their website here.
Gansen-ji Temple - Kyoto Prefecture
Gansen-ji temple is nestled in the mountains on the southernmost part of Kyoto prefecture. It was built in the 8th century and it is famous for its display of hydrangeas that line the path up to the 3-storey pagoda. You may have already seen some pictures on Instagram, because this place gets very popular during this time of the year.
We visited in August when the flowers were unfortunately gone but I still don’t regret visiting this charming little temple in the countryside. It is also worth coming here in autumn for the beautiful autumn foliage.
How to get to Gansen-ji
From Osaka
The closest station to Gansen-ji is Kamo station. You can get to Kamo station with Osaka loop line from Osaka station. The journey will take approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes. From Kamo station take a local bus that will take you directly to the temple. The bus ride takes additional 15 minutes, so it is really out of hand but worth the trip.
From Nara
Even though the temple is technically in Kyoto prefecture, it is the easiest the get there from Nara. Take the green Yamatoji line from Nara station to Kamo station. The journey takes only about 15 minutes. From Kamo station take the local bus to the temple.
From Kyoto
Take the Nara line from Kyoto station to Nara station. At the Nara station take the bus number 105 to the Iwafuneteraguchi bus station. The bus ride takes about 26 minutes. From the Iwafuneteraguchi station you will have to walk for about 20 minutes (1.6 km) to get to the temple. Alternatively you can hop on Yamatoji line on Nara station to the Kamo station and take the local bus from there.
Opening hours and admission fees to Gansen-ji
The admission to the temple is 500 yen and it is open daily from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
Mount Ikoma - Nara Prefecture
Mount Ikoma has by far the most incredible hydrangea garden I’ve seen in Japan. It is set deep in the forest on a mountainside and it’s built in terraces along the slope. We found it by accident when we went on a hike in this area when the flowers were not yet blooming and then we came back two more times. There are thousands of flowers big and bright! The nature is pristine and wild with not many people around, only a few locals. This place honestly deserves much more attention than it gets!
Admission fee
The garden is free of charge. Be aware though that you will have to hike a little bit so proper shoes and clothing is essential! Hydrangea blooms in rainy season so the paths can be very muddy. Even though it seems like there won’t be anything in the forest, you will find a vending machine at the bottom of the garden and a small café.
How to get to Mt. Ikoma
The closest station is Ikoma station. You can get to the Ikoma station with green Chuo metro line from Osaka, or Kintetsu line from Nara and Kyoto. At the Ikoma station you will have to take a funicular that will take you up the mountain. Two-way ticket to the top costs 1000 yen per person (500 yen one-way), or you can try to hike. The mountain is very steep so I wouldn’t recommend this if you are not a skilled hiker. You can buy the tickets to the funicular at the funicular station in an automat. Also, you will have to change funiculars along the way. Your station is the last station and once you are up, there will be signs to point you at the right direction to the garden. As I said, you will hike through a forest, so don’t be surprised if the signs will point you away from the main path to the woods.
What to do around Mt. Ikoma
Once you are up on the mountain, you will find an amusement park on the top. It is a little bit outdated but it has great retro vibes and it provides stunning views over Osaka. You will also find here several restaurants, toilets and vending machines. The entry is free of charge, you just have to pay for rides if you decide to go on any.
Hozan-ji Temple
In the town of Ikoma, there is also a beautiful temple called Hozan-ji. If you have a time to spare, get off the funicular at the Hozan-ji station and pay visit to this tranquil forest temple. It is open for 24 hours and it is very beautiful also in the evening. If you go up the stairs behind the main hall, you will find yourself on a forest path lined with stone statues. It is very unique and mysterious place. The entry is free of charge.
Interesting facts about Hydrangea
- Hydrangea is called ajisai in Japanese.
- It was first cultivated here in Japan, but ancient hydrangea fossils from over 40 million years ago were also found in North America.
- Hydrangea is the sign of rainy season. Japanese people adore hydrangea and going out and watch these flowers bloom is one of their favorite pastimes.
- Hydrangea flower represents gratitude, grace and beauty, while its colours symbolize love, harmony and peace. The flowers, however, can also symbolize vanity because they produce so many blooms.
- Superstitions associated with these flowers say that if you plant them by your door, your daughter will never marry.
- Hydrangeas are poisonous!
- Their colour depends on acids in the soil – the more acidic the soil is, they'll turn bluer, while less acid causes brighter colors.
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