A Secluded Japanese Garden Is Home To The Most Mesmerizing Colorful Blooms

Every spring, once the temperatures start to become pleasant, one of the most popular Japanese pastimes is to have a hanami or flower viewing party. Around late March, Japan turns into an enchanted floral wonderland attracting millions of visitors from around the world searching for the best spots to view cherry blossoms. In fact, in the spring of 2024, the Japan National Tourism Organization reported that Japan exceeded three million visitors in April and again in May. Each year, millions eagerly await the annual cherry blossom forecast from the Japanese Meteorological Corporation which predicts the dates for both flowering and full bloom in each region.

But if you time your visit just right, around the time the stunning cherry blossoms are closing up shop, the wisteria (or fuji) are just getting started. Although cherry blossoms tend to hog a lot of the spotlight being the unofficial national flower, don't sleep on wisteria season. Wisteria has long been an important part of Japanese culture. From surnames to family crests to fabric made from wisteria vines, these blooms have been heavily woven into the traditions here for centuries. In late April and early May, you can find gorgeous tunnels of hanging blooms in several places around Japan. One of those places is Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden, and it is one of the most mesmerizing places on earth.

Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden is the brainchild of Masao Higuchi who was inspired by a book he read as an elementary school student to leave his mark on the world. In 1968, he began to cultivate his dream garden in the hills 20 minutes southwest of Kitakyushu with help from his eldest son. After years of hard work, the garden officially opened to the public in the spring of 1977 and has welcomed visitors every year since.

When you first enter the park, you'll encounter one breathtaking trellis straight ahead and two tunnels to your right dripping with wisteria vines — one 360-foot tunnel and another 262-foot tunnel. Both paths will lead you to the largest trellis, which carpets roughly 35,520 square feet displaying different varieties with colors ranging from purple to white. The park also features an overlook that allows you to view the sea of wisterias from above.

The garden is still privately owned and is only open twice a year: Once from late April to early May for wisteria and once from mid-November to early December for maple leaf-peeping. Peak wisteria season can often coincide with Japan's Golden Week —seven days in late April and early May with four national holidays. Therefore, it's important to purchase advance tickets through the official website for a specific date and time so you can get in.

Getting to the garden can be a bit of a challenge. There's no good public transportation option. If you choose to drive, parking is free but keep in mind the parking lot fills up. A taxi will set you back around $20, but it's probably the most efficient option. Also, the park's terrain is hilly, so be sure to bring shoes with good tread. Depending on when you visit, tickets cost between 500 to 1,500 yen ($3.30 to $10) per adult, but each adult ticket admits two children for free for an unforgettable experience at one of Japan's hidden gem destinations.