7 Must-Visit Flower Festivals around Tokyo in Autumn

Autumn is one of the best season to visit Japan. Autumn leaves are the top attraction during the season which fascinate visitors from all around the world. Colourful leaves like maple and ginkgo trees display spectacular autumn scenery across the country.

Besides colourful autumn leaves, there are also seasonal flowers and plants to enjoy in Japan in autumn. In this article, I’m going to introduce 7 flower events held in and around Tokyo featuring beautiful autumn flowers and plants. From Kochia to Pampas Grass, check out the most gorgeous autumn flowers!

▶ Must-Visit Flower Festivals around Tokyo in Spring
▶ Must-Visit Flower Festivals around Tokyo in Summer

1. Kochia Carvinal

One of the most popular autumn events in Japan, Kochia Carnival (コキアカーニバル) is held at Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture, featuring 32,000 cute Kochia balls on the vast hill of 350 ha. Kochia Carnivals held from mid September to mid October every year. Besides Kochia, there is also a Cosmos field which displays a stunning view.

More info: Kochia Carnival at Hitachi Seaside Park

2. Kinchakuda Red Spider Lily Festival

Higanbana (or also called Manjushage/ Lycoris radiata, red spider lily, red magic lily in English) is one of most iconic autumn flowers in Japan. Kinchakuda Red Spider Lily Festival (巾着田曼珠沙華まつり) is held at Kinchakuda in Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture, the largest Higanbana field in Japan. The event features over 500 burning red Higanbana flowers at the venue.

More info: Kinchakuda Higanbana Field

Check out more spider lily spots: 10 Beautiful Spots to See Spider Lilies (Higanbana) near Tokyo

3. Cosmos at Yamanakako Hanano Miyako Park

Cosmos flower is often described as “the Cherry Blossom of Autumn” and flourishes at many spots across the country. One of the best Cosmos spots to access from Tokyo is Yamanakako Hanano Miyako Park (山中湖花の都公園) which is located next to Lake Yamanaka at the base of Mt Fuji. The vast field of 300,000 m2 is filled with golden cosmos flowers, and the spectacular view can be enjoyed with Mt Fuji on the background.

More info: Cherry Blossom of Autumn: Enjoy Golden Cosmos Flower next to Mt Fuji!

4. Rainbow Flower Festival

Rainbow Flower Festival (虹の花まつり) is a flower event held at Fuji Motosuko Resort in Yamanashi Prefecture. It’s located approx 4km away from Lake Motosu (or Motosuko), one of the Fuji Five Lakes, comprising five lakes around Mt Fuji (Kawaguchi, Yamanaka, Motosu, Sai and Shoji lakes). The event features approx 80,000 colourful flowers that flourish beautifully and display astonishing scenery with the summer Mt Fuji in the background.

The venue is famous for Fuji Shibazakura Festival, one of the most popular flower events which features pink moss and is held during spring.

More info: Rainbow Flower Festival at Fuji Motosuko Resort

5. Hakone Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field

Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field (仙石原すすき草原) is located on the hillslope of Daigatake Mountain in Hakone town, Kanagawa Prefecture. The fluffy pampas grass covers the vast field on the mountain and displays the stunning landscape. During autumn, the pampas grass slowly turn its colour from fresh green to shiny silver then to pale gold The best viewing time is from late September to early November.

More info: Hakone Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field

6. Kyu Furukawa Gardens Rose Festival

Kyu Furukawa Garden (旧古河庭園 ) is a Tokyo metropolitan park in Nishigahara, Kita ward. The garden consists of a historical western-style mansion with a rose garden, and a Japanese garden from early 20th century. A variety of flowers can be seen at the garden through the year, but the most popular one is gorgeous roses. There are two best seasons to enjoy roses at the garden: early summer (mid May to late June) and autumn (mid October to late November). Over 100 kinds of roses flourish and the special festival is held during the season.

Official website: http://teien.tokyo-park.or.jp/en/kyu-furukawa/index.html

7. Akabori Kogiku no Sato

Akabori Mini Chrysanthemum Park or Akabori Kogiku no Sato (あかぼり小菊の里) is located in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture. The special flower festival is held annually in October, featuring over 20,000 of colourful small chrysanthemum (Kiku in Japanese) which blooms on the 2.3 ha vast field on the southern slope of the highest peak (168.3m) of Mt Minegishi. Besides, there will be a market selling food, local products and seedlings of the flowers at the festival.

Official website: http://kogikunosato.jpn.org/ (Japanese)

Check out more beautiful flowers in Japan for spring and summer!

▶ 7 Must-Visit Flower Festivals around Tokyo in Spring
▶ 7 Must-Visit Flower Festivals around Tokyo in Summer

You can enjoy a wide variety of flowers in Japan throughout the year. Check out our ultimate guide to flowers in Japan and find the best seasonal blooms!

▶ Flowers in Japan

Did you enjoy the list?? Japanese autumn is not only about the leaves maple trees, but there are more spots to enjoy beautiful autumn colours 😉 For more info about travelling in Japan in autumn, please check out these articles, too!

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