By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
Beautiful Japan boasts vibrant blooms year-round, and spring is no exception—with not only cherry blossoms but also tulips, camellias, and more. Here’s a guide to the six most iconic dreamy flowers and festivals in spring Japan.
Beautiful Japan offers different flowers to admire in each season. (Image source / fuefuki-kanko)
● February | Camellias (Oshima Camellia Festival)
Camellias, known for their symmetrical beauty and long-lasting blooms, have long been a symbol of love for young couples. For the best camellia experience, head to the Oshima Camellia Festival held from late January to March on Izu Oshima Island, where over 3 million camellias across 120 varieties bloom. During the festival, visitors can enjoy stunning floral displays and traditional folk dances and songs.
Oshima Camellia Festival. (Image source / city.yokosuka)
● March | Plum Blossoms (Kume Plum Blossom Festival)
Japan’s most beloved flower-viewing season actually begins with plum blossoms (not cherry blossoms). Blooming resiliently through the harsh winter and emerging in early February, these tough flowers symbolize spring, longevity, and renewal. For plum blossom viewing, the Kume Plum Park in Musashino City, Tokyo, is highly recommended, where over 1,500 plum trees of more than 120 varieties burst into dazzling shades of pink, red, and white.
The Kume Plum Blossom Festival is a renowned plum-viewing event. (Image source / gotokyo)
● April | Peach Blossoms (Fuefuki Peach Blossom Festival)
Peach blossoms symbolize purity and femininity, and young Japanese women often place these flowers in their homes to pray for luck and happy marriages. According to the lunar calendar, peach blossoms typically bloom around the start of Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day). Nowhere is better to admire peach blossoms than Fuefuki City in Yamanashi Prefecture, where thousands of peach trees blanket the valleys. The Fuefuki Peach Blossom Festival is held annually from late March to mid-April.
The refreshing colors of peach blossoms complement the blue sky. (Image source / rakuten)
● April | Tulips (Gosen Tulip Festival)
Since tulips were introduced to Japan in the 19th century, Niigata’s rice farmers have grown them in their paddies during fallow periods. Initially a luxury flower reserved for the elite, tulips soon became popular in gardens, pots, and floral arrangements across all social classes. Gosen City in Niigata celebrates its heritage as one of Japan’s earliest and largest tulip suppliers with a month-long Tulip Festival. From mid-April to May, visitors can admire over 300 varieties spread across more than 65,000 square meters of flower fields.
A breathtaking sea of colorful tulips. (Image source / japantimeline)
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