By the MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Team

Two major shibazakura festivals in the Kanto region are in full swing this season. One is the Chichibu Shibazakura Hill, which started on April 11, and the other is the Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchiko) Shibazakura Festival, which kicked off on April 19. Although the cherry blossom season is gradually coming to an end, the beauty of the vibrant pink shibazakura is no less stunning, attracting many visitors every year. This year, Mount Fuji is welcoming the shibazakura season for the first time as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Fuji Shibazakura Festival (Fuji Shibazakura Matsuri) is a floral spectacle that began in 2008. It typically starts in mid-to-late April each year, peaking in May. This year’s festival runs from April 19 to June 1, with the main venue at the Fujizawa Motosuko Resort. The site is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. With a massive display of 800,000 shibazakura plants, the vivid pink hues beautifully complement the backdrop of Mount Fuji and the surrounding grasslands, creating a rare and breathtaking early summer landscape. Admission is required: 520 yen for adults and 210 yen for children (aged 3 and above). Please note that pets are not allowed. The venue also features food stalls where visitors can enjoy meals while admiring the flowers.

Shibazakura are not actually cherry blossoms but a type of perennial ground-covering plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family. They bloom between April and May and are native to North America. Because they grow low to the ground like a lawn, they are called "shibazakura" (where "shiba" means lawn in Japanese). The shibazakura at the Fuji Sakura Festival come in six main colors, ranging from white and light pink to deep pink and peach tones, creating a layered, expansive pink floral carpet. Visitors who love cherry blossom viewing in Japan might want to plan a trip to the foot of Mount Fuji next time to enjoy the unique beauty of shibazakura and take in a different kind of floral spectacle, all while admiring the majestic Mount Fuji.

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