Located about 70 minutes from Tokyo Station, Hasedera Temple is just a 5-minute walk from Hase Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway. Known as the "Temple of Flowers," Hasedera features a stunning landscape that changes with the seasons, offering visitors a chance to admire a variety of blooms throughout the year.

In late May, the temple becomes particularly enchanting with over 40 different species and approximately 2,500 hydrangea plants, each displaying unique colors, shapes, and blooming times. The temple grounds are adorned with these beautiful hydrangeas, creating a captivating sight for visitors.

During the peak blooming period, which lasts about three weeks, visitors need both an admission ticket and a separate "Hydrangea Pass" (priced at 500 yen) to walk along the Ajisai Walk (Scenic Trail) and fully appreciate the stunning hydrangeas.

Within the temple grounds, there's an observation deck that offers sweeping views of the sea and the cityscape of Kamakura. On clear days, you can even see as far as Izu Oshima Island. As you continue along the walking path, you'll come to a stunning viewpoint overlooking Yuigahama Beach. The captivating scenery is sure to soothe your heart, providing a sense of tranquility and serenity.

Blooming Period: Late May to early July

A 10-minute walk from Kita-Kamakura Station, which you can reach after a 50-minute ride on the JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station, Meigetsuin Temple is famous for its impressive array of hydrangeas.

Known as the "Kamakura Hydrangea Temple," it features over 2,500 hydrangea flowers that brighten the gardens from late May, with the peak blooming period between mid to late June. The most notable species here is the himeajisai hydrangea, a revered variety that has been in Japan since ancient times.

Visitors flock to see the striking contrast between the delicate blue flowers, nicknamed "Meigetsuin Blue," and the vibrant greenery of the surrounding forest.

Complementing the hydrangeas are blooming Japanese irises, which appear at the beginning of summer. To celebrate this enchanting season, the normally off-limits Hondo Ushiro Garden will be open to the public.

The beauty of this exquisite garden, framed like a masterful painting, is best appreciated from the round window in the main temple building. The Hondo Ushiro Garden is only open for the irises of early summer and the foliage of autumn, so don't miss the chance to see this rare gem of Kamakura.

During your visit, we recommend taking a break at the ‘Gesshoken’ teahouse, where you can enjoy matcha and sweets while admiring the surrounding garden. Spending a few hours in this pristine natural beauty will leave you with a deeply nourished heart and soul.

Blooming Period: Mid to late June

Located about an hour and a half from Shinjuku, Hakone is a popular tourist destination known for its natural beauty. Every year, around 10,000 hydrangea plants bloom along the tracks of the Hakone Tozan Train, creating a stunning display.

The train journey from Hakone-Yumoto Station to Gora Station, which takes about 40 minutes, is fondly called the "Hydrangea Train." With the Hakone Tozan Train running four times per hour during the daytime, visitors can easily enjoy the hydrangea views while traveling to other tourist spots.

From the windows of the leisurely moving train, you can admire the hydrangeas without getting wet, even on rainy days. Whether you watch the Hydrangea Train passing through the flower-filled areas or enjoy the view from inside the train, there are multiple ways to experience the beauty.

Additionally, the reserved-seat "Night Hydrangea Train" will be in operation. The hydrangeas along the railway will be illuminated at night, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the experience.

The track-side hydrangea blooms for a month from mid-June until mid-July. As this region is full of mountains, the higher altitude flowers bloom later, allowing a larger window for viewing than most places.

After leaving Hakone-Yumoto Station, the train performs a “switch-back” in three different locations, forming a zig-zag path as it ascends the mountains of Hakone.

One of the switch-back locations is Ohiradai Station, which is known as a famous hydrangea hotspot with lots of photo opportunities. Providing a completely different view from the way up, the return ride is also extremely popular, making purchasing a two-way ticket worthwhile.

Blooming Period: Mid to late June to early July
Blooming Period by Location:
・Hakone-Yumoto Station Area: Mid to late June
・Ohiradai Station Area: Late June to early July
・Miyanoshita Station Area: Late June to early July
・Chokokunomori Station Area: Late June to mid-July
・Gora Station Area: Late June to mid-July
・Along the Cable Car Line: Early to late July

Chokokuzan Hondoji Temple, also known as the “Temple of Seasonal Flowers,” is favored for its remarkable gardens blooming throughout the year. The temple can be accessed via a 15-minute walk from Kita-Kogane Station after a 30-minute train ride from Ueno Station on the JR Joban Line. Over 10,000 hydrangeas of 10 different varieties decorate the temple grounds from early June, with their peak beauty occurring later in the month.

Alongside the hydrangea gardens, Chokokuzan Hondoji Temple is known for its towering 5-story pagoda, creating a dynamic backdrop presenting the pinnacle of Japanese beauty.

Early June will also see the blooming of over 5,000 Japanese irises. For the best experience, try to aim for a time when both flowers are at their peak!

Every year during this time, a limited-edition seasonal temple stamp featuring hydrangea and iris designs is available. To get it, however, you’ll need a “goshuin-cho,” a special notebook used for collecting temple stamps available for purchase at most staffed temples and shrines.

Blooming Period: Early June to early July

For a fix of hydrangeas in Saitama Prefecture, look no further than Gongendo Park in the city of Satte. This spacious park acts as a haven for locals to unwind in nature and escape the everyday. With a massive assortment of 16,000 hydrangeas of 100 different varieties, it is also one of Kanto’s biggest hydrangea hotspots.

Coinciding with their blooming in June, the annual Satte Hydrangea Festival is held in Gongendo Number 4 Park (Gongendo Park Sakurazutsumi) to celebrate this incredible natural wonder.

A remarkable diversity of hydrangea can be found inside the park, including the elegant “Annabelle” hydrangea by the car park, the “Dance Party” and “Future” hydrangea in the Omide Hiroba, along with “Sumida Fireworks,” “Blue Sky,” and plenty of others with equally tantalizing names.

The gardeners, who are all volunteers, have done a commendable job crafting this definitive hydrangea showcase. We recommend visiting when the 3,000 Annabelle hydrangeas are in full bloom, covering the hills in a luscious, pristine white!

Gongendo Park also boasts a teahouse selling drinks, homemade bread, bento boxes, and souvenirs. What better way to enjoy nature than a bento box picnic amongst the blooming flowers and rolling hills! Just keep an eye on the forecast for rain!

Best Viewing Period: Early/mid to late June

Temples, trains, parks, and mountains - the Tokyo and Kanto area brims with dozens of fantastic spots to check out the wonderful colors of the blooming hydrangea. Add a little life to the gloom and gray of the rainy season with a fun and relaxing hydrangea garden day trip from Tokyo!

*The condition of the hydrangea will depend upon weather and climate; flower blooming periods will change depending upon the year
*Due to the current situation, event times and details may change.
*This article was originally published in 2021 and the information updated in May 2024.

Text by: Clink