Written by Tiffany
Researched by Alexandra Ziminski
When people think of fall in Japan, they tend to think of leaves bursting into red and yellow. But there is more to the season than just the trees undressing — there is a wonderful variety of autumn flowers to see in Tokyo and beyond.
Pro tip: Book a bus tour to Hitachi Seaside Park to see its hillside of kochia at their reddest in October.
Japan has a habit of dedicating entire days to flower excursions. Spring flower festivals may be the most famous example thanks to hanami (cherry-blossom viewing). However, there are plenty of flower festivals throughout the year — just look at Hokkaidō’s lavender fields or Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture, and you’ll see what we mean.
Autumn, naturally, is no exception.
Japan’s fall flowers
Traditionally, Japan had seven representative autumn flowers — collectively known as aki no nanakusa — which were often depicted in paintings and described in haiku and other literature.
Historically, Japan’s seven fall flowers were:
- Bush clover (hagi)
- Dianthus (nadeshiko)
- Chinese bellflower (kikyō)
- Valerian (ominaeshi)
- Boneset (fujibakama)
- Kudzu (kuzu)
- Japanese pampas grass (susuki, also known as obana)
Apart from a few hagi festivals, you don’t see many celebrations or exhibits for these plants anymore, though you can still find them at many parks.
Instead, when people think of Japan’s fall flowers today, they tend to think of:
- Red spider lilies (higanbana)
- Cosmos (akizakura)
- Kochia (hōkigi)
- Chrysanthemums (kiku)
Where to see fall flowers in Japan
There are festivals throughout the season, some within Tokyo and some requiring a little travel. Some of the more rural locations are easiest to reach via an organized tour, so keep that in mind when planning. If you don’t feel like traveling far, you could simply head to one of Tokyo’s gardens. Most have a great selection of fall flowers.
Red spider lilies
Mid-September to early OctoberHidaka (Saitama Prefecture)
Red spider lilies, or higanbana, bloom close to the autumn equinox in late September, so when you see them blooming, you’ll know that autumn is near. These vibrant red flowers are a sight to behold, but they have an ominous meaning in flower language or hanakotoba: they’re associated with loss and death. According to legend, these flowers bloom along paths walked by people you may never meet again.
The name manjushage, used for higanbana in Japan, is said to come from the Lotus Sūtra. The flowers are also commonly found in cemeteries, which is why they are often called the flowers of the underworld.
Kinchakuda Manjushage Park
If you want to see these hauntingly beautiful flowers, head over to Kinchakuda Manjushage Park in Hidaka, Saitama from mid-September to early October. The park is a 15-minute walk from Koma Station on the Seibu-Ikebukuro line, which is about an hour away from Ikebukuro Station.
| At the door: ¥500 | ||
Cosmos
Mid-September to late OctoberTachikawa, Tokyo
Showa Memorial Park
You’re sure to catch these colorful blossoms, which are nicknamed akizakura (autumn cherry blossoms), at Showa Memorial Park until late October.
| At the door: ¥450 | ||
Kochia
Mid-OctoberHitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki Prefecture
Kochia are fluffy balls of fun from July to November, but they are most sought-after when they turn a brilliant shade of red in mid-October. In the past, people used to dry the plant and use it as a broom — but they soon realized kochia is far too pretty for that.
Fun fact: the plant’s tiny seeds, known as tonburi, are a specialty in Akita Prefecture.
Hitachi Seaside Park
Miharashi Hill in Ibaraki Prefecture’s Hitachi Seaside Park is famous for being covered in fiery red kochia throughout October. The park is about two hours away from Tokyo. You can book a bus tour, if you don’t feel like dealing with trains and buses.
Autumn roses
Early October to early NovemberVarious spots in Tokyo
While it’s a common flower, if you like roses, you’ll be pleased to know that some parks and gardens in Tokyo — Kyū-Furukawa Teien Garden in Komagome, Hibiya Park, and Jindai Botanical Gardens in Chōfu, among others — have autumn rose festivals for certain types that bloom in October.
Kyū-Furukawa Gardens
This flower show is a yearly highlight at Kyū-Furukawa Gardens. Not only are there beautiful roses, but there are also early-morning scent walks (booking required), daily garden tours, and a market selling bloomin’ good rose goods.
| At the door: ¥150 | ||
| At the door: ¥70 | ||
Chrysanthemums
Late October to late NovemberVarious spots in Tokyo
Next up are chrysanthemums — arguably the flower that gets associated with autumn the most. Even though it’s never been one of the aki no nanakusa, it’s been long-cherished in Japan, so it might as well be considered the representative flower for autumn.
Aside from the cherry blossom, the chrysanthemum (kiku in Japanese) is considered to be Japan’s national flower, since it is associated with the Imperial Family. Not only does it appear on the Imperial Seal of Japan, but the monarchy is also referred to as the Chrysanthemum Throne. Many family crests have also featured this flower, which is a symbol of longevity. You can see it on the 50-yen coin, too.
Because of the chrysanthemum’s significance, there are several flower festivals dedicated to it. In most cases, they not only display the flowers, but also sell seeds and young chrysanthemums that you can grow on your own.
Jindai Botanical Gardens
Head to Jindai Botanical Gardens for their yearly Chrysanthemum Exhibition. To get there, take the Keiō Bus bound for Jindai-ji Temple from the north exit of Tsutsujigaoka Station or from Chōfu Station (both on the Keiō Line), and get off at the Jindai Shokubutsu Kōen stop.
| At the door: ¥500 | ||
| At the door: ¥200 | ||
| At the door: ¥250 | ||
Takahata Fudōson Temple
Held at Takahata Fudōson Kongō-ji Temple in Hino, in western Tokyo, this festival fills the temple grounds with chrysanthemum displays — and gives you a good excuse to see the temple’s five-story pagoda, too. The temple is a 5-minute walk from Takahata-fudō Station on the Keiō Line or Tama Monorail.
Kameido Tenjin Shrine
Well known for its wisteria festival in spring, Kameido’s signature shrine also has chrysanthemums to enjoy in autumn. This festival is a 15-minute walk from either Kameido or Kinshichō Station. You can pair a visit with a trip to nearby Tokyo Skytree.
Shinjuku Gyoen Garden (Editor’s top pick)
The Shinjuku Gyoen exhibition traces its roots to imperial chrysanthemum viewings that began in 1878. The garden started growing chrysanthemums for them in 1904, the viewings moved here in 1929, and the tradition has carried on since the garden opened to the public in 1949.
The displays are arranged in traditional pavilions around the Japanese garden. Although there’s a small fee to get in (¥500 for adults), it’s well worth it. See what else there is to do in Shinjuku.
| At the door: ¥500 | ||
| At the door: ¥250 | ||
Hibiya Park
This flower festival is a 2-minute walk from Hibiya or Kasumigaseki stations. It’s practically a tradition now: the Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Chrysanthemum Exhibition has been held since 1915, and entry is free. Expect everything from giant single blooms to bonsai and cascading kengai displays. The 2026 dates hadn’t been announced at the time of writing.
Yushima Tenmangū Shrine
Open from 6 a.m. until sunset, this festival at Yushima Tenmangū shows off kiku ningyō (dolls dressed in chrysanthemums), which are rare in Tokyo, alongside cascading and thousand-bloom displays. It’s a 2-minute walk from Yushima Station.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in November 2015. Last updated: October 2026 by Alex Ziminski.
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