Kameido Tenjin Wisteria Festival

With over 100 plants, Kameido Tenjin Shrine remains the best place in Tokyo to see wisteria — fuji in Japanese — in bloom. Within the shrine, the most famous view is of the vermillion drum bridge with wisteria blossoms in the foreground. It’s a scene that has been recorded in a number of ukiyo-e paintings, most famously by Hiroshige in his 100 Famous Views of Tokyo series.

Kameido Tenjin Shrine has been associated with wisteria since its founding in the mid-17th century. According to the shrine, its inaugural head priest knew that the damp soil of the grounds would be perfect for the flowering vine.

What happens?

During the annual Kameido Tenjin Wisteria Festival, the wisteria is illuminated after dusk (during the height of the season). There are also food stalls and events, like tea ceremonies, taiko drumming, and ikebana displays.

Although the festival dates are fixed, the wisteria doesn’t always play along. In warm years (think when the cherry blossoms bloom in March) the flowering may be over by the start of May. If it’s a cooler year, the blooms may be a bit sparse at the beginning of the festival.

Note: The festival can get very crowded. Try to go on a weekday if possible.

Love wisteria? There is even more wisteria on display at the Great Wisteria Festival at Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture.