Akiruno Area Guide | Tokyo Cheapo

June is the best time to see hydrangeas in Japan. You'll see bursts of blue and pink ajisai all around the country, including the capital. Here are some of our favorite spots to see this underrated summer flower around Tokyo, besides the beloved Bunkyo Ajisai Festival. Did you know? The color of a hydrangea is largely determined by the pH of the soil. A more acidic pH results in blue blooms, while more alkalinity fetches pink flowers. 1. Kamakura Hasedera Temple Hydrangea Path June 7-22, may be extended Hasedera Temple, Kamakura Tickets cost , advance reservations recommended One of the most famous spots to see hydrangeas near Tokyo, the Hasedera Hydrangea Path in Kamakura is a visual treat. You can look forward to more than 2,500 hydrangeas, encompassing an impressive 40 different varieties. Due to the popularity of the place, advance reservations are highly recommended. See our event listing for more details on how to secure an entry ticket. 2. Hakone Hydrangea Train June 14-30 Hakone Tozan Railway Tickets cost plus base fare, advance reservations recommended A very special rail experience indeed, the annual Hydrangea Train runs between Hakone-Yumoto Station and Gora Station every night in the second half of June. The cool little mountain train meanders along illuminated stretches of track, giving passengers a chance to get up-close views of the hydrangeas that grow alongside. 3. Hydrangea Festival at Yokohama English Garden May 26 to June 29 Yokohama English Garden -- buy tickets online Next on our list of top hydrangea spots around Tokyo is the elegant Yokohama English Garden, which puts on an undoubtedly Instagram-worthy show of hydrangeas and umbrellas. It's not the biggest or most spacious venue, but it is pretty. The garden is about 10 minutes on foot from Hiranumabashi Station. There is also a free shuttle bus that runs from the west exit of Yokohama Station. More info. 4. Kaisei Ajisai Festival June 7-15 Kaisei Hydrangea Village, Kaisei Free You'll find 5,000 hydrangeas against a backdrop of rice paddies at this lesser-known festival in Kanagawa. The easiest access point is Kaisei Station on the Odakyu Line, which is around 1 hour 20 minutes from Shinjuku (take the Romance Car if you can). From there, you can hop on a shuttle bus to the event -- these run every 20 minutes during the festival period. More info. 5. Akigawa Valley Hydrangea Festival June 7 to July 6 Akigawa Valley, Akiruno for an all-access ticket, cheaper for single-venue entry Possibly the number-one place to see hydrangeas near Tokyo, Akigawa Valley boasts an incredible 30,000 hydrangeas spread across two sites. Included in the mix are some rare varieties. Check out the "Wonderful Nature Village Ajisai", which is near Tokyo Summerland, for 15,000 hydrangeas, and Minamisawa Hydrangea Mountain for another 15,000. Wonderful Nature Village is probably the easier to access of the two, as there is a free shuttle bus that runs from Tokyo Summerland. Regardless of the venue you pick, you're looking at a good hour and a half to two hours from central Tokyo. More info. 6. Sōgo Reidō Hydrangea Festival June 1-22 Tōshō-ji Sōgo-Reidō, Narita Free This is a local festival that's been going for 20 years now. The Buddhist temple Tōshō-ji Sōgo Reidō in Narita is home to 7,000 hydrangeas, which can be found in a dedicated garden. Throughout the festival period, there are special events like traditional music performances, tea ceremony, and farmers' markets. The temple is about 20 minutes by foot from the west exit of Keisei Sogo-Sando Station. More info. 7. Iris and Hydrangea Festival in Machida May 31 to June 29 Yakushiike Park, Machida Free A 15-20 minute bus ride from Machida Station, you'll find close to 6,000 hydrangeas in bloom at Yakushiike Park. You'll also find over 2,000 irises, which typically flower first. This is a quiet, relatively unknown park among tourists. It has a beautiful pond, and makes for a relaxing outing. More info (in Japanese). 8. Fuchū Hydrangea Festival May 31 to July 6 Kyōdo no Mori Historical Museum, Fuchū Another hidden hydrangea gem, this forest museum in Fuchū has 10,000 hydrangeas for you to admire. You can also partake in tea ceremony on weekends during the festival period. The museum is about 20 minutes on foot from Fuchū-Honmachi Station and Bubaigawara Station. There are also buses that stop at the museum, so access is fairly easy. More info. 9. Satte Gongendo Hydrangea Festival June 7-29 Gongendo Park #4, Satte, Saitama Free See more than 10,000 hydrangeas -- including 3,000 beautiful white Annabels -- at this long-running flower festival in Saitama. It's hosted at the prefectural Gongendo Park, which is a bit of a trek from Satte Station (2.5 km). However, buses do stop at the venue. More info. While we do our best to ensure prices and other details are correct, information is subject to change.

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