10 Beautiful Spring Flowers in Japan | Famous Tourist Spots to See the Best Blooms

Spring in Japan is a season when various flowers begin to bloom as winter ends, making it easy to sense nature's transitions. Due to regional and climatic differences, flower blooming periods and landscapes vary greatly, with each location displaying different expressions even within the same spring season. In addition to flowers that have long been cherished such as plum and cherry blossoms, flowers that offer expansive flower fields like moss phlox and nemophila are also gaining popularity.

Spring flowers also serve as a major attraction when choosing tourism and travel destinations. This article introduces representative flowers that reach their peak viewing season in spring throughout Japan, along with their characteristics and famous spots where you can actually view these flowers. Please use this information when planning your seasonal travels.

In spring in Japan, many flowers bloom in succession, beginning with cherry blossoms. As winter's cold subsides, plum and peach blossoms add color, and eventually cherry blossoms reach full bloom in various locations. Following this, wisteria, canola flowers, moss phlox, tulips and others bloom, allowing visitors to enjoy different spring landscapes unique to each region.

Here, we introduce representative spring flowers and places where you can enjoy them in an easy-to-understand manner.

Cherry blossoms are the flower that symbolizes spring in Japan, typically reaching their peak viewing season from late March to early April. The sight of pale pink flowers blooming all at once is deeply connected to Japanese landscapes and culture.

Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture is known as one of Japan's premier cherry blossom viewing spots. With approximately 30,000 Shiroyamazakura trees planted across the entire mountain, the blossoms open progressively from Shimo-Senbon to Oku-Senbon due to differences in elevation, allowing visitors to enjoy different blooming stages by changing locations even during the same period. The views from mountain paths and observation decks are exceptional, and walking tours are recommended. Since the cherry blossom season tends to be crowded, visiting early in the morning is advisable.

Plum blossoms bloom earlier than cherry blossoms and evoke the transition from winter to spring. The blooming period is from late January through March, characterized by delicate flowers and their distinctive fragrance.

Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto is a shrine associated with Sugawara no Michizane, known as the deity of learning, and is also highly popular as a plum blossom viewing spot. The shrine grounds feature approximately 50 varieties and 1,500 plum trees, with red and white plum blossoms blooming continuously at staggered times. The appeal of plum blossoms includes their long flowering period, allowing for relatively uncrowded viewing.

Early spring in Kyoto comes before the peak tourist season, offering a calm atmosphere. Time spent viewing plum blossoms in the quiet shrine grounds provides a valuable experience of Japanese seasonal culture.

Peach blossoms are notable for their deep pink color, offering a different vibrancy from cherry blossoms. The best viewing period is from late March to mid-April, making them one of the flowers that herald the arrival of full spring.

At Fuefuki Togenkyō spread across Fuefuki City in Yamanashi Prefecture, peach orchards throughout the city bloom simultaneously. Due to the topography of the Kofu Basin, flowers bloom progressively from low to high elevations, allowing for a relatively extended viewing period. The color contrast between peach blossoms and canola flowers that bloom at the same time is also a highlight. The surrounding area has hot spring resorts and wineries, making it a region where it's easy to combine flower viewing with sightseeing.

Wisteria is characterized by long, hanging flower clusters and has long been cherished for its elegant appearance. The best viewing period is from mid-April to mid-May, known as a flower that colors the end of spring.

At Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture, visitors can enjoy diverse wisteria centered around great wisteria trees over 100 years old. As purple, white, and yellow varieties bloom in succession, different scenes unfold depending on when you visit. Walking under the wisteria trellises provides the sensation of being enveloped by flowers. Evening illuminations create a fantastical atmosphere different from daytime. Since blooming periods are easily affected by weather, check official information before traveling.

Canola flowers are characterized by their bright yellow color and are one of the flowers representing Japan's spring landscape. The best viewing period is from March to April, creating beautiful scenery with their contrast against blue skies.

At Showa Kinen Park in Tokyo, canola flowers spread across vast flower fields. There are also areas within the park where they can be viewed simultaneously with cherry blossoms, allowing visitors to enjoy two spring flowers at once. With well-maintained pathways, visitors can leisurely view the scenery while strolling. Easy access from central Tokyo and the ability to experience quintessentially Japanese spring scenery in a short time are major attractions for travelers.

Moss phlox blooms densely covering the ground, reaching its peak viewing season from late April to late May.

At Shibazakura Takinoue Park in Takinoue, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido, approximately 100,000 square meters of hilly terrain is colored with moss phlox. Pink and purple flowers stretch continuously, creating scenery like a spread carpet. Hokkaido's spring has lower temperatures than Honshu, which is also characteristic in making the flower colors appear more vivid. Walking paths are maintained within the park, allowing visitors to enjoy both views from above and flowers up close. Since mornings and evenings can be chilly, bringing a jacket even in spring is advisable.

Muscari is a spring bulb plant with small urn-shaped flowers that bloom in clusters, reaching its peak viewing season from late April to mid-May.

At Yurigahara Park in Sapporo, blue-purple flowers spread across an area called "Muscari Road." Since the flowers are short in height and bloom close to the ground, their beauty stands out even more when viewed from a lower angle. The scenery with tulips scattered among the muscari is also characteristic. Since flowers can also be enjoyed from the park train running through the grounds, it's suitable for travelers who want to minimize walking distance.

Sapporo's spring is refreshing and suitable for leisurely flower viewing.

Tulips come in abundant varieties of colors and shapes and are beloved worldwide as a representative spring flower. In Japan, they reach their peak viewing season from March to April.

At Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki Prefecture, the entire townscape is colored with tulips. Visitors can enjoy flower beds with different designs in each location, such as Flower Road and the palace front garden. The scenery where flowers harmonize with European-style architecture evokes an exotic atmosphere. The park also has restaurants and accommodation facilities, making it possible to combine flower viewing with overnight stays.

Nemophila is characterized by pale blue small flowers and reaches its peak viewing season from mid-April to early May.

At Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture, more than 5 million nemophila bloom across the entire Miharashi Hill. The scenery where blue flowers, sky, and the distant sea become one is one of the landscapes symbolizing spring in Japan. Visitors can enjoy both the view looking down from the hilltop and the experience of walking among the flowers. Since the park is very spacious, comfortable walking shoes are essential. Particularly beautiful on sunny days, it's popular with international tourists as well.

Azaleas bloom with vivid red and pink flowers, reaching their peak viewing season from mid to late April.

At Shiibae Park in Mimata, Miyazaki Prefecture, approximately 60,000 Kurume azalea trees color the hilly terrain. The sight of slopes entirely dyed red is impressive, and the color contrast with double-flowered cherry blossoms blooming at the same time is also a highlight. Climbing the slope leads to an observation deck offering panoramic views of the flower fields and surrounding mountains. Since the area has relatively few tourists, it's suitable for travelers who want to quietly enjoy spring nature. On nice weather days, bringing a bento lunch to enjoy is also recommended.

In spring in Japan, diverse scenery unfolds from traditional flowers like cherry and plum blossoms to flowers that spread across entire fields like nemophila and moss phlox. Since the best viewing periods and ways to enjoy them differ depending on the type of flower, devising the places and timing of your visits will lead to more memorable experiences.

The environments where flowers can be enjoyed, such as mountains, parks, and historic sites, also have characteristics unique to each region. Spring flowers serve not only for photography and strolling but also as opportunities to learn about local culture and nature. By checking blooming periods and climate in advance and choosing locations that match your travel style, you can more deeply savor the unique charm of spring in Japan.

*This article is based on information available as of January 2026