Tokyo Hydrangea Best 7 Spots: Ajisai Festival & Peak Season Guide
Tokyo Mate
In June, when the rainy season begins, hydrangea spots across central Tokyo and its outskirts hit their most beautiful moment of the year.
This guide rounds up the 2026 peak bloom dates, festival schedules, admission fees, and access for the Top 7 hydrangea spots near Tokyo. From the easily reached Ajisai Festivals inside the city to the must-see day-trip routes in Kamakura and Hakone, everything below is based on official sources.
2026 Tokyo Hydrangea Peak Season & Schedule at a Glance
In Tokyo, hydrangea bloom timing lines up almost exactly with the rainy season (mid-June to early July).
Peak is usually mid-June, but festival dates differ by location, so checking the schedule before you go is essential. (One exception: the higher-elevation Hakone area stays at peak through mid-July.)
📍 Hydrangea Spots in Central Tokyo
| Location | Peak Bloom & Festival Schedule | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| ① Hakusan Shrine | Bunkyo Ajisai Festival Jun 6 (Sat) – Jun 14 (Sun) | Free |
| ② Sumida Park | Early to late June (always open) | Free |
| ③ Asukayama Park | Early to late June (always open) | Free |
📍 Hydrangea Spots on the Outskirts & Near Tokyo
| Location | Peak Bloom & Festival Schedule | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| ④ Takahata Fudoson | Hydrangea Festival Jun 1 (Mon) – Jun 30 (Tue) | Free |
| ⑤ Kamakura Meigetsuin | Late May – Late June | 500 yen (inner garden +500 yen) |
| ⑥ Kamakura Hasedera | Late May – Late June | 400 yen (hydrangea path ticket +500 yen) |
| ⑦ Hakone Tozan Railway | Night Ajisai Train Jun 13 (Sat) – Jun 30 (Tue), 2026 | 500 yen (one way) |
Top 3 Hydrangea Spots in Central Tokyo
① Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival (Hakusan Shrine) | #1 Pick Inside Tokyo
A historic shrine loved since the Edo period. About 3,000 hydrangea plants bloom across the shrine grounds and the adjoining Hakusan Park. With colorful hydrangeas lining the approach and a wide range of festival stalls set up alongside, it's the largest hydrangea festival in Tokyo — and one you can enjoy in the middle of the city.
| Spot | Hakusan Shrine (白山神社) |
| Festival | Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival (文京あじさいまつり) |
| Festival Period | Jun 6 (Sat) – Jun 14 (Sun), 2026 |
| Peak Bloom | Early to mid-June |
| Admission | Free |
| Access | 🚃 2 min walk from Hakusan Station (Mita Line), Exit A3 🚃 7 min walk from Hon-Komagome Station (Namboku Line), Exit 1 📍 View on Google Maps |
② Sumida Park Hydrangea Path | Asakusa & Skytree Backdrop
A hydrangea promenade inside Sumida Park, a Taito Ward park just steps from Asakusa Station. Hydrangeas line the walking path through the park, and on clear days you can frame your photos with Tokyo Skytree in the background. It pairs naturally with Senso-ji, Nakamise-dori, and the rest of Asakusa sightseeing, so it's a great fit for a June Tokyo itinerary.
| Spot | Sumida Park Hydrangea Path (隅田公園 あじさいロード) |
| Festival | Always open (no separate festival) |
| Peak Bloom | Early to late June |
| Admission | Free |
| Access | 🚃 3–5 min walk from Asakusa Station (Ginza Line / Tobu Line) 📍 View on Google Maps |
③ Asukayama Park Hydrangea Path | Hydrangeas and Trains
Asukayama Park is famous as a cherry blossom spot, but in June, hydrangeas of every color bloom along Asuka-no-Komichi (飛鳥の小径). Because the path runs right alongside the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line tracks, it's well known as a photo spot where you can fit hydrangeas and a passing train into the same frame. With fewer tourists than the bigger sites, it's a good pick if you're looking for a quieter spot.
| Spot | Asukayama Park Hydrangea Path (飛鳥の小径) |
| Festival | Always open (no separate festival) |
| Peak Bloom | Early to late June |
| Admission | Free |
| Access | 🚃 Central Exit, Oji Station (JR Keihin-Tohoku Line) 🚃 Central Exit, Asukayama Station (Toden Arakawa Line) 📍 View on Google Maps |
Top 4 Hydrangea Spots Outside Tokyo & Nearby
④ Takahata Fudoson | Overwhelming Scale, Ranked #1
Known as the "top hydrangea temple in Kanto," Takahata Fudoson has more than 7,800 hydrangea plants across about 250 varieties. The blooms tumble down the hillside in full color — for sheer scale and variety, it stands at the very top among Tokyo-area hydrangea spots.
| Spot | Takahata Fudoson (高幡不動尊) |
| Festival Name | Hydrangea Festival |
| Festival Period | Jun 1 (Mon) – Jun 30 (Tue), 2026 |
| Peak Bloom | Mountain hydrangea: late May – mid-June Western hydrangea: mid-June – late June |
| Admission | Free |
| Access | 🚃 5 min walk from Takahatafudo Station (Keio Line) 🚃 5 min walk from Takahatafudo Station (Tama Toshi Monorail) 📍 View on Google Maps |
⑤ Kamakura Meigetsuin | The “Meigetsuin Blue” Shot
About 2,500 small-flowered Hime-ajisai bloom here in a gradient of blue tones known as "Meigetsuin Blue" — the signature look of the temple. On rainy days the colors deepen even further, and early-summer irises plus the round window of the main hall (Satori-no-mado) give you plenty of other photo spots too. (No advance reservation required.)
| Spot | Meigetsuin (明月院) |
| Peak Bloom | Late May – late June |
| Hours | 9:00 – 16:00 |
| Admission | Adults: 500 yen Children (junior high and under): 300 yen Inner garden of the main hall: additional 500 yen |
| Access | 🚃 About 10 min walk from JR Kita-Kamakura Station 📍 View on Google Maps |
※ The 2026 fees and dates have not been officially announced yet and may change. We'll update this section as soon as the temple announces them.
⑥ Kamakura Hasedera | Wide-Open Sea Views Along the Hydrangea Path
Hasedera is Kamakura's top spot for enjoying hydrangeas and an ocean view at the same time. More than 40 varieties — about 2,500 plants in all — bloom along the walking paths in the temple grounds. During peak season, on top of the regular admission (400 yen), a separate hydrangea path ticket (500 yen) is required, and online advance reservations are essential.
There are about 80 steps up to the entrance and another roughly 130 steps inside the walking paths, with some sections that have no handrail — comfortable walking shoes are a must.
📌 Hasedera Hydrangea Path Ticket Reservation Tips
- Reservation opens: Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. (that weekend + 7 days ahead become bookable)
- Cancellable up to the day before your visit
- Note: Same-day on-site purchase is available, but once tickets sell out you can't enter. For weekend visits, advance booking is strongly recommended.
➡️ [Official] Reserve Hasedera Hydrangea Path Tickets in Advance (scheduled to open late May)
※ The 2026 paid period and reservation site URL will be announced on the official website in late May, once the bloom status is confirmed.
| Spot | Hasedera (長谷寺) |
| Peak Bloom | Late May – late June |
| Hours | 8:00 – 16:30 (last exit 17:00) ※ April–June extended hours: last exit 17:30 |
| Admission | Adults: 400 yen Children (elementary school): 200 yen Hydrangea path ticket (elementary school and up): additional 500 yen |
| Access | 🚃 5 min walk from Hase Station (Enoden) 📍 View on Google Maps |
⑦ Hakone Tozan Railway | Night Hydrangea Train (Best Experience)
Hakone has a big elevation range, so peak hydrangea season runs for almost a full month from Hakone-Yumoto Station up to Gora Station. The Night Ajisai Train ("Yoru no Ajisai-go") is the highlight: in the lit-up sections, the cabin lights are switched off and the train slows down, so you can take in the night hydrangeas in a dreamlike setting. At Miyanoshita and Tonosawa stations the train pauses to give you time for photos, and every passenger receives an original fan as a gift.
➡️ [Official] Reserve the Hakone Night Hydrangea Train "Yoru no Ajisai-go"
| Spot | Hakone Tozan Railway (Hakone-Yumoto–Gora section, no boarding/alighting at intermediate stations) |
| Festival | Night Hydrangea Train "Yoru no Ajisai-go" (reserved-seat special train, Allegra) |
| Operating Period | Jun 13 (Sat) – Jun 30 (Tue), 2026 |
| Timetable | Departing Hakone-Yumoto (arriving Gora) [Weekday] Ajisai No. 1: dep. 18:54 (arr. 19:54) [Sat / Holiday] Ajisai No. 1: dep. 18:51 (arr. 19:44) Departing Gora (arriving Hakone-Yumoto) [Weekday] Ajisai No. 2: dep. 20:17 (arr. 21:05) [Sat / Holiday] Ajisai No. 2: dep. 20:15 (arr. 21:04) |
| Trackside Night Illumination | Jun 12 (Fri) – Jun 30 (Tue), 2026, 18:30–22:00 |
| Peak Bloom | Mid-June – mid-July |
| Ticket Price | Adults: 500 yen (one way) Children: 250 yen (one way) |
| Reservations | Online sales open May 13 (Wed) at 10:00 (Max 8 seats per booking; sells out early every year) |
| Access | 🚃 Board the Hakone Tozan Railway at Odawara Station or Hakone-Yumoto Station 📍 View on Google Maps (Hakone-Yumoto) |
Beyond these, there are also other large hydrangea spots you can reach from Tokyo as a day trip — Chiba's Hondoji, Saitama's Gongendo Park, and more.
Hydrangea Trip Tips & What to Pack for the Rainy Season
Tokyo's hydrangea season overlaps with the rainy season.
Rain might feel like bad luck, but hydrangeas actually look much more vivid when they're wet. If anything, the crowds thin out, so it becomes a chance to take that perfect photo at your own pace.
💡 Hydrangea Trip Tips
The most popular spots (Meigetsuin, Hasedera, etc.) get extremely crowded on weekend afternoons, so visiting right at opening in the early morning or in the late afternoon is the best bet.
What to Pack for Rainy Days
- Non-slip shoes (for muddy paths and stairs)
- A hands-free raincoat (handy when taking photos)
- A waterproof pouch for your camera or phone
- A small towel that can get wet
- A portable charger (essential at spots with long wait times)
If it's pouring all day, build your day around a mix of outdoor hydrangea spots and indoor plans to keep things flowing.
👉 Tokyo June Weather and What to Wear
👉 Tokyo Rainy Day Itinerary Guide
In June, Tokyo's rainy season arrives together with the city's most beautiful hydrangeas.
If you want something easy, head to the spots in central Tokyo. If you're after something a little more special, the Kamakura and Hakone day-trip routes are the way to go. On rainy days, don't push yourself — pair them with indoor plans and take your time.
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