9 Spring Flowers in Japan That Aren’t Sakura (and Where to Find Them)

We all know the most popular spring flowers in Japan are cherry blossoms (sakura さくら), their pretty pink hues making this season the most attractive time of year to visit for tourists. But, this has caused some problems.

Perhaps you’ve seen the headlines about overtourism issues in Japan, and are wanting to experience the magic of spring there someday… but without the huge crowds of tourists that come with them at popular spots?

I’ve been visiting Japan for the past decade and recently planned an entire spring trip around flowers that AREN’T sakura. These alternatives drew me to places in Japan off the beaten path (even within popular cities), which in turn saw me encounter barely any other foreigners most of the time. 

There is not only one flower season in Japan, so if you’d like to visit during spring but desire to avoid the main sakura crowds, I’ve put together this list of Japanese seasonal flowers that are not as popular with foreign tourists – but in my opinion worthy of the same attention. Read on for where to find them and more!

When to see Japan spring flowers that aren’t sakura to avoid crowds

While there are many kinds of sakura flowers, the main variety called Somei Yoshino garners the most attention. The time it reaches peak bloom is notoriously different each year, depending on a number of factors.

The benefit of planning a trip around spring flowers that aren’t sakura is you don’t need to stress over the cherry blossom forecasts, which only focus on the Somei Yoshino variety. The actual peak period for them is quite fickle, and was almost two weeks late in 2024.

However, it’s safe to say you would expect to see Somei Yoshino peak in the major cities during late March – early April. This is when most flower viewing parties are held, known as hanami 花見.

So to avoid these crowds, we need to track down flowers that bloom outside of this window in Tokyo and beyond!

I created this timeline to share the approximate peak bloom times to help you plan a Japan spring trip without crowds, and the flowers you can see:

Japanese spring flowers	Peak blooming period
• Plum Blossoms	Late January – late February
• Canola	Mid-February – early April*
• Tulips	Late March – late April*
• Wisteria	Late April – early May
• Nemophila	Late April – early May
• Azalea	Late April – early May
• Peonies	Late April – mid-May
• Shibazakura	Early – mid-May
• Yaezakura	Mid April – late May

*overlaps with peak sakura bloom

Japan spring flower peak bloom timeline

If you’re interested in seeing any of these spring flowers in Japan, I’ve also included exactly where to find them below to help plan your trip. Don’t forget to bookmark this page or save it for later.

Allow me to start with my favourites! 

Wisteria

Peak bloom: Late April – early May

Did you know wisteria is called fuji 藤 in Japanese? While it’s not as well known as Japan’s *other* Fuji in the form of a sacred mountain, wisteria is one of the most underrated Japanese spring flowers you could hope to see.

Although dormant during winter, these woody climbers sprout bunches of colourful blooms from their bare vines in spring. The anticipation of the fragrant buds fully unfolding is half the excitement, I can’t get enough of these purple Japanese flowers!

There are a number of wisteria varieties, with purple being the most common colour in Japan. However you may be lucky enough to see pink or white as well. They always bloom after the Somei Yoshino sakura.

Places to see wisteria in Japan

• Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi Prefecture
• Byodoin Temple, Uji, Kyoto Prefecture
• Haijima Park, Tokyo Prefecture (this wisteria is over 800 years old)
• Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo Prefecture
• Kasuga Taisha Shrine and the Botanical Garden, Nara (my Nara day trip itinerary has the details)
• Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden, Fukuoka, Kyushu Prefecture
• Kyoto Botanical Garden, Kyoto Prefecture
• Nakayama Kumano Shrine, Yanagawa, Kyushu Prefecture (follow my Yanagawa day trip itinerary for details)

Azaleas

Peak bloom: Late April – early May

Reaching full bloom around the same time as wisteria in a majority of places, azalea or tsutsuji つつじ are a vibrant delight.

In Japan, you’ll usually see this evergreen meticulously shaped into rounded shrubs, which helps to accentuate their blooms come spring.

Numerous places that showcase azaleas cluster different colours together, making for a stunning display. Azaleas are linked to femininity, modesty and love in Japanese culture.

Places to see azaleas in Japan

• Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi Prefecture
• Mifuneyama Rakuen, Kyushu Prefecture
• Mimuroto-ji Temple, Uji, Kyoto Prefecture
• Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine, Kyoto Prefecture
• Nezu Shrine, Tokyo Prefecture
• Shiofune Kannon-ji, Tokyo Prefecture
• Tsutsujigaoka Park, Gunma Prefecture

Nemophila

Peak bloom: Late April – early May

Although each individual flower is quite small, when grown over a large area this groundcover can take on the appearance of a sea of blue on land!

Known as Baby Blue Eyes in English, nemophila or rurikarakusa るりからくさ blends seamlessly with the blue spring skies above. They look so precious up close as they bend with the breeze.

Places to see nemophila in Japan

• Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Kokia no Sato, Kanagawa (with a Mt Fuji backdrop!)
• Maishima Seaside Park, Osaka Prefecture
• Showa Memorial Park (Showa Kinen), Tokyo Prefecture

Canola

Peak bloom: Late April – early May

Hoping to see bright yellow fields against clear blue skies? In some locations the sunny canola bloom at the same time as pink blossom trees, which makes for a very colourful sight.

Known as nanohana 菜の花 in Japanese, it would be difficult for this happy colour to not lift your spirits!

Places to see canola fields in Japan

• Azumayama Park, Kanagawa Prefecture
• Gongendo Park, Saitama Prefecture
• Hamarikyu Gardens, Tokyo Prefecture
• Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Iwano Community Centre, Shimane Prefecture
• Mushirouchi Canola Flower Road, Fukuoka Prefecture
• Nyuta Willow Forest, Kochi Prefecture
• Yokohama Town, Aomori Prefecture

Peonies

Peak bloom: April – May

After seeing them over Japan during spring, peonies (botan 牡丹) are some of my newfound favourite flowers! While reaching full bloom in April – May, some varieties even bloom during winter.

These fluffy, larger-than-your-hand flowers come in dozens of varieties and vibrant colours. In Japanese culture, their bright centres are known to resemble boar’s eyes, which are thought to protect from bad spirits. This is why you may see them popping up around temples.

Located in Shimane Prefecture, the small island of Daikonyama in Matsue is renowned country-wide for their peony cultivation. You can’t miss Yuushien Gardens here, where thousands of peonies floating in the expansive pond in early May are a glorious sight.

Places to see peonies in Japan

• Botanten, Saitama Prefecture
• Mobara Peony Garden, Chiba Prefecture
• Peony Garden Tokyo, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Sukagawa Peony Garden, Fukushima Prefecture
• Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Tokyo Prefecture
• Yuushien Gardens, Matsue, Shimane Prefecture

Plum blossoms

Peak bloom: February – early March

If you like the idea of seeing cherry blossoms in Japan but want to completely avoid the swathes of tourists during peak season, plum blossoms (ume うめ) are the perfect alternative!

Sometimes mistaken as sakura due to their similar appearance, the colourful beauty of plum blossoms span a gamut of shades and they have a sweet fragrance. These beautiful Japanese flowers are often overlooked by visitors when they shouldn’t be.

Plum blossoms are some of the most underrated floral sights in Japan, and their early blooming means you could catch snow and blossoms simultaneously during a February visit. I’ve witnessed these beauties as early as the second half of January until the first week of March. The lengthier viewing window means more opportunities for you to see them!

TIP: Similar to plum blossoms, peach blossoms or momo もも come in vibrant pink hues and their petals can also be a mixture of pink and white. 

Places to see plum blossoms in Japan

• Atami Plum Blossom, Shizuoka Prefecture
• Hanegi Park Plum Blossom Festival, Tokyo Prefecture
• Kairaku-en, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Kitano Tenmangu, Kyoto Prefecture
• Koishikawa Korakuen, Tokyo Prefecture
• Kyu Shiba Rikyu, Tokyo
• Mito Kairakuen, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Odawara Flower Garden, Kanagawa Prefecture
• Osaka Castle Park, Osaka Prefecture

Tulips 

Peak bloom: early April – early May

Whether they are uniformly planted in colourful rows over expansive fields or scattered amongst an urban scenery, tulips can light up any gloomy spring day!

Sometimes appearing in locations with wooden windmills reminiscent of the Netherlands, tulips symbolise centuries-old Dutch trade and ties with Japan. During the Edo Period (1604 – 1868), Japan underwent an isolationist era where the Dutch were the only foreigners permitted to trade.

TIP: You can learn more about this era in my Nagasaki itinerary, the Dutch trading post at the time.

In their absence during the depths of winter at Huis Ten Bosh in Nagasaki, tulips are replaced with vibrant light illuminations that help to add colour to a landscape in hibernation. 

TIP: Read more about the Dutch theme park and tips for visiting in my Huis Ten Bosch review.

Places to see tulips in Japan

• Biei, Hokkaido Prefecture
• Harvest Hill, Osaka Prefecture
• Hibiya Park, Tokyo Prefecture
• Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Huis Ten Bosch, Nagasaki Prefecture
• Hyogo Prefectural Flower Centre, Hyogo Prefecture
• Showa Kinen Park, Tokyo Prefecture

Shibazakura

Peak bloom: Mid-April – late May

Forming an incredible pink carpet at the foot of Mt Fuji, shibazakura 芝桜 or moss phlox flowers, create another quintessential Japanese sight. These tiny pink or white flowers that reach full bloom after regular sakura.

While seeing them at Mt Fuji is on my list, I have seen shibazakura at shrines in Kyoto and used as a groundcover in random gardens in Japan. 

From mid-April to May annually, the Shibazakura Festival is held at Mt Fuji to celebrate the arrival of this small but striking bloom. 

TIP: It’s advisable to visit the Fuji Shibazakura Festival on a weekday and avoid Golden Week and weekends if you’re hoping to avoid local crowds.

BONUS: Yaezakura

Peak bloom: mid-April to early May

Known as “multi-layered cherry blossoms,” yaezakura やえざくら are late-blooming cherry blossoms found all over Japan. Unlike the most popular sakura which feature five distinct petals, yaezakura refers to other kinds of fluffy pink Japanese flowers made up of dozens of petals.

TIP: For an iconic scene, Matsue Castle in Shimane Prefecture has a small handful of yaezakura trees. Perfect for pictures of blossoms against one of Japan’s oldest remaining castles, but without the crowds! Read more in my 10 day Japan travel itinerary to avoid crowds during spring.

Concluding this guide to Japanese spring flowers to avoid crowds

That’s a wrap for these less-popular spring flowers in Japan and where to find them! While some of these locations will undoubtedly be busy with locals, I can assure you that you will miss most of the tourists visiting Japan purely for the famous Somei Yoshino cherry blossom season. 

Now you know when these lovely alternative flowers bloom to skip the main tourist crowds elsewhere, best places to see them, the micro Japan flower seasons and more, why not start planning your Japan itinerary? For starters, I’ve incorporated some of these locations into my personal itineraries below:

• Read my Japan honeymoon itinerary (with romantic scenery even if it’s not your honeymoon);
• Itinerary for two weeks in Japan including how to see popular sights without crowds; 
• Go further with my itinerary for 3 weeks in Japan, including the New Golden Route;
• My Izu Peninsula itinerary covers hidden gems between Tokyo & Osaka which most tourists overlook;
• Add on an amazing Kyushu itinerary to your trip;
• Take a look at all my Japan travel tips and Japanese etiquette for mistakes to avoid; 
• And for all my itineraries, travel guides and more, check my extensive Japan travel blog!

Which of these are your favourite flowers from Japan? Which seasonal flowers in Japan will you be including on your future trip? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Feeling social? Explore beyond the main touristy sights with my dedicated Japan Off the Beaten Path Facebook Group or come and join me on Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram for more travel inspiration!

Until next time,

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