There is a privately owned wisteria garden called Kawachi-Fujien (Kawachi Wisteria Garden) in northern Kyushu that has become one of the most famous places to enjoy wisteria in Japan. Photos of their famous wisteria tunnels are all over the internet and this has contributed to their popularity.
It’s pretty easy to see why it is such a popular spot to visit though. Not only is it gorgeous, but it also smells really good. I would love to take that fragrance home with me!
There are two wisteria tunnels to walk through on the lower portion, and then there is a good sized area on the upper portion that is also full of beautiful wisteria to walk under.
I just can’t stop taking pictures when I’m here!
The first couple of times I went, it was a crazy madhouse at this garden. I got there early (right when they opened) and I still got one of the last parking spaces. By the time I left, the traffic was backed up for at least 5 kilometers. It was insane! The garden itself was also very crowded, which makes it really difficult for people to fully enjoy the flowers. In 2016 the owners of the garden changed the way they do business, and while I have to admit I wasn’t a big fan of this new way of doing things at first, it actually makes it better for everyone involved.
They now require that you purchase tickets in advance at a convenience store for a specific date and time. This year (2017), they are available at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart and they went on sale on 15 March. Pre-purchased tickets are required from 22 April – 14 May. If you plan to visit during these dates, you will have to have tickets when you show up or else they will not allow you to enter the garden. The tickets are ¥500 per person (children under the age of 18 are FREE!), but when you arrive on your designated date/time you may have to pay an additional charge. The entrance fee is based on where the flowers are in their blooming process. When they first open for the wisteria season it’s usually ¥500 for the first few days, and when the wisteria flowers are in full bloom it’s ¥1500. If you plan on going during the peak viewing time, be prepared to pay an additional fee once you get there and be sure to take some yen cash. They do not accept credit cards.
This new system actually works very well. I went last year and there was no traffic at all, and the garden wasn’t super crowded. It was crowded, but it was a manageable crowd. I was able to walk around and really enjoy the whole garden without people all around me.
While walking around you might encounter some large bumble bees. The first time I went, they really freaked me out. There were so many of them (5 is a lot right?!?) and they were buzzing all around me. I finally convinced myself that they were harmless and not interested in me at all. As long as I left them alone, they left me alone. Once I stopped being freaked out, I was able to have some fun trying to take pictures of the bumble bees.
I wouldn’t say that it is stroller friendly. It’s usually too crowded and the ground is pretty uneven in a lot of spots, which I think would make it difficult to push a stroller around. I recommend leaving the stroller in the car.
The Kawachi-Fujien is less than 3 hours south of Iwakuni by car.
Here is the pin – Wisteria Garden
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