Blooming Beauties:

A Seasonal Guide to Japan Flowers

– Not only Sakura! (cherry blossom)

From early Spring to Autumn - Japan is a country in bloom

Through the ages, seasons became main theme in the Japanese culture and the Japanese people have admired nature. 
Japan is known for its beautiful nature and its flowers especially – Flowers are like mirrors of seasons  

Flower viewing is a very popular activity in Japan and has many annual festivities surrounding the different flowers.
In the Japanese culture, these flowers have also their own language which called “hanakotoba” 花言葉 (hana = flower, kotoba = words) and has ascribed symbolic meaning.

The following chart that we made, shows the approximate blooming periods for some of the popular flowers in Japan.
Please take a note – the blossom timing might be a different in across regions with varying climate. . It is recommended to check on details for specific locations before visiting.

Flowers Related Interest

There are many places in Japan where you can see a various species of flowers. In most of the prefectures you can find a place where you can see their best flowers at the time you visit.
There are even a special places that are specific for one kind of flowers. And may open for this period of time only.
If you love flowers, we recommend to go to Flower parks or botanical gardens which are usually great locations for various flower viewing. 

Below is a list of the flowers.
Click of the one you interests and find the most popular spots to see it around Japan:

Daffodils/Narcissus

Daffodil plants has some different type which bloom in two different times. You can see them in winter from end of December to February. And in the Spring also. 

Daffodils/Narcissus
Japanese: Suisen 水仙

Plum

The plum bloom can be seen from mid February until end of March

Plum
Japanese: Ume 梅

Kawazu Zakura

Kawazu zakura is one of the earliest Cherry blossom that can be found in Japan. It start in mid February until mid March.

Early Cherry Blossom
Japanese: Kawazu Zakura 河津桜

Cherry Blossom

The Cherry Blossom bloom from end of March to early April

Cherry Blossom
Japanese: Sakura 桜

Rapeseed Flowers

Rapeseed Flowers are blooming from end February to May. You can see them with the Cherry Blossom. 

Rapeseed Flowers
Japanese: Nanohana 菜の花

Tulip

Tulip flowers are colorful. You can see them from end of March to end of April.

Tulip
Japanese: Chu-rippu チューリップ

Wisteria

The Wisteria bloom from mid April to mid May. They make a beautiful flower tunnels.

Wisteria
Japanese: Fuji 藤

Moss Phlox

Moss Phlox flowers bloom from mid April to Mid May.

Moss Phlox
Japanese: Shibazakura 芝桜

Nemophila

Nemophila flowers bloom from mid April to early May. It feels like the sky continues the flowers.

Nemophila
Japanese: Nemofira ネモフィラ

Azaleas

Azalea flowers bloom from mid April to mid May

Azaleas
Japanese: Tsutsuji ツツジ

Poppy Flowers

Poppy flowers bloom from early May to early June.

Poppy Flowers
Japanese: popi- ポピー

Hydrangea

Hydrangea flowers are the rain season flowers. They bloom from end May to early July.

Hydrangea
Japanese: Ajisai 紫陽花

Iris Flowers

Iris flowers bloom from early June to end June.

Iris Flowers
Japanese: Ayame アヤメ

Sunflowers

Sunflowers start from early July to end August. 

Sunflowers
Japanese: Himawari 向日葵

Lavender Flowers

Lavender flowers bloom from early July to mid August

Lavender Flowers
Japanese: Rabenda- ラベンダー

Cosmos Flowers

Cosmos Flowers start from early September to end of October

Cosmos
Japanese: Kosumosu コスモス

Spider Lily

Spider Lily means also  “flower of the heavens” in Japanese. Start to bloom from end of September to end of October.

Spider Lily
Japanese:  Higanbana 彼岸花 / Manjushage 曼珠沙華

Kochia

Kochia can be seen from September (Green color) and in October it became beautiful Ren color. 

Kochia
Japanese: Kokia コキア

Autumn Colors

Autumn colors start from end of October until mid December. 

Maple
Japanese:  Kouyou 紅葉