Japan’s Rainy Season Wonder: Exploring Hydrangea Season

Hydrangea is one of the most popular flowers in Japan. You will find it in Japanese gardens, temples, parks, and festival grounds. Known as “ajisai” in Japanese, this flower serves as both a decoration and a cultural symbol.

Read our guide to prepare yourself for the next hydrangea season. We’ll reveal its bloom period, spiritual symbolism, and cultural impact in Japan. We’ll also explore the different varieties and where to find the best hydrangeas Japan has to offer. Let’s dive in!

When Is Hydrangea Season in Japan?

The typical hydrangea bloom period in Japan lasts from early June to early July, aligning with the rainy season (tsuyu) across most regions. Hydrangeas thrive on regular access to water. During the rainy season, the plant gets the right amount of water, even with minimal human care.

In Japan, the rainy season starts in Okinawa and the southern regions of Kyushu as early as late spring before extending to Shikoku, the Kansai and Kanto regions, and finally Northern Tohoku in late June.

A hydrangea bloom features lush, delicate, and bright flowers. The color of the flowers can be red, pink, blue, or even green. The vibrant beauty of the blooming hydrangea had made it a representative of Japan’s rainy season.

What Hydrangeas Symbolize in Japanese Culture

Hydrangeas (ajisai) have multiple cultural and spiritual meanings in various countries. In Japan, they symbolize gratitude, fleeting beauty, and heartfelt emotion. The flower’s symbolism originates from a widespread legend about an emperor and the girl he loved.

The emperor had been so focused on his work that he unknowingly neglected the girl. Realizing his mistake, he decided to apologize for his neglect by offering many hydrangeas as a gift to the girl’s family. The emperor also used this gesture as a way to show his affection for her.

Famous Hydrangea Gardens and Temples to Visit

Japan is littered with iconic hydrangea spots. However, the most beautiful displays are often a part of a garden, temple, or shrine. We’ve curated a list of the most popular gardens and temples known for lush hydrangea displays, especially when they’re in season.

• Meigetsu-in Temple (Kamakura): Nicknamed Ajisaidera (“Hydrangea Temple”), this site is known for its 2,500 blue hydrangeas. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kamakura from May to June, when the flowers tend to blossom and display their blue color. Meigetsu-in Temple is close to Kita-Kamakura Station (the nearest train station) and another tourist attraction called the Great Buddha of Kamakura. So, it’s the perfect addition to your itinerary if you’re planning a day trip to Kamakura. 

• Mimuroto-ji Temple (Uji City): Mimuroto-ji is a temple located in Uji, a small city that lies next to Kyoto. Its most popular attraction is the massive garden on the temple grounds. In June of every year, about 20,000 hydrangeas blossom, attracting thousands of visitors to the site. The ajisai plays a major role in some of the temple’s affairs, including its flower art decorations. You can also get hydrangea-themed flower art and amulets.

• Hakone Tozan Railway (Kanagawa): One of the most exciting ways to view hydrangea plants is to ride on the upper section of the Hakone Tozan Line. The hydrangea train takes passengers from Hakone-Yumoto and drops them off in Gora. This trip lasts just 35 minutes, but the view it offers could make you wish it lasted longer. The train tracks are surrounded by thousands of blossoming hydrangeas from June to July. We recommend taking a ride in the evening, when the flowers are illuminated.

• Hakusan Shrine (Tokyo): In June, Hakusan Shrine and the adjacent Hakusan Park receive many visitors thanks to the 3,000 hydrangeas blooming at the shrine. Hakusan Shrine is the venue of the Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival, which is held for a week in the middle of June each year. It’s only three minutes from Hakusan Station. The walking path leading to the shrine’s main hall offers the best view of the flowers on the expansive grounds. You can also find them around the Fujizuka, a mound that represents Mt. Fuji.

• Yoshiminedera Temple (Kyoto): On the outskirts of Kyoto City lies a vast mountain range. These mountains surround a large temple complex. The Yoshiminedera Temple contains a garden featuring an impressive number of pink and blue hydrangea flowers. The beautifully maintained flowers are in full bloom from mid-June to early July.

• Shimoda Park (Shizuoka): Located at the top of a hill in the coastal city, this wooded hydrangea park offers one of the best views in Shizuoka Prefecture. There is a trail in the park flanked by thousands of beautiful hydrangeas. Enjoy seasonal flowers while you eat some of the food and explore attractions of the rocky cliffs. We recommend that you visit Shimoda Park in late July.

• Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Fukuoka): There are about 5,000 hydrangeas in the temple’s Kitagami Garden. This hidden gem is known for its diversity, thanks to its 40+ varieties of Japanese hydrangea shrubs. Their blooming period lasts from around mid-June to early July.

Hydrangeas and the Rainy Season Aesthetic

Hydrangeas thrive in misty, rainy conditions, adding a magical, melancholic charm to the environment. In the months of June and July, the petals change colors dramatically, gracing the rainy season with different shades of pink, blue, and purple hues.

During the rainy season, and sometimes in early August, natural landscapes tend to be damp and dull. But thankfully, hydrangea gardens brighten up shrines, temples, parks, hiking trails, and forested paths with their vivid colors. They make walking or sitting in those environments enjoyable for locals and tourists in Japan.

Varieties of Hydrangeas Found in Japan

There are over 100 unique species of hydrangeas in Japan. The most common of them all is called Hydrangea macrophylla. It’s known for its long flowering period, which can last for 6-8 weeks. This species has four main varieties.

• Lacecap (gaku-ajisai): The lacecap is a relatively self-sustaining species of hydrangea when planted in the appropriate soil. It requires minimal maintenance compared to other plants. Lacecap plants tend to flower early.

• Mophead (hon-ajisai): Although you cannot pollinate them, mophead hydrangeas are the most common varieties in Japan. They are called “big-leaf hydrangeas” because of their large size. Like the lacecap type, mopheads don’t require a lot of attention to grow.

• Serrata (yama-ajisai): These varieties are known as “mountain hydrangeas.” They grow in mountainous regions within Japan and some parts of Korea. Serrata hydrangeas can withstand temperatures as low as -25°C. Different regional varieties of yama-ajisai include amacha (Chuba region), ezo (Tohoku), hakucho (Mount Fuji), kurenai (Lida), miyama yae murasaki (Kyoto Prefecture), kiyosumiwa (Chiba Prefecture), oniji (Ehime Prefecture), and maiko (Misugi village).

Kamakura: Japan’s Hydrangea Capital

The city of Kamakura is the most popular destination for hydrangea viewing in the world. During the rainy season, the flowers in the area are not only abundant; they are also incredibly stunning. Kamakura is the venue of countless samurai battles. Hence, temples and shrines in the city planted symbolic hydrangeas to mourn the fallen soldiers. You’ll find several temple paths blanketed in blooms within the region. Kamakura is also home to several ajisai festivals, drawing crowds each June.

Meigetsu-in Temple is the most famous spot to view the seasonal flowers in Kamakura. Other exciting ajisai viewing spots in Kamakura are Hasedera Temple, Jōju-in Temple, Zuisenji Temple, and Kuzuharaoka Shrine.

Ajisai-Inspired Fashion and Design in Japan

The aesthetics and symbolism of ajisai have inspired Japanese culture more than most common flowers in the country. Ajisai’s natural beauty graces early summer fashion, especially informal kimono prints for people of all ages.

During the bloom season, many manufacturers incorporate hydrangeas in their product packaging. Hair accessories, local art, seasonal snacks, gift boxes, and brand messages are also influenced by ajisai in Japan.

Hydrangea Festivals and Seasonal Events

If you’ve stayed in Japan long enough, you would realize that flower festivals are a big deal in the country. Just like with cherry blossoms, there are many local ajisai festivals held across Japan during June, often featuring mikoshi (portable shrine) processions, nighttime illuminations, tea stalls, and garden tours. The following is a list of some of the most popular ajisai festivals and events in Japan:

• Bunkyo Ajisai Festival (Hakusan Jinja Shrine, Tokyo)

• Kahoen Hydrangea Festival (Kahoen Garden, Kyoto)

• Bunkyo Ajisai Festival (Mimo Shrine, Ichinomiya)

• Mount Ohira Hydrangea Festival (Mt. Ohira, Tochigi)

• Kaisei Hydrangea Festival (Kaisei town, Kanagawa Prefecture)

Ajisai-Themed Snacks and Gifts in Japan

Hydrangeas influence in Japan extends to seasonal wagashi, packaging design for gift items, and themes for souvenirs. They feature in the perfect blend of both nature and technology. During the early summer, you can find these products in tea shops, cafes, confectionery shops, and stations. Common ajisai-themed snacks in the rainy season include dango, yokan, fruit agar-agar, and senbei (Japanese rice crackers). You can also find themed gifts such as kimono, hair clips, 

Conclusion: Embrace the Elegance of Japan’s Hydrangea Season

We urge you to experience this serene and colorful moment in Japan’s seasonal calendar, especially during quieter travel months. That will give you the chance to relax and bask in the tranquil atmosphere created by these temples, shrines, and gardens.

At Bokksu Boutique, we’re all about exploring Japanese culture through gifts, packaging art, and seasonal snacks. Visit our page to find the perfect gift for any season or occasion. We deliver directly to the recipient.