Wisterias at Nishiarai Daishi’s Spring 2024 Wisteria Festival • Tokyo Flowers
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See the trailing purple flowers and breathe in the irresistible perfume of Nishiarai Daishi’s sprawling wisterias.
After the Cherry Blossoms Come Japan’s Wisterias
The yearly Flower Festival at Nishiarai Daishi Temple begins with the flowering of cherry blossoms towards the end of March, but things really start to heat up just as the weather does, well into April. Because at that point, the wisterias in front of the temple’s main hall come into bloom, while the peony garden simultaneously morphs bit by bit into a full rainbow of flowers. Nishiarai Daishi isn’t famous enough to draw huge crowds like Kameido Tenjin Shrine, but those in the know will tell you that the quiet atmosphere is just part of what makes this temple one of the best places to enjoy wisteria season in Tokyo.
Nishiarai Daishi’s Long History
Despite being commonly known as Nishiarai Daishi, this temple is more formally known as Gochisan Henjoin Sojiji, and its history is said to stretch as far back as the year 826! It was then that Kobodaishi, the founder of Japan's Shingon Buddhist sect, came to the region to save the local villagers from a terrible plague. Carving images of himself and the goddess Kannon, Kobodaishi placed his works in a dried-up well and prayed for three full weeks while burning offerings. All of this praying apparently bore fruit, because at the end of it all, fresh water bubbled up from the old well and cured the locals of their ills. The well is what inspired the name of the temple – Nishiarai literally means "new western well"!
Kobodaishi's fire-offering prayer ritual is still performed at Nishiarai Daishi, where it's called "goma" (護摩) (although it's sometimes referred to as "homa" in English). You can still donate to the temple and ask the monks to perform the ritual on your behalf!
The Enchanting Wisterias
Nishiarai Daishi's wisteria tree is not only beautiful, it's almost as old as the temple itself, with local legend placing it somewhere around 700 years old. The long branches are supported by a sturdy pergola, and they reach way out from the trunk, with a younger tree planted a few meters away to create an even larger canopy. Together, the trees create heavy curtains of little purple-and-white flowers, with the many delicate tendrils combining to fill the space overhead. The trees are planted between the temple's broad courtyard and a small koi pond, creating a quiet little oasis, and visitors often perch on the low fences around the trees to relax and enjoy the scenery.
One of the most magical aspects of the wisterias is their strong perfume. First-time visitors to Japan are sometimes a little bit disappointed to find that Japanese cherry blossoms, though pretty, are generally scentless. Wisterias can vary pretty wildly in scent depending on the variety, but the trees planted at Nishiarai Daishi smell like heaven on Earth.
Nishiarai Daishi Wisteria Festival 2024
Nishiarai Daishi's yearly wisteria festival doesn't always have official dates, and is in fact frequently lumped in together with celebrations for the temple's other flowers as well for a general spring "Flower Festival," but the best time to visit is late April. Not only will you find the magical wisteria looking its best, but you'll also catch the peonies blooming in the garden, and of course you can join in on the festival atmosphere! Stalls sell street food like yakisoba, offer games for kids, and generally bring a lively energy to this quiet temple.
Peony Gardens Too
Flower lovers visiting the temple won’t want to miss the peony garden, which blooms around the same time as the wisterias. Not only does Nishiarai Daishi have a small patch of the flowers on the other side of the koi pond, but across the street there’s a whole peony garden devoted to the big, bold flowers, which come in a whole range of shades and colors.
A Must-See Spot for Flower Lovers Who Missed the Cherry Blossoms
Nishiarai Daishi might be a little out of the way for most tourists visiting Tokyo, but between the fragrant wisterias and the brilliant peonies, it’s a must-see for late April and early May!
Nishiarai Daishi Temple (西新井大師)
1-15-1 Nishiarai, Adachi City, Tokyo
Access: Daishi-Mae Station (大師前)
Official Website (en)
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Details
NAME:Nishiarai Daishi Temple (西新井大師)
ACCESS:Daishi-Mae Station (大師前駅)
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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