Spring in Japan isn’t just about cherry blossoms. There are plenty of other colourful blooms that attract crowds of people to see fields of baby-blue nemophila, multicoloured tulips or pink moss phlox. The latter, called shibazakura in Japanese, is a low-growing, creeping evergreen that creates a large floral carpet when in full bloom. And since Japan loves to celebrate its seasons, you’ll of course find a number of shibazakura festivals around the country.
One of the most popular events is located at the foot of Mt Fuji: the Fuji Shibazakura Matsuri. The spectacle kicks off on April 16 and boasts 500,000 moss phlox plants of eight different types, featuring pink, red, light purple and white varieties. You can look forward to stunning photo ops – not only is Mt Fuji your backdrop, it’s usually still a little dusted with snow at the time of the event.
A new addition to the spectacle this year is the Peter Rabbit English Garden. Admire 300 different types of plants and flowers as you take a stroll through this English-style garden, resembling scenes from the Beatrix Potter book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, set in England’s Lake District.
In addition to the garden, you’ll also find a café with meals featuring motifs of the story’s different characters as well as a gallery and a souvenir shop. The Peter Rabbit English Garden will be open from April 16 to May 25 and July 16 to October 10.
The 2022 Fuji Shibazakura Matsuri takes place from April 16 to May 29 from 8am to 4pm daily. Tickets range between ¥800 and ¥1,000 depending on the day (primary school students and children aged three and older ¥250).
Can’t make it to the shibazakura in spring? You can still head to Fuji for the Rainbow Flower Festival from July 16 to October 10.
For more information, check the official website.
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