The Fujinohana Monogatari Ofuji Festival 2022 in Tochigi began slightly ahead of schedule on April 16, 2022.
After temperatures rose to higher than normal over the past few weeks, Ashikaga Flower Park’s symbolic wisteria bloomed earlier than expected. If the high temperatures persist, the blooming process will speed up considerably, with some flower clusters growing up to 10cm in a single day.
The park is one of Japan’s top destinations for wisteria, boasting 350 trees that typically bloom from mid-April to mid-May. The stunning flowers, which dangle from wooden trellises, come in many colors including violet, blue, pink, white, and yellow. Each color tends to bloom at different times: pink first, followed by purple, white, and then yellow wisteria. CNN praised the massive wisteria tree as looking similar to the “tree of souls in the film Avatar,” and the park was the only place in Japan selected as one of the ‘10 Global Dream Destinations’ in 2014.
Information
Fujinohana Monogatari Ofuji Festival 2022
Running: April 16 – May 22, 2022
*Illuminations: April 20 – May 15, 2022
Times:
April 16 – April 19 9:00-18:00
April 20 – April 22 8:00-20:30
April 23 – May 8 7:00-21:00
May 9 – May 15 8:00-20:30
May 16 – May 22 9:00-18:00
*Dates and hours are subject to change depending on blooming conditions.
*Click on the link below to see the current flower status.
RELATED ENTRIES
-
Yamanashi’s Fuji Motosuko Resort is home to the yearly Fuji Shibazakura Festival, one of the most popular spring flower events in Jaapn. From July 16 until October 10, 2022, guests will also be able to enjoy the Rainbow Flower Festival, with over 80,000 blooms decorating the land around Mount Fuji.
From Left: Coneflowers, Common Zinnia, Begonia, Ageratum
From Left: Scarlet Sage (Sirius), Scarlet Sage (Bonfire), Scarlet Sage (Deep Blue), Coleus
The theme for the inaugural event is ‘Seven Colors of Mount Fuji.’ Visitors will be able to take incredible pictures, with a variety of blooms springing from the Earth in seven beautiful colors. Whether you love begonias or zinnias, you won’t want to miss this one. The venue will also feature photo spots that will be perfect for social media, from a rainbow circle bench to the ‘Yellow Door of Happiness.’ A campaign will also be held to choose the best photos of the event posted to Instagram.Koppe-pan (with Yamanashi Peach Butter and Whipped Cream) / Lava Fried Tofu / Bellflower Mochi Ice Cream / Jewel Soda
A unique food menu featuring everything from lava-shaped fried tofu to fluffy bread with local peach butter will appear at the event.*Sample image.
Pictures aren’t the only thing you’ll leave with–a selection of souvenirs will be on sale, including ‘Stick Jelly’ made with five types of local fruit puree. These will only be available at the event, so come have a wonderful time visiting Mount Fuji this summer!Information
Rainbow Flower Festival
Running: July 16 – October 10, 2022
*Blooming dates may vary. The festival will be open every day during the event period.
Hours: 8:00-16:00 *Subject to change.
Tickets: Adults (Middle school age and up): ¥800 / Children (Ages 3 and up): ¥250
Venue: Fuji Motosuko Resort (212 Fujigane, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi)Official site：https://www.fujimotosuko-resort.jp/
-
Iwashita Foods, a staple in Tochigi Prefecture for over 123 years, has teamed up with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project! The project was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities, and the singer is teaming up with the company known widely throughout the region for its ginger. Along with a selection of collaboration goods, a meet-and-greet will be held at the Iwashita New Ginger Museum in Tochigi City! Guests will be able to meet the popular mascot character Iwashika-chan in a new Kyary-inspired outfit. The LOCAL POWER JAPAN PROJECT aims to bring attention and support to local industries and to inspire more tourism to rural areas that were hit hard by the pandemic. Kyary hopes to enliven local communities by collaborating with companies that have roots in the rural locations she is visiting on her current national tour. On January 16, 2022, Kyary embarked on the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE.’ The 30 stops on the new tour include many that Kyary has not visited before, and were chosen based on the singer’s desire to perform for fans who may not typically be able to attend one of her shows. The collaboration logos created for the project were inspired by Kyary’s past releases while also keeping the spirit of the original company intact. T-shirts featuring these collaborative logos are available for a limited time, and a portion of the proceeds are given back to fund local development and social programs.
On May 21, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu stopped by the Iwashita Fresh Ginger Museum on the way to her Tochigi concert. The singer was given a tour of the facility by Iwashita Foods president Kazunori Iwashita. A video of Kyary’s visit to the museum will be posted to YouTube soon! The mascot character of Iwashita New Ginger, Iwashika-chan, appeared at Kyary’s Tochigi concert held at Tochigi Prefectural Cultural Center in Utsunomiya on May 21, 2022. The adorable deer danced along with Kyary as Tsukematsukeru played to huge fanfare. Iwashita New Ginger goods inspired by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu are now on sale at the Iwashita New Ginger Museum and the Iwashita New Ginger Online Shop until June 20. There are limited quantities of T-shirts and other merchandise not available anywhere else, so don’t miss out! The Iwashita New Ginger Museum holds meet-and-greets with its mascot character Iwashika-chan every Saturday and Sunday, as well as on holidays. Typically, the deer appears in seasonal outfits, but during a few appearances in June, she’ll appear in a special Kyary-inspired costume! Information
Iwashita New Ginger x Kyary Pamyu Pamyu LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Collaboration Goods
On Sale: May 25 – June 20, 2022
Iwashita New Ginger x Kyary Pamyu Pamyu LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Collaboration T-Shirt
Available in limited quantities starting in late June 2022
Iwashita New Ginger Museum: https://shinshoga-museum.com/
Iwashita New Ginger Online Shop: https://www.shinshoga.shop/shopbrand/ct103Kyary Collab Ver. Iwashika-chan Greeting
Dates: June 5 / June 12, 2022
Times: 11:00, 14:00 (Twice a day)
*The greeting at 16:00 will feature the regular seasonal event costume.
Admission: Free
Details: https://shinshoga-museum.com/event/kpp-iwashika-greeting -
Starting May 9, Ashikaga Flower Park is celebrating spring with the Rose Garden ~Spring Rose Festival~ event. Since April, the Fujinohana Monogatari Ofuji Festival has been drawing guests to the park to see the symbolic wisteria. As the weather warms up, the rose festival will be held at the same time as the Great Wisteria Festival 2022, which is scheduled to end on May 22.
Guests can enjoy the rainbow-colored world of wisteria and roses, which are at their best until the middle of May. From now until May 15, visitors can also see the flowers lit up each night. Come visit Ashikaga Flower Park and enjoy 2,500 roses from 500 different varieties! Information
Rose Garden ~Spring Rose Festival~
Dates & Hours:
May 9 – May 15 / 8:00-20:30 (Includes Night Illuminations)
May 16 ~ / 9:00-18:00
Official Site: https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/
-
The Flower Painting Culture Association of Japan will hold the Tokyo Flower Carpet 2022 event on Gyoko-Dori Avenue in Marunouchi from March 19 until March 21, 2022. Over 50,000 carnations will cover the street like an otherworldly carpet, forming images of popular Kabuki actors from the Edo Period. Yasuhiko Fujikawa, a well-known flower artist who created this flower Kabuki concept, will supervise the event. With help from 200 local volunteers, five giant flower paintings measuring 6m x 8m will be created for the event. The theme is ‘Tokyo Restart,’ with organizers hoping to inspire residents to experience new things and find new hope as we move past the effects of the pandemic. The flowers used in the event will be recycled and reborn as ‘flower sketchbooks’ made of recycled paper. These will be donated to special-needs schools in Tokyo to support art education for children with disabilities. Since 2018, 8,000 sketchbooks have been donated to 57 schools in the city. Her Imperial Highness Princess Tomohito of Mikasa will be in attendance.
Information
TOKYO FLOWER CARPET 2022
Running: March 19 – March 21, 2022
*Setup running from 9:00-15:00 on March 19
Location: Gyoko-Dori Avenue (Marunouchi 1, Chiyoda-ku)
Official Site: https://www.infiorata88.com/tokyoflowercarpet
-
Three new Pokemon manhole covers have been unveiled in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture as part of the ongoing Poké Lid project. These new additions to the long-running initiative feature Electabuzz, Skwovet, Electrike, Crustle, and Thundurus along with images of the city. These are the first Poké Lids to be installed in Tochigi Prefecture. Poké Lids placed across Japan feature completely original Pokémon designs making each individual one the only one in the world. Meant to highlight the attractions and beauty of locales around the country while drawing in tourism, The Pokémon Company is also working to make each one of them PokéStops for Pokémon GO. New Poké Lids Installed in Utsunomiya
① Electabuzz & Skwovet Poké Lid: 5-10-1 Motoimaizumi, Utsunomiya② Electrike & Crustle Poké Lid: 2-chome Ozo, Utsunomiya③ Thundurus Poké Lid: Hei-254 Nissatomachi, Utsunomiya ©Pokémon. ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. -
From October 30 until November 23, 2021, a unique underground experience is taking place at a former quarry in Oyamachi, Utsunomiya. UnderMuseumChallenge 01 GATE invites guests to enjoy massive pieces of artwork while pondering the boundaries between society, nature, daily life, and the body. The main focal point of the exhibition is the Genki Furnace, a piece of sauna-inspired art.
Usually, this old quarry isn’t open to the public. This year’s event will offer two types of tickets: one allowing visitors to view art and drive through the underground space, and the sauna art experience. Takashi Kurimayashi’s art will certainly stick with you, so either choice is a positive one. The sauna art experience will invite guests to stand within the furnace as they are surrounded by hot herbal steam. The website asks that visitors bring a swimsuit, change of clothes, and their own towel. The quarry is located about a 30-minute drive from the center of Utsunomiya. Stone from the area is well-known across Japan, and this particular region was named a Japanese Heritage Site in 2018. Last year, more than 700,000 tourists visited the region. Information
Special Regional Exhibition ‘UnderMuseumChallenge 01 GATE’
Running: October 30 – November 23, 2021 / 9:30-16:00 (Last Entry at 15:30)
Address: 1446 Oyamachi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi
Admission/Participation Fee: ¥1,000 each
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/umc01gate/?hl=ja
Special Website: https://www.under-museum-project.com/