【Ashikaga Flower Park】What an experience! Truly moving.

When you think of Ashikaga, the Flower Park comes to mind. In 2014, CNN in the United States selected it as one of the world's top 10 dream travel destinations. Although I had wanted to visit for years, I hesitated due to concerns about the crowds during Golden Week (GW). However, this year, I finally made the trip for the first time. On a weekday during GW, I woke up early and headed to Ashikaga to arrive at the park's opening time of 7 AM. While there was about a 10-minute traffic jam to enter the temporary parking lot on the west side, the process was smoother than expected, likely because it was a weekday. Ashikaga Flower Park features four large wisteria trees. Near the west gate (close to the JR station and temporary parking lot) is Wisteria D. Additionally, near the main gate, slightly toward the center, Wisteria A and B are planted side by side. These two trees form a stunning arch where their flowers intersect, making it a popular photo spot, though it’s hard to have it all to yourself during this season. These wisteria trees were originally located in the center of Ashikaga City but were transplanted about 30 years ago in an unprecedented move. At the time, the wisteria trellis, which spanned 500 square meters, was trimmed down to 72 square meters for the transplant. Now, it has grown to cover 1,000 square meters. Due to their vitality and the name "Fuji" (which sounds like "fushi," meaning immortality), these trees are considered sacred and symbols of longevity. Wisteria A, B, and D were in full bloom and absolutely breathtaking, with their sweet fragrance filling the entire park. (I may have missed Wisteria C, which is said to be near Wisteria A and B.) Other attractions, such as the White Wisteria Waterfall, tunnels, and the pale pink bridge, were equally stunning. Although the camellias were slightly past their peak, they were still worth seeing. The purple wisteria screen seems to be just starting to bloom. While I had high expectations, the experience exceeded them, leaving me thrilled. I ended up taking over 300 photos, and sorting through them has been quite a task. I highly recommend visiting during GW! Date of Visit: Wednesday, April 30, 2025 (Weekday) Name: Ashikaga Flower Park Address: 607 Hasama-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture Parking: 6,000 spaces Note: Traffic restrictions are in place around the area on holidays during GW Hours: 7 AM–9 PM (during GW) Admission Fee: 2,300 yen (during GW)