Hidden Wonders | Showers of Wisteria in Full Bloom at Ashikaga Flower Park

On May 1, the great wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, reached its peak. This 160-year-old tree stands as one of the natural monuments of the prefecture. Despite the rain, many tourists visited the park to enjoy its blossoms, which are illuminated in the evening until May 15.

*Lilac wisteria at its peak. (©Sankei by Masahiro Sakai)*

An enchanting display unfolded as over 350 wisteria trees of 11 varieties burst into full bloom. The trees cover 100,000 square meters of the park grounds.

*Visitors were not deterred by the rain on May 1. (©Sankei by Masahiro Sakai)*

A Sweet Fragrance

Their blossoms gracefully cascaded from the wisteria trellises, creating pink, white, and lilac showers that emitted a delightful fragrance as they swayed in the breeze.

*The illumination event lasts until May 15. (©Sankei by Masahiro Sakai)*

Hiromasa Hasegawa, the head of the park management department, noted: "The wisteria reached its peak right on time. The flowers have unfolded steadily and with a good balance."

The white wisteria, another cherished natural monument of the prefecture, also reached its peak.