Japan’s Autumn Flower Festivals in September: A Kaleidoscope of Blooms
September marks the advent of autumn in Japan, a season that unveils a spectacular array of flower festivals. As temperatures cool, the country’s gardens and parks burst forth with vibrant displays of iconic autumn blooms, many of which are part of the revered “Seven Flowers of Autumn” (Aki no Nanakusa), along with other prominent varieties. These include Red Spider Lilies, Cosmos, Kochia, Pampas Grass, and Chrysanthemums. These festivals offer unique opportunities to immerse oneself in Japan’s natural beauty and cultural traditions.
Typical Autumn Flowers in Japan (September Bloom)
September brings a variety of beautiful and culturally significant flowers. The “Seven Grasses of Autumn” (Aki no Nanakusa) are:
- Bush Clover (Hagi): Produces small reddish-purple flowers from late summer into fall.
- Japanese Silver Grass (Susuki or Obana): Features graceful plumes from late summer through autumn, often displayed during *tsukimi*.
- Japanese Arrowroot (Kuzu): Vines with vibrant purple flowers.
- Pink (Nadeshiko or Dianthus superbus): Delicate pink flowers with frilled petals, blooming from late summer into fall, symbolizing feminine beauty.
- Valerian (Ominaeshi or Golden Lace): Known for its clusters of small yellow flowers.
- Joe Pye Weed (Fujibakama or Thoroughwort): Features pale purple flowers with a sweet fragrance.
- Balloon Flower (Kikyo or Chinese Bellflower): Displays star-shaped blooms (lavender, blue, white) from late summer into fall.
Other prominent September flowers include:
- Red Spider Lily (Higanbana or Lycoris radiata): Striking maroon or vibrant red flowers blooming around mid-September to early October, often associated with the autumnal equinox (*Higan*). They are considered poisonous and taboo as bouquets.
- Cosmos (Akizakura): Often called “autumn cherry blossoms,” they are a cheerful sight blooming from September to November in various colors (pink, white, yellow, red, black).
- Chrysanthemum (Kiku): An iconic autumn flower, blooming from September through November, symbolizing longevity and nobility, and the emblem of the Imperial Family.
- Japanese Gentian (Rindou or Gentiana scabra): Characterized by violet or blue blossoms, these indigenous flowers typically bloom throughout the fall season (August-November) in mountainous areas.
- Japanese Toad Lily (Hototogisu or Tricyrtis hirta): Unique, charming flowers with spotted patterns, blooming from September to October.
- Osmanthus (Kinmokusei or Fragrant Olive): Produces small orange flowers from late September to mid-October, releasing a sweet and rich fragrance, a beloved symbol of autumn.
- Japanese Asters (Aster tataricus): Delicate flowers ranging from white to purple, blooming from late summer into fall.
- Dahlias: Reach their peak blooming season from September to November in Japan.
Autumn Flower Festivals and Viewing Spots in September
Kinchakuda Red Spider Lily Festival (Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture)
This is a major highlight in September. Over five million bright red spider lilies (Manjushage or Higanbana, Lycoris radiata) transform Kinchakuda Manjushage Park into a breathtaking crimson landscape. The park’s unique “drawstring pouch” shape, formed by the meandering Koma River, enhances its scenic beauty.
- Peak Bloom: Typically around late September. The festival usually runs from mid-September to early October (e.g., September 18-October 9 in 2024).
- Activities: Enjoy local food stalls, local produce, crafts, and entertainment, sometimes including traditional Japanese monkey performances. The Hidaka Kuri (Chestnut) Festival often coincides.
- Access: About an hour by train from central Tokyo (Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Koma Station, then a 15-minute walk).
- Admission: ¥500 for adults, junior high school students and younger children free.
Cosmos Flower Festival (Showa Kinen Park, Tokyo)
From mid-September to late October (or early November), Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa, Tokyo, showcases vast fields of cosmos flowers, making it one of Japan’s largest floral displays. Peak bloom is usually mid-October. (For 2024, Sep 14 – Oct 20).
- Gardens: Features the “Kibana Cosmos ‘Lemon Bright'” field (yellow sulfur cosmos), “Autumn Bouquet Garden” (20 cosmos varieties), and “Cosmos ‘Sensation'” (lilac blooms).
- Attractions: Includes a picturesque soap bubble event (early October). The park is Tokyo’s largest (180 hectares) and offers bicycles, a bonsai garden, and a boating lake.
- Admission: Adults (15+): ¥450. Seniors (65+): ¥210. Children (under 15): Free.
Hagi Matsuri (Bush Clover Festival) (Mukojima-Hyakkaen Gardens, Tokyo and Nashinoki Shrine, Kyoto)
Bush clover (hagi), one of Japan’s seven iconic autumn flowers, blooms in mid-September.
- Mukojima-Hyakkaen Gardens (Sumida City, Tokyo): Hosts a hagi festival annually from mid-September to early October (e.g., September 14-October 1 in 2024; tentatively September 13-October 1 in 2025). It features a 30-meter-long bamboo tunnel covered in purple and pink bush clover. This Edo period garden is the only surviving “Edo flower garden” and is a nationally recognized scenic and historic spot. Admission is ¥150 for adults, ¥70 for seniors (65+), and free for elementary/junior high students in Tokyo.
- Nashinoki Shrine (near Kyoto Imperial Palace): Holds a Hagi Matsuri annually in September (For 2025, September 27-28), where worshippers tie poetry to its approximately 200-500 bush clover plants. It also includes cultural performances like ikebana, kyōgen, traditional dances, music, Kyūdō (Japanese archery), and tea ceremonies using water from the famous Somenoi well.
Choyo no Sekku (Chrysanthemum Festival)
Officially celebrated on September 9th, this traditional Japanese festival, also known as Kiku no Sekku, honors chrysanthemum flowers. Chrysanthemums are believed to bring longevity, good health, and ward off evil spirits, and are also the symbol of the imperial family. Traditions include drinking chrysanthemum sake, wiping with dew-soaked silk (*Kisewata*), and enjoying elaborate chrysanthemum displays.
Kochia Carnival at Hitachi Seaside Park (Ibaraki Prefecture)
This popular event typically runs from mid-September to mid-October, featuring 32,000 Kochia balls that dramatically change color from green to vibrant crimson on vast hills. A stunning Cosmos field is also present at the park during this time, alongside Red Spider Lilies in other areas.
Cosmos at Yamanakako Hanano Miyako Park (Yamanashi Prefecture)
Located next to Lake Yamanaka at the base of Mount Fuji, this park boasts a 300,000-square-meter field of golden cosmos flowers, offering spectacular views with Mount Fuji as a backdrop. Cosmos are often called “the Cherry Blossom of Autumn” (Akizakura).
Hakone Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field (Kanagawa Prefecture)
From late September to early November, the hills of Daigatake Mountain in Hakone are covered in fluffy pampas grass (susuki), transitioning from green to shiny silver and then to pale gold. This Japanese Silver Grass is also culturally significant in Tsukimi (moon-viewing) celebrations.
Jindai Botanical Gardens (Chofu City, Tokyo)
Tokyo’s largest botanical garden (42 hectares) features dahlias reaching their peak blooming season in September and October, in addition to its famous roses. It houses over 100,000 trees and shrubs across 4,500 varieties and a large greenhouse.
Cosmos Flower Festival at Tower Park 138 (Ichinomiya)
This festival showcases approximately 130,000 beautiful yellow and orange cosmos flowers.
Other Spider Lily Festivals
Beyond Kinchakuda, spider lily festivals are also held in:
- Hattanda Park (Takahama City, Aichi Prefecture): This park is known for its blooming Higanbana (Lycoris Radiata), featuring both red and rare yellow spider lilies along the Hieda River banks. Admission and parking are free.
- Tsuya River (Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture): Along a 3km stretch of the Tsuya River dam, approximately 100,000 red spider lilies create a natural, vibrant display during mid-September to early October. Admission is free, with parking at ¥500.
Kiso Sansen Park Autumn Flowers Cosmos
Cosmos viewing generally runs from early September to early November at Kiso Sansen Park, notably at Kiso Sansen Park Center in Kaizu City, Gifu. Bright orange and yellow cosmos are best mid-August to late September. The Dahlia and Cosmos Festival runs late September to mid-November, featuring approximately 240,000 cosmos plants of various colors and often including flower illumination during the festival. Admission is free.
Other Autumn Flowers in September
Beyond these festival-featured blooms, September in Japan also sees the emergence of other beautiful autumn flowers, including:
- Dahlias (reaching peak bloom)
- Japanese Gentian (Rindou)
- Nadeshiko (Dianthus superbus)
- Japanese Toad Lily (Hototogisu)
- Osmanthus (Kinmokusei), known for its sweet fragrance
- Japanese Asters
