Ashikaga Flower Park is an extraordinary achievement in that it was moved from its original location along with 130 year old Wisteria of enormous proportions. Today it is located just over an hour on the train north of Tokyo and represents a great day out with some stunning displays of flora.
Covering 94,0000 square metres, it has been thoughtfully planted to produce maximum colour impact over much of the year.
A variety of water features have also been added to maximise the visual impact and distinctly Oriental feel of these gardens.
But it is the Wisteria Season from April to May each year that draws millions of visitors to Ashikaga. The prime attraction is Ooto, a 130 year old Wisteria and three others of similar age. (how they transplanted these from the original site is beyond belief).
Wisteria (Fuji is the word for the plant in Japanese) are on display in shades of blue, white, pink and yellow and Ashikaga is considered to be the ultimate Wisteria Park in Japan.
There is also an 80 metre long Wisteria tunnel that is so spectacular it has been designated a local natural treasure. Another of Laburnum makes an alternative and equally stunning yellow tunnel.
Wisteria are naturally very eye-catching in their own right, but under floodlights at night they take your breath away.
And they say (though this reviewer hasn't tried it) that the Wisteria Ice Cream is quite delicious!
This is a well designed and managed garden, offering immaculately tended plants and gardens combined with plentiful resources and facilities for the visitor to eat and shop.
Author: Bob Saunders.
Wisteria Restaurant: is a large restaurant with a capacity for 200 people. Visitors can enjoy Japanese and Western dishes, soft drinks and fresh draft beers with excellent views of the seasonal flower gardens.
Takeaway Corner offers plenty of (you guessed it) takeaway food and snacks.
Hydrangea: offers traditional, hot Japanese food.
Snow House: offer cakes, breads and pastries.
By Car:
From Tohoku Expressway
* From Sano Fujioka IC, Route No. 50 No. 50 Maebashi ยท Ashikaga direction (about 18 minutes)
From Kita Kanto Expresswy?
* than Ota Kiryu IC, via No. 122 national highway, National Highway No. 50 Ashikaga Koyama towards progress (about 20 minutes)
than
*Ashikaga IC, via National highway No. 293, prefectural road 67 No. Sano towards progress (about 15 minutes)
* than Sano Tanuma IC , Route 16, via Route 67 Ashikaga direction (approx. 12 minutes)
By Train:
* Visitors using Tobu Isesaki Line will change to JR Tohoku Main Line at Kuki Station and use both lines from Oyama station.
* From JR Ueno station you can change trains at Oyama by JR Tohoku Main Line.
N.B. It is a journey of about 13 minutes on foot from JR Ryogoku Line "Tomita" station.