Japan’s Seasonal Flower Calendar: What to See During GREEN×EXPO 2027
From cherry blossoms in spring to sunflowers and autumn’s first blooms, discover Japan’s seasonal flowers during your visit to GREEN×EXPO 2027.
Japan’s landscapes change dramatically with the seasons, and flowers are one of the most beautiful ways to experience the country’s natural and cultural heritage. From the fleeting pink clouds of cherry blossoms to the colorful fields of summer sunflowers, each season brings its own traditions, landscapes, and opportunities to explore.
For travelers visiting GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama, there is an especially exciting opportunity to experience these seasonal changes. The International Horticultural Expo runs from March 19 to September 26, 2027, covering the transition from spring through summer and into early autumn.
Whether you are planning a trip around the Expo or extending your stay to explore more of Japan, here is a month-by-month guide to flowers you may encounter during your visit.
Please note: Flowering dates vary with temperatures, rainfall, location, and elevation. The calendar below describes typical seasonal patterns rather than confirmed bloom dates for 2027.
March: Cherry Blossoms
March marks the transition from winter to spring in much of Japan. While plum blossoms often begin blooming earlier in the year, some late varieties may still be visible in early March. By late March, the main cherry blossom variety, Somei Yoshino, is in full-bloom around Tokyo and Yokohama.
Flowers to look for:
Cherry blossoms (sakura): Pale pink and white blossoms that signal the arrival of spring.
Rapeseed flowers (nanohana): Bright yellow flowers that create cheerful spring landscapes in some rural areas.
Where to experience them:
See them both together in a 1KM walkway next to a river at Gongendo Park in Saitama.
Travel tip: If you are arriving for the opening of GREEN×EXPO 2027, keep your plans flexible. Where the best cherry blossom spot is that day or week can vary widely. They have a short blooming cycle, highly dependent on the sun and rain. If you missed the “full-bloom” date for the region, don’t worry too much, as there are late-blooming varieties too.
April: Cherry Blossoms, Tulips, and Nemophila
While Cherry Blossoms take center stage, there are several other beautiful flowers blooming around the same time. Be sure not to get too distracted by the late blooming cherry blossoms that you miss Wisteria!
Flowers to look for:
Cherry blossoms (sakura): Later-blooming varieties may continue flowering into April, particularly in cooler areas.
Tulips: Colorful displays ranging from traditional red and yellow to elaborate multicolored arrangements.
Nemophila: Delicate blue flowers that can transform large fields into a sea of blue.
Wisteria (fuji): Cascading purple, white, or pink flower clusters, usually appearing later in spring.
Where to experience them:
Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki is known for its nemophila, but it also has a wonderful tulip fores just a short walk away from the hill covered with blue flowers.
Shimizu Flower Fantasia in Chiba is a great spot for viewing Wisteria, growing on trellises that surround you with an almost fairy-tale like ambiance.
Konosu in Saitama also has a display of tulips and for one spring weekend hosts a festival where visitors can plant a tulip or dig up a bulb.
May: Wisteria, Roses, and Seasonal Flower Gardens
May brings warmer temperatures and an impressive variety of flowers. Wisteria often reaches its peak in late April or early May, while roses become a major attraction in many gardens.
This is an excellent month for travelers who enjoy exploring landscaped gardens, historic estates, and the horticultural traditions that have developed around flower cultivation.
Flowers to look for:
Roses (bara): Fragrant flowers in countless colors and varieties, often featured in formal gardens.
Peonies (botan): Large, layered blossoms that make a striking display in spring.
Irises (ayame and shōbu): Some varieties begin flowering toward late spring, with many Japanese garden displays continuing into June.
Where to experience them:
For Peonies, one of the best locations is located inside Ueno Park, next to the ornate Toshogu shrine.
Besides yokohama, the Jindaiji Botanical gardens offers a glimpse at hundreds of varieties of roses next to a shrine and a small traditional market street. A half-day trip to this location will leave visitors with some Japanese cultural memories.
For Irises, visit Odawara castle. There’s a garden surrounding the castle with Irises and hydrangeas. The garden at Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo is also a great spot to walk along side irises and observe them from a small pavilion. Note the garden at Meiji Jingu requires a small fee to enter.
June: Hydrangeas, Irises, and the Beauty of the Rainy Season
June is often associated with Japan’s rainy season, known as tsuyu. Rather than treating the rain as an obstacle, visitors can discover how moisture transforms the landscape, making foliage greener and bringing out the rich colors of many seasonal flowers.
Flowers to look for:
Hydrangeas (ajisai): Rounded clusters of blue, purple, pink, and white flowers that thrive in the early summer landscape.
Japanese irises: Elegant flowers that are especially beautiful in waterside gardens.
Roses: Some gardens continue to offer summer rose displays, although the first major flowering period may be ending.
Lavender: Early-season displays may begin in cooler areas and higher elevations.
Where to experience them: Kamakura, a historic coastal city south of Yokohama, is particularly well known for hydrangeas. Its temples and gardens provide an opportunity to combine seasonal flowers with Japanese history and architecture.
Another beloved spot for hydrangeas near Tokyo is Hondo-ji near Matsudo in Chiba prefecture. This area is on the grounds of a temple but offers wide pathways to wander among the hydrangeas. At one far end of the path is an iris garden and small viewing pavilion.
July: Lavender, Lotus Flowers, and Summer Blooms
By July, much of Japan has entered summer. Temperatures and humidity rise, and flower viewing becomes an opportunity to explore different landscapes, including mountain areas and gardens with ponds.
Flowers to look for:
Lavender: A summer highlight in cooler regions, particularly in parts of Hokkaido.
Lotus flowers (hasu): Large, elegant flowers rising above broad leaves in ponds and wetlands.
Sunflowers (himawari): Early displays may begin, with peak viewing times varying by region.
Morning glories (asagao): Colorful flowers with a long history in Japanese horticulture and summer traditions.
Where to experience them:
One of the best sports for lavender is in a nearby prefecture called Gunma at Tambara lavender park. Visitors can also enjoy the tastes of lavender with lavender ice cream.
At Nagai seaside park, visitors can see sunflowers and possibly a glimpse of Mount Fuji!
One of the most famous lotus fields is in Ueno park in Tokyo. A more rural location to see lotus and also learn more about Japan’s famous tabi socks (toe-socks) for which the town produces, visit Kodai Hasu No Sato (Ancient Lotus Park) in Gyoda, Saitama.
August: Sunflowers, Lotus Flowers, and Morning Glories
August is the height of summer in much of Japan. Sunflowers are among the season’s most recognizable flowers, while lotus flowers and morning glories offer different perspectives on Japan’s summer landscape.
Flowers to look for:
Sunflowers (himawari): Bright yellow flowers that create dramatic fields and cheerful photo opportunities.
Lotus flowers (hasu): Depending on the region and variety, blooms may continue into August.
Morning glories (asagao): Flowers associated with traditional summer gardening and seasonal markets.
Summer lilies and other ornamental flowers: Displays vary by garden, cultivar, and local climate.
Rice field art: Art patterns carved into the rice
Where to experience them:
Visit Gyoda Rice paddy art to climb a tall tower overlooking both the rice field and the nearby lotus field. Visiting later in the season brings to life the art more.
Travel tip: August can be extremely hot and humid. We highly recommend private transportation if you want to visit rural flower fields that are difficult to reach by public transit.
September: Cosmos and the First Signs of Autumn
September brings the beginning of the transition toward autumn, although summer heat can persist in and around Yokohama. Later in the month, some gardens and fields begin to feature flowers associated with the cooler season.
Flowers to look for:
Cosmos (kosumosu): Delicate pink, white, and magenta flowers that often become prominent in autumn.
Spider lilies (higanbana): Vivid red flowers traditionally associated with the autumn equinox and often seen in rural landscapes.
Autumn chrysanthemums (kiku): Chrysanthemums have a long history in Japanese horticulture, although many major seasonal exhibitions take place later in autumn.
Where to experience them:
Both Cosmos and Spider lillies can be viewed at the Kinchakuda Park in Saitama, where visitors will be enveloped in a forest with a red flower floor.
Planning a Flower-Focused Trip Around GREEN×EXPO 2027
GREEN×EXPO 2027 provides a starting point for exploring Japan’s horticultural culture, but the surrounding region offers many more ways to experience seasonal flowers.
Consider building a day trip around your favorite blooms:
For cherry blossoms and spring gardens: Explore Yokohama and Tokyo in late March or early April, depending on the forecast.
For wisteria and roses: Plan a garden excursion in late April or May.
For hydrangeas and Japanese irises: Explore Kamakura and its historic gardens in June.
For lavender and mountain flowers: Consider a longer trip to a cooler region in July.
For sunflowers: Look for summer flower fields in July and August.
For cosmos and early autumn flowers: Check regional bloom updates for September.
Because flower-viewing destinations can be spread across the countryside, transportation is worth considering when planning your itinerary. A private car can make it easier to combine multiple gardens, visit rural locations, carry luggage, or travel with children and older family members. It can also give you more flexibility when weather or bloom forecasts change.
Experience More of Japan’s Flowers with Tokudaw
A visit to GREEN×EXPO 2027 is an opportunity to discover more than beautiful flowers. It is also a chance to explore Japan’s relationship with nature, horticulture, seasonal traditions, and the landscapes that shape everyday life.
At Tokudaw, we help international visitors experience Japan through customized journeys, cultural activities, and transportation services. Whether you would like to add a garden excursion to your Expo visit or plan a day exploring seasonal flowers beyond Yokohama, we can help you consider the destinations and travel arrangements that fit your interests.
Planning a visit to GREEN×EXPO 2027? Contact Tokudaw to discuss a customized Japan journey that combines seasonal flower viewing with the cultural experiences and destinations you would most like to discover.
