Wisteria Festival at Kameido Tenjin Shrine

 

There are 100+ varieties hanging on 15 trellises.

Wisteria flowers begin blooming all at once starting in late April to early May. These lovely lavender-colored flowers are comprised of several bunches and look stunning when dangled from trellises.

The best place to see them is Kameido Tenjin Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of study. People visit the shrine not only to pray for success in examinations but also to enjoy the Fuji Matsuri (Wisteria Festival).

The shrine is also famous for its drum bridge, a highly arched pedestrian bridge associated with gardens in Japan. The temple grounds are reminiscent of the Edo period with a small lake complete with koi fish, turtles, and ducks lounging under a canopy of wisteria. 

Tokyo Sky Tree provides a perfect backdrop for the wisteria flowers

The 634 meter high Tokyo Sky Tree looms in the background of the shrine and adds to the beautiful setting where the purple flowers reflect in the pond’s water.

Situated on the right of the entrance to the shrine are many staple Japanese food stalls, serving delicious okonomiyaki (a savory pancake made with several ingredients), yakisoba (stir fry egg noodles), yakitori (grilled chicken), and grilled fish.

The blossoms are even more lovely at night when they are illuminated after sunset. Admission is free and can get quite busy during the weekends and holidays especially when they are in full bloom during Golden Week.

Access

It is a 15-minute walk from the North Exit of Kameido Station on the Sobu Line or Exit 4 of Kinshicho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line.