Nakayama Wisteria Festival
We will be holding the 23rd annual “Nakayama Great Wisteria Festival,” a spring flower event in Yanagawa.
Last year, a total of 140,000 people enjoyed the wisteria blossoms.
The Nakayama Great Wisteria, a Fukuoka Prefecture-designated natural monument that is over 300 years old, is carefully nurtured by the local preservation society and related parties, and when it is in full bloom, the entire venue is filled with the fragrance of wisteria.
In addition, as a joint flower viewing project with the neighboring Shimizuyama Peony Garden in Miyama City, we are planning to operate a free shuttle bus connecting the wisteria garden and the peony garden.
Please enjoy both the wisteria and the peonies.
*For more information about Miyama City’s Shimizuyama Peony Garden, please visit the Miyama City Chamber of Commerce and Industry website (external link) .
The origin of Nakayama Wisteria
The origin of the Nakayama Great Wisteria (designated as a natural monument of Fukuoka Prefecture in April 1977) dates back to the Kyoho era of the Edo period.
It is said to date back to 1716-1735. According to legend, a man known as “Man,” who ran a sake shop in the area, was so captivated by the beauty of the wisteria in Noda while sightseeing in the Kyoto-Osaka area that he brought back some of its seeds and planted them at his home. Decades later, it is said to have produced magnificent flowers about four feet (approximately 120 cm) tall, attracting many visitors. Afterwards, it was transplanted to the current grounds of Kumano Shrine, where it is now meticulously cared for by a local preservation society.
Festival period
- April 15th (Wednesday) to April 28th (Tuesday), 2020
*The period may change depending on the flowering situation.
Any changes will be announced on the Yanagawa City website.
Request for your cooperation with the Otofuji Environmental Improvement Fund
During the Great Wisteria Festival, we kindly request a donation of 100 yen per person as a “Great Wisteria Environmental Maintenance Cooperation Fee” upon your visit. Your cooperation will help us ensure that the wisteria continues to bloom beautifully in the future.
(High school students and younger are not eligible for the environmental improvement cooperation grant.)
The donations we receive from everyone will be used for maintenance costs such as pruning, disinfection, cluster trimming, and other care of the wisteria trees.
*If you require a receipt from a tour company or other source, please inform the staff at the venue.
event
Various events will be held during the festival.
- Opening Ceremony: Wednesday, April 15th, 10:00 AM
- Jazz Live: Saturday, April 25th, 5:30 PM – Nakayama Kumano Shrine Stage (In case of rain, Nakayama Elementary School Gymnasium)
- Product sales: 9:00-17:00 during the festival
- Night illumination: During the festival, from sunset to 9:00 p.m.
*The Green Fundraising Campaign (distribution of hydrangea, olive, and blueberry seedlings, etc.) will not be held this year.
venue
Nakayama Kumano Shrine (538-1 Nakayama, Mitsuhashi-cho, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
Tachibana Recreation Forest Park (547-1 Nakayama, Mitsuhashi-cho, Yanagawa-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture)
Free shuttle bus (temporary parking lot ⇔ venue)
Temporary parking will be available during the festival period.
Temporary route bus
Special route buses (paid) will run from Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station and JR Chikugo-Funagoya Station to the Nakayama Wisteria Festival site.
Parking near the venue is limited and will be extremely crowded. We kindly ask for your cooperation in using public transportation.
period
April 15th (Wednesday) to April 28th (Tuesday), 2020
section
Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station ⇔ Tachibana Recreation Forest Park (Nakayama Daito) ⇔ JR Chikugo Funagoya Station
timetable
Each station entrance
〇 Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station (East Exit) *Starting this year, the boarding entrance will be changed to the East Exit.
Chikugo-Funagoya Station, in front of Shin-Chikugo-Funagoya Station
Shuttle bus connecting “Nakayama Wisteria” and “Shimizuyama Peony Garden”
A free shuttle bus will be operating between Nakayama Wisteria and Shimizuyama Peony Garden in Miyama City.
*Please see the flyer for the timetable.
period
Wednesday, April 15, 2020 – Sunday, April 26, 2020
section
Nakayama Wisteria⇔JR Setaka Station⇔Miyama Roadside Station⇔Shimizuyama Peony Garden
About parking
Parking is available around the venue.
However, there is a limited number of vehicles available, and it will be very crowded. Please use public transportation whenever possible.
Regarding parking for welfare facility staff
Parking permits for welfare facility staff planning to attend are available here .
Flyers and posters
Nakayama Wisteria Festival flyer front
Nakayama Wisteria Festival flyer back
Nakayama Wisteria Festival Poster
Photo Contest / Haiku Contest
Photo Contest
Application period:
From Wednesday, April 29, 2026 to Monday, June 1, 2026
Application destination:
Yanagawa City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (0944-73-5400) 56 Imakoga, Mitsuhashi-machi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture 832-0823
Yanagawa City Hall Tourism Division (0944-77-8563) 87-1 Honmachi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture 832-8601
The application guidelines and application form can be downloaded from the link below.
〇 23rd Photo Contest – Application Guidelines
Flowering status
Please check the Yanagawa City website for details.
Check here for flowering status
