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Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/15 03:19
I want to go to Tokyo, Ashikaga Wisteria Flower Park and Takayama. Help!!! How do I plan this? Can I fly or take a train from Ashikaga to Takayama? Thanks for any input. My first time in Japan. Can I take in the Cherry Blossom Festival and also the Wisteria Flower Festiavl in one trip? Thanks.
by Rita Ng (guest)  

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/15 11:43
When are you planning to go? Wisteria bloom later than cherry blossoms, so you wouldn't be able to see both at the same time.

Tokyo to Ashikaga is explained here: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3850.html

More information about the flower park is in English here: https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/fujinohana_special2016/en/index.html
Notice the flower festival starts from April 16th, but that doesn't mean they will be blooming at that point. Generally late April is better.

From Ashikaga to Takayama is a long trip, 6 hours or so. I would take a local train from Ashikaga to Takasaki station then take the Shinkansen up to Toyama, then another train down to Takayama.

Alternately, you could return to Tokyo, take the Shinkansen to Nagoya or Gifu, then take a local up to Takayama.
by scarreddragon rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/15 11:45
Sorry, how to get to and from Takayama is explained here: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5900.html

Your starting point would be either Tokyo if you returned from Ashikaga to Tokyo first, or Kanazawa if you went to Takasaki and took the shinkansen from there.
by scarreddragon rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/15 20:38
Thanks for all the info. Planning to go after The Golden week in Japan, in May.
by Rita Ng (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/15 23:05
In that case, unless you travel up to Hakodate or Sapporo, you probably wont see any cherry blossoms. But that'll still be a nice time for the wisteria.
by scarreddragon rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/17 00:42
Thanks a million.
by Rita Ng (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/17 08:13
If you are going for Ashikaga Flower Park after the Golden Week, go as soon as you can since early May is the best time for wisteria there.

Another flower destination which is also good during the first half of May is Hitachi Seaside Park for nemophila. It can also be done as a day trip from Tokyo.
http://hitachikaihin.jp/calendar/flowering.html#nemophila
by William5 rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/22 22:20
Thanks for all the helpful input. Can I get around without speaking Japanese? The subway and train system is mind boggling. Know of any cheap accommodation in Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama and Kanasawa?
by Rita Ng (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/24 22:14
Do you think that the whisteria will be blooming around 25th April? We would like to plan the Park on that day and I am keen to see those beautiful flowers.

Thank you
by Angelika (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/25 00:27
A lot depends on the weather. Monitor the following webpage for update information on the flowering condition in the park.
http://www.ashikaga.co.jp/parkdayori/flower.php

On our first visit we were there on April 27 and there were very few, none of those hanging wisteria. Only on our second visit a couple of years later on May 6 (Golden Week) did we come upon spectacular bloom. It may not be the case every year but early May seems to be a better time according to our experience. The admission fee to a certain extend reflects the flowering condition – the higher the fee the better chance of seeing full bloom. It was 700 yen on our first visit and 1700 yen on our second.
http://www.ashikaga.co.jp/fee.html
by William5 rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/3/28 13:11
Hi,

My family and I (5 people) are going to Ashikaga Flower Park on May 5. Hope you can help me answer below questions:

1. May I get more information about the 970 yen train option below? Since we are 5 in the group, I thought I would take the cheapest way to get there.
- What line should we take and what are the transfers for the regular train?
- Do we need to buy train tickets in advance?

Source: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3850.html
"Alternatively, take the Tobu Isesaki Line from Tobu Asakusa Station to Ashikagashi Station. The one way ride takes about 70 minutes and costs 2000 yen by direct "Ryomo Limited Express" train or takes nearly two hours but costs only 970 yen by regular trains with transfers along the way."


2. Do I need to buy entrance tickets to the park in advance since May 5 seems to be a peak day? If yes, where can I do this? If no, do you think the park has a limit on guests they can allow inside?

3. How much is the entrance fee for May 5? Their website is vague. It says 900-1700 yen.

Thank you in advance!
by CherryG rate this post as useful

Re: Wisteria Festival Ashikaga 2016/4/1 00:42
We will be in Tokyo in May 9-14. Will it be too late to go to Wisteria on May 13? Or should we go on May 9? Thanks.
by Stan (guest) rate this post as useful

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