1-Day Tour from Nagano and Karuizawa: Colors of the Season at Ashikaga Flower Park

There are many famous gardens around Japan, and few countries can surpass Japan’s traditions when it comes to cultivating ornamental plants. An English visitor to the country in the 1800s even said in comparison to his home country that “if a love of plants could measure the level of a civilization, then Japan’s would be far superior”. One of the most famous of those gardens is located in the small city of Ashikaga, north of Tokyo. Only a relatively short drive from internationally popular Karuizawa, here you will be greeted by flowers of many kinds planted so that something is always in bloom from February until November. The wisteria here are particularly famous, and bring huge crowds in April and May looking to catch sight of the lavender colored flowers. Ashikaga City has even more to offer besides the gardens, including Japan’s oldest school, the Ashikaga Gakko, a place of learning for Samurai children for centuries, and the beautiful Orihime Shrine, with great panoramic views and multi-colored Torii Gates beckoning visitors up its steps.

Highlights

• See beautiful flowers at the Ashikaga Flower Park

• Learn the history of Japanese education housed in the beautiful Ashikaga Gakko

• Walk through the peaceful grounds of Bannaji Temple

• Ascend the staircase of Orihime Shrine for some great views over the landscape

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below

Description

This tour will start at Nagano Station at 7:50 in the morning. Once all guests coming from Nagano have boarded, the bus will head for Karuizawa where guest boarding will begin at 9:30. For those coming from Tokyo, the tour meetup point can be easily reached by making use of the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Once boarding is complete at Karuizawa, the tour will begin in earnest and you will be headed for the day’s main attraction – the Ashikaga Flower Park.

Founded in the 1960’s, this park was moved to its current location in the 1990s due to urban development in the central areas of the city. At that time, the wisteria plant which was growing in the old location had to be transported to the new park – no easy feat. As it had already attained a great size, moving it required careful planning and a lot of machinery, and was the first time a wisteria plant of this size had ever been moved. Luckily, the procedure was a success and the garden is enriched by the presence of this now even larger and more beautiful wisteria.

Of course, these gardens have so much more to offer. With a selection of plants carefully planted to allow the viewing of flowers for much of the year, you can get lost wandering through this enchanting maze of greenery. With plum blossoms in February, cherry blossoms in March, and countless tulips in April, the spring months are a parade of color that stand out even more when the trees are still bare. Starting from April and going through May, the wisteria (‘fuji’ in Japanese) is the big attraction here, with visitors from all around the world hoping to catch sight of its beauty. Through the summer months and into autumn, roses, water lilies, sage, and others decorate the park and offer a more relaxed environment away from the busier months earlier in the year.

Beyond strolling and stopping to smell the roses, the flower park is also home to a couple of eateries, where we will take our lunch on this tour (the cost of lunch is not included in the tour price). With a number of options, including Japanese and Western meals, there will be something for everyone. From Japanese Beef rice bowls, vegetable mentaiko sauce pizza, and Japanese curry rice to unique desserts and drinks, all of your senses will be satisfied.

There are even a number of good on sale here at the gift shop, including garden ornaments, ice creams (the flavors are floral based and exceedingly delicious!), and all manner of cute and memorable trinkets. With all these things to do, we will allot much of the day’s time at the Flower Park to make sure you can do it all!

Moving on, we will head towards central Ashikaga to enjoy its historical attractions. The Ashikaga Gakko, pictured above, was once Japan’s premiere university, and operated for centuries educating students in Confucianism, military arts, and other subjects of importance to the warrior class. Inside, you can see how the students once would have spent their time at school, and outside you can enjoy a beautiful Japanese style garden which once would have soothed the weary eyes of the busy pupils in attendance here.

Leaving the school behind, we will pass through what was once the site of the city’s castle – and now a beautiful temple – before arriving at Orihime Shrine, the final stop of the day. Dedicated to the god of weaving, and a sacred site for hundreds of years, this scenic shrine sits atop a mountain overlooking the city. With wonderful views over the Kanto Plain as a backdrop, this is a must-see in Ashikaga.

While Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari draws huge crowds with its red Torii gate lined staircase, Orihime Shrine offers a different pleasure – Torii gates of seven different colors, each with its own meaning. Walking up the stairs and passing through these gates is said to bring you a different blessing for each color, and even if you aren’t superstitious the brightly colored gates contrasting against the forest background make for a great photo spot, without the crowds of the big cities.

Once finished up at the shrine, we will once again board our dedicated tour bus and return to Karuizawa and Nagano, in that order. For more information on the specific timings, please see the itinerary below.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

1 / NAGANO STATION @ 7:50 A.M.

The first pick up point of the tour will be inside of Nagano Station at 7:50 A.M. You will find your guide waiting for you in front of the information board directly across from the Shinkansen ticket gates. Look for the tour tag with a Snow Monkey Resorts logo around their neck. Once everyone has gathered up, your guide will lead you down the bus to head for Karuizawa and the next pick up point.

2 / KARUIZAWA STATION SOUTH EXIT @ 9:30 A.M.

The second meetup point is outside of the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) ticket gates inside of JR Karuizawa Station. Your guide will be waiting for you just outside the gates, with a Snow Monkey Resorts tour tag. Once everyone has gathered up the bus will depart, so please make sure to be waiting at the meetup point at no later than 9:30 A.M.

NOTES

Included

• English speaking guide
• Transport to all destinations included in the tour
• Entry to the Ashikaga Flower Park
• Entry to the Ashikaga Gakko
• Guided tour at each location

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation

Other Information

• This tour involves walking in the outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or rain coat if necessary.

• While outdoor temperatures will be pleasant in spring, early summer, and autumn, mid summer brings high humidity and hot days. If you are visiting in July or August in particular, please make sure to wear breathable clothing and prepare drinks to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day;

• There will be free time along the way for guests to enjoy the locations at their own pace. However, please make sure that you are at the respective meetup points at the time stated by your guide. If you get lost or need assistance, feel free to call the number which is listed on your tour pass, and our staff will assist you immediately.