Japanese wisteria hysteria

Cherry blossoms have been gone from my corner of Japan for nearly a month now, but there are so many flowers around here that it doesn’t matter too much. I suppose I’m more meh about it since I’m an ingrate with two sakura seasons under her belt. woof!

Either way, there are many, many flower festivals in the Tokyo area available to quench your cherry blossom thirst and/or cure your “cherry blossom hangover” as I wrote in my short piece for the Stars and Stripes available here.

So far, I’ve seen tulip fields, poppy fields and daisy displays, but my favorite so far have been the wisteria.

Sakura may be Asia’s most celebrated bud, but wisteria are just as whimsical if not MORE whimsical than sakura.

Below are a ton of photos I took at Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, but if you want to see cherry blossom photos you can go here and here. Domo Arigatou!

(click to enlarge)

Bleeding hearts in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Detail of wisteria hanging in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

More bleeding hearts. I love them, they’re perfect. Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Not sure exactly what type of flower this is. I’m guessing it’s some type of azalea… sorry. Beautiful, nevertheless.

Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. is like being in a storybook garden. If you said that this was the Queen of Hearts’ garden in Alice in Wonderland, I would’ve believed you! That is how well maintained and beautiful all the flowers were.

Pink bleeding hearts in Ashikaga Flower Park, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Poppies also share the spotlight at Ashikaga Flower Park.

Nighttime wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

As soon as the sun starts to set, the flowers are illuminated at Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Night illumination at Ashikaga Flower Park.

Wisteria aglow in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Ashikaga Flower Park was crowded with many people taking photos on an afternoon stroll to view the wisteria in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Flowers upon flowers upon flowers in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Someone is really enjoying the flowers at Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Not this guy though.

detail of double wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

These peonies were so real but looked SOOO FAKE! Flawless.

Baby wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Wonder how long it took for this to get to that size in comparison to a full-size one.

Wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

A couple enjoying the wisteria in Ashikaga Flower Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.