The 22nd Nakayama Wisteria Festival | News＆ Events

*Starting this year, we will ask for your cooperation in contributing 100 yen per person to help with environmental improvement during the festival.

We ask for your cooperation so that we can make beautiful wisteria bloom in the future.

Nakayama Wisteria Festival

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The 22nd Nakayama Wisteria Festival will be held as a spring flower event in Yanagawa.
Last year, approximately 100,000 people visited the event.
The 300-year-old Nakayama Wisteria, a designated natural monument by Fukuoka Prefecture, is carefully nurtured by the local preservation society and related parties.
When in full bloom, the entire venue is filled with the scent of wisteria.
In addition, as a joint flower viewing project with the neighboring “Shimizuyama Peony Garden” in Miyama City,
A free shuttle bus will run between the wisteria and the peony garden.
Please come and 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

Nakayama’s Great Wisteria (designated a natural monument of Fukuoka Prefecture in April 1977) is said to have originated during the Kyoho era (1716-1735) in the Edo period. According to legend, a local sake shop owner known as “Man” was sightseeing in the Kamigata region and was so captivated by the splendor of Noda’s wisteria that he brought some wisteria back home and planted it in his home. Several decades later, it began to bloom into beautiful flowers measuring about four feet (about 120 cm) in height, attracting many visitors. It was then transplanted to the current grounds of Kumano Shrine, where it is meticulously cared for by members of a local preservation society.

Festival period

Tuesday, April 15th to Sunday, April 27th, 2025

*The period may change depending on the flowering situation.
If there are any changes, we will notify you on our website.

event

Various events will be held during the festival.

Opening Ceremony: Tuesday, April 15th, 10:00am
Jazz Live: Saturday, April 19th, 5:30pm, Nakayama Kumano Shrine Stage (Nakayama Elementary School Gymnasium in case of rain)
Green Fundraising Campaign (distribution of hydrangea, olive, and blueberry seedlings) Tuesday, April 22nd, 1:30pm
Product sales: 9:00-17:00 during the festival
Night illumination: During the festival, from sunset to 9:00 p.m.

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

A temporary parking lot will be open during the festival. The area around the venue will be very crowded, so please use the free shuttle bus from the temporary parking lot to the venue.

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 spaces near the venue are limited, so please use public transportation.

*The last special bus to Nishitetsu Yanagawa leaves at 7:02 p.m. on weekdays and 7:32 p.m. on weekends.
The last bus to Chikugo-Funagoya Station leaves at 6:48pm on weekdays and 7:18pm on weekends.
If you are coming by public transport, please be aware of the last bus time.

*Please see the flyer for timetables and fares.