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Japan in May : Wisteria, Fresh Greenery & Golden Week
The weather is comfortable, spring flowers continue, mountains turn green again, and it’s a great month for day trips and nature spots.
The beginning of May is very busy because of Golden Week, but after that, things calm down a lot.
Here’s what May looks like across Japan 👇
Where to Go in May ?
TOKYO
Hitachi Seaside Park
Known for the blue nemophila flowers covering the hills in early May.
Kameido Tenjin Shrine
Wisteria season continues in early May.
Showa Kinen Park
Spring flowers, cycling, picnics, and open green spaces.
KYOTO
Kibune & Kurama
Fresh greenery season starts. Good weather for walking between both areas.
Arashiyama
Calmer after sakura season with bright green bamboo and mountain views.
Byodo-in (Uji)
Wisteria season around the temple grounds.
OSAKA
Minoh Park
Easy nature day trip with fresh green forest scenery.
Katsuo-ji
Daruma temple, from which you can access Minoo falls & minoo park
Expo ’70 Park
Large flower fields and seasonal events.
KYŪSHŪ
Kujū Flower Park
Spring flowers with mountain views.
Beppu & Yufuin
Good temperatures for onsen trips before summer humidity starts.
Takachiho Gorge
Greener landscapes and comfortable weather for walking.
HOKKAIDŌ
Goryokaku Park (Hakodate)
Cherry blossoms bloom later here, usually early May.
Maruyama Park (Sapporo)
Late sakura season in Hokkaidō.
🌸 Flowers & Seasonal Highlights
Wisteria season peaks in many regions
Late cherry blossoms continue in northern Japan
Nemophila flowers bloom in early May
Fresh green maple leaves become a big highlight in Kyoto and mountain areas
🌸 Most Famous Wisteria Spots Around Japan
Ashikaga Flower Park (Tochigi)
Probably the most famous wisteria spot in Japan. Huge illuminated wisteria trees and tunnels. Peak usually late April to early May.
Kawachi Fujien (Kitakyushu, Fukuoka)
Known for its wisteria tunnels. One of the most photographed spring spots in Japan.
Tennogawa Park (Tsushima, Aichi)
Large wisteria festival with long flower tunnels and evening illuminations.
Mandaraji Park (Konan, Aichi)
Large amount of wisteria varieties and seasonal festival.
Shirai Omachi Fuji Park (Hyogo)
Mountain wisteria park with long flower tunnels.
Very old natural wisteria tree designated as a natural monument.
🌿 Wisteria Season Tips
Peak season changes depending on region and temperature
Most spots bloom between late April and mid May
Night illuminations are common at major festivals
Weekdays are much calmer than weekends
Some famous spots like Kawachi Fujien require reservation tickets during peak bloom
🎎 Main May Events
Early May
Golden Week holidays, nationwide
May 5
Children’s Day (Koinobori carp streamers everywhere)
Early May
Ashikaga Wisteria Festival, Tochigi
Early May
Fuji Shibazakura Festival near Mount Fuji
May 15
Aoi Matsuri, Kyoto
Mid May
Sanja Matsuri, Tokyo (the yakuza gather.)
Throughout May
Tea harvest season begins in Kyoto, Shizuoka, and Uji
🍴 What to Eat in May
Matcha desserts and drinks
Fresh tea from new harvest season
Kashiwa mochi (Children’s Day sweet)
Strawberries still available in some regions
Seasonal bamboo shoots
Early summer vegetables
💡 Tips for May
Golden Week is one of the busiest travel periods in Japan, so it’s better to avoid if possible
After Golden Week, crowds drop a lot
Weather is usually warm but comfortable
Nature spots and countryside areas are especially nice this month
Good season for hiking and day trips
Light layers are usually enough
🗺️ Plan Your Perfect Trip
If you want to plan your Japan trip without spending hours researching, my Japan Travel Guides & Interactive Itineraries are made for you 👇
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Planning a trip to Japan usually breaks at the same point: you save a lot of places, but don’t know how to turn them into a realistic route. Cities are large, distances are not intuitive, and it’s hard to know what actually fits in one day.
This guide was created to solve that. It helps you understand how places connect, how many days make sense per area, and how to build an itinerary that flows.
With the interactive map, you can explore curated spots across Japan, follow ready-made itineraries and day trips, mix my routes with your own, and adapt everything to your pac
I created my Japan Travel Guide to help you organize your trip in a clear, realistic way.
Details on what you'll have
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What it looks like on the app :
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They’re ideal if you want a solid base you can customize with your travel companions.
Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, I’m Marie, the creator behind @tabimawari.
I lived in Kyoto, learned Japanese, and keep returning to explore Japan beyond the obvious.
Planning a trip to Japan usually breaks at the same point: you save a lot of places, but don’t know how to turn them into a realistic route. Cities are large, distances are not intuitive, and it’s hard to know what actually fits in one day.
This guide was created to solve that. It helps you understand how places connect, how many days make sense per area, and how to build an itinerary that flows.
With the interactive map, you can explore curated spots across Japan, follow ready-made itineraries and day trips, mix my routes with your own, and adapt everything to your pace.
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Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, I’m Marie.
French islander from Reunion island, Japan lover, and travel planner behind Tabimawari.
I spent a year living in Kyoto, learning Japanese and falling in love with the culture. Since then, I’ve kept going back, exploring every corner from Tokyo to the tiniest hidden towns.
I created these guides after spending months planning, testing, and fine-tuning every detail so you don’t have to. Inside, you’ll find:
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This is what I wish I had on my first trip to Japan and now it’s yours.
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