Ashikaga Flower Park is a flower-themed park located in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture.
In spring, the park is filled with magnificent wisteria blooms centered around its famous large wisteria trellises, while in winter, a large-scale illumination event transforms the entire park. As a result, the atmosphere changes completely from season to season.
In this article, we introduce the basic information and access to Ashikaga Flower Park, along with an overview of the best time to see the wisteria and its spring light-up, as well as the winter illumination season and the differences between daytime and nighttime visits. Based on an actual visit during the winter illumination season, we also explain how the park’s scenery changes from day to night, with photos for reference.
To help first-time visitors plan their trip, we also summarize opening hours and admission fees based on information available as of 2025, so you can better understand when to visit and what to expect.
How to Get to Ashikaga Flower Park
Address: 607 Hasama-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture
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Nearest Station: Ashikaga Flower Park Station (JR Ryōmō Line)
Ashikaga Flower Park is located directly in front of Ashikaga Flower Park Station.
Because the park grounds are quite large, it takes about 6 minutes on foot to walk from the station to the main entrance.
Below is the route from Utsunomiya Station to Ashikaga Flower Park Station.
For more information about Utsunomiya Station, please refer to the related article.
From Utsunomiya Station (JR Lines)
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From Utsunomiya Station, take either the JR Utsunomiya Line or the JR Shōnan–Shinjuku Line to Oyama Station.
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At Oyama Station, transfer to the JR Ryōmō Line.
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Take the JR Ryōmō Line to Ashikaga Flower Park Station.
Travel time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes
Fare: Approximately ¥1,170
From Tobu-Utsunomiya Station
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From Tobu-Utsunomiya Station, take the Tobu Utsunomiya Line to Shin-Tochigi Station.
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At Shin-Tochigi Station, transfer to the Tobu Nikko Line and travel to Tochigi Station.
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At Tochigi Station, transfer to the JR Ryōmō Line.
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Take the JR Ryōmō Line to Ashikaga Flower Park Station.
Travel time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes
Fare: Approximately ¥850
What Is Ashikaga Flower Park?
Overview of Ashikaga Flower Park
Ashikaga Flower Park is a flower-themed park located in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture.
Visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers throughout the year, but the park is especially well known for two major highlights: wisteria in spring and illuminations in winter.
The main attraction in spring is wisteria (wisteria), a climbing vine that produces long, hanging clusters of flowers. Wisteria has been admired in Japan for centuries, and the scale of the wisteria displays at Ashikaga Flower Park is particularly impressive. These landscapes have received international recognition, and in 2014 the park was selected by CNN Travel as one of its “Places to Visit” on the 2014 Wish List. In the article, the wisteria scenery was described as an alternative destination for those who dream of visiting the fantastical world seen in the film Avatar.
In contrast, winter brings a large-scale illumination event that uses the entire park. During this season, flowers are not the main focus; instead, visitors enjoy carefully designed light displays. Pathways, wisteria trellises, and areas around ponds are illuminated, creating a completely different atmosphere from the daytime scenery.
For these reasons, Ashikaga Flower Park is widely known as a destination that offers flowers in spring and light in winter, with a unique appeal that changes dramatically depending on the season.
Spring Wisteria Season and Light-Up
The best time to see wisteria (wisteria) at Ashikaga Flower Park is typically from mid-April to mid-May. The park is home to several types of wisteria that bloom at slightly different times, allowing visitors to enjoy the flowers over a relatively long period.
The main highlights include the large wisteria trellises that usually reach their peak from late April to early May, as well as white wisteria and yellow wisteria. There are areas where visitors can walk beneath the trellises, and the long clusters of flowers spreading overhead create one of the park’s most iconic and memorable scenes.
In addition to daytime viewing, a wisteria light-up is held in the evening during the peak season. This event is different from the winter illumination: instead of decorative lighting displays, the wisteria flowers themselves are gently illuminated. The flowers take on a completely different appearance after sunset, which is why many visitors choose to visit from late afternoon into the evening.
※Photo source for this section: Ashikaga Flower Park official website
Winter Illumination Period and Hours
At Ashikaga Flower Park, a large-scale illumination event is held during the winter season.
The event typically runs from late October to mid-February, and it does not overlap with the wisteria season.
During this period, flowers are not the main attraction. Instead, the illumination focuses on light-based displays that transform the entire park. Areas beneath the wisteria trellises, along garden paths, and around ponds are illuminated, creating a completely different atmosphere compared to the daytime. Reflections of the lights on the water are especially striking and are considered one of the highlights of the winter illumination.
It is important to note that the spring wisteria light-up and the winter illumination are separate events.
In spring, the focus is on illuminating the wisteria flowers themselves, while in winter, the illumination is designed to showcase light as the main feature.
What Is the Park Like Inside Ashikaga Flower Park?
In this section, we introduce what the park looks like during the winter illumination season.
By comparing the park during the day and at night, we hope you can get a sense of how dramatically the atmosphere changes after dark.
Ashikaga Flower Park During the Day
During the daytime, visitors enter the park through the main entrance.
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Near the main entrance, there is a souvenir shop. After passing through the shop, you will find the ticket counter further inside.
Below are photos showing the park during the daytime.
Below, we show several photos of the park during the daytime.
Ashikaga Flower Park Illuminated at Night
At night, the West Entrance of Ashikaga Flower Park is opened to visitors.
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The West Entrance is about a 3-minute walk from Ashikaga Flower Park Station, making it closer than the main entrance. A ticket booth is located right next to the West Entrance.
Please take a look at the illumination photos below and compare them with the daytime scenes to see how dramatically the atmosphere changes at night.
Below are several photos of the park at night during the illumination.
Opening Hours and Admission Fees
Great Wisteria Festival (Spring 2025 Reference)
Event period: April 12 – May 18
Wisteria light-up period: April 19 – May 18
Opening Hours (Spring Season)
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April 12 – April 18: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
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April 19 – April 24: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM (with wisteria light-up)
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April 25 – May 6: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM (with wisteria light-up)
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May 7 – May 18: 8:00 AM – 8:30 PM (with wisteria light-up)
The evening light-up is held during a separate time period from daytime viewing.
Admission Fee (Estimated Range)
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Adults: ¥1,200 – ¥2,300
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Children: ¥600 – ¥1,200
Admission fees are determined one day before or on the day of your visit, depending on the blooming conditions.
Winter Illumination (2025 Reference)
Event period: October 18, 2025 – February 15, 2026
Daytime Hours
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Approximately 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The park temporarily closes after daytime hours to prepare for the evening illumination.
Closing times may vary depending on the day.
Daytime tickets do not allow entry to the nighttime illumination.
Nighttime Hours (Illumination)
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Regular opening: 3:30 PM – 8:30 PM
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Illumination start: Around 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Admission Fee (Daytime / Regular Entry)
Variable pricing based on flower conditions (2025 reference)
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Adults: Approximately ¥500 – ¥900
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Children (ages 4–12): Approximately ¥300 – ¥500
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Children under 3: Free
As there are no major flower events such as wisteria during this period, admission fees are generally lower than during the spring season.
Final prices are announced on the official website on the day of your visit.
Admission Fee (Nighttime Illumination)
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Adults: ¥1,400
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Children (ages 4–12): ¥700
Separate admission from daytime entry
Re-entry from daytime to nighttime is not permitted
Closed Days
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December 31
Information in this article is based on details available as of December 1, 2025.