Japan Kyushu Kawachi Fujien: 2025 Wisteria Blooming Season, How to Purchase Tickets, and Transportation Guide
Wisteria is another flower that blooms in spring in Japan, apart from cherry blossoms, and it attracts many people to visit Japan specifically to see it. There are many places in Japan where wisteria is grown, and besides Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Okinawa, wisteria gardens can be found all over the country. Among the most well-known are the Kawachi Fujien in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, and the Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture, Kanto.
In the past, when people talked about famous wisteria spots in Japan, most would think of Ashikaga Flower Park. However, since CNN selected Kawachi Fujien as the top spot in their list of “Japan’s 36 most beautiful places,” more and more people have been choosing to visit Kawachi Fujien.
During our last trip to Kyushu, we happened to visit during the wisteria blooming season in late April and early May, so we also went to Kawachi Fujien to see the wisteria. Here, we share some information on how to purchase tickets and how to get to the garden, including:
When does the wisteria at Kawachi Fujien bloom? When can you see the wisteria tunnel?
The blooming period for wisteria is about half a month later than cherry blossoms, with the southern regions (Kyushu) blooming earlier than the northern regions (Kanto). The blooming season usually lasts from mid-April to mid-May. The wisteria blooming period generally lasts about three weeks, but the most beautiful blooming period is only about 5-6 days. Therefore, if you want to see the most beautiful wisteria scenery, such as the wisteria tunnel, you must time your visit well, although luck also plays a big role.
The wisteria at Kawachi Fujien usually starts blooming in mid-April, with the peak blooming period typically occurring around late April to early May. The exact timing varies each year. In previous years, the peak blooming period often occurred in early May, but in recent years, the blooming period has been earlier. For example, in 2022, the peak blooming period was in the last week of April, and in 2023, it was around April 24.
Below is a photo of the wisteria tunnel during the peak blooming period in 2023 (taken on April 24, 2023).
Note: The above photo is taken from the official website.
Below are photos of the blooming conditions and timing from previous years.
Note: The above photos from 2008, 2015, and 2017 are taken from the Kanmon Tsushin website.
One thing to note is that the wisteria blooming period coincides with Japan’s Golden Week holiday (in 2025, Golden Week is from April 29 to May 6). During this period, hotels are more expensive and harder to book, and traffic is very busy, with highways often experiencing congestion. So, if you plan to visit Japan during this time, be prepared.
However, due to global warming, the blooming period for wisteria in Kyushu has been earlier in recent years, with the peak blooming period occurring in late April. For example, in 2023, the peak blooming period was around April 24, just before Golden Week. Therefore, if you visit during these dates, you can see the wisteria tunnel in full bloom and avoid the Golden Week crowds.
How to Purchase Tickets?
To enter Kawachi Fujien, you need to purchase tickets, and during the wisteria blooming season, special ticket purchasing measures are implemented. The garden is not very large, and during the peak blooming period, too many visitors come to see the wisteria. Therefore, during this period, the garden implements special ticket purchasing measures to control the number of visitors and reduce crowding.
The timing of the special ticket purchasing measures varies each year, and the garden decides based on the predicted blooming period. In other words, the days when special ticket purchasing measures are implemented are usually the days when the wisteria is in full bloom. In 2025, the special ticket purchasing measures will be in effect from April 19 to May 6, lasting 18 days.
The special ticket purchasing measures for 2025 start one day earlier than in 2024 and three days earlier than in 2023. Therefore, it is estimated that the blooming period in 2025 will not be later than in 2023 and 2024, meaning the peak blooming period should be around April 23.
The special ticket purchasing measures require visitors to purchase tickets in advance. No tickets are sold on-site during this period, and only those who have purchased tickets in advance can enter. Additionally, children under 18 can enter for free, so only those 18 and older need to purchase tickets.
In the past, tickets during the special ticket purchasing period could only be purchased at convenience stores in Japan. However, starting in 2023, tickets can also be purchased on the Kawachi Fujien official website. The website accepts credit card payments, and tickets are issued electronically, so even overseas visitors can purchase tickets in advance before their trip.
In addition to purchasing tickets online, you can also buy tickets at convenience stores in Japan, including 7-11, FamilyMart, Lawson, and Ministop. You can purchase tickets at any branch of these four convenience stores in Japan.
Tickets for the 2025 special ticketing measures period will go on sale on the Kawachi Fujien official website starting at 10:00 a.m. on March 25 (Japan time), while ticket sales at convenience store self-service machines started at 10:00 a.m. on April 1.
During the special ticket purchasing period, the ticket fee for Kawachi Fujien is divided into two parts. The first part is the fee for purchasing the ticket online or at a convenience store: 500 yen. The second part is the difference of 500 yen or 1,000 yen, which is paid on the day of entry based on the blooming condition.
During the wisteria blooming season, many visitors come to Kawachi Fujien, and the garden is not very large. The number of tickets is limited, so they sell out very quickly. In the past, since tickets could only be purchased at convenience stores in Japan and went on sale about a month in advance, they were mostly bought by domestic visitors. This made it difficult for foreign visitors to get tickets for their desired dates unless they were already in Japan. However, this situation has changed since 2023, as foreign visitors can now purchase tickets online in advance before their trip.
1. How to Purchase Kawachi Fujien Tickets Through the Official Website?
The link to the online ticket purchase system is located in the middle of the homepage of the Kawachi Fujien official website. The online ticket purchase system is available in both Japanese and English. Although the English version is mainly machine-translated, the content is generally understandable.
Note: The above ticket purchase link will only appear after the ticket sales start.
The online ticket purchase system is the same for both PC and mobile versions. The following instructions are based on the PC version.
The process for purchasing Kawachi Fujien tickets through the official website includes:
- Registering an account on the online ticket purchase system;
- Selecting the date for ticket purchase;
- Selecting the entry time slot;
- Setting the number of tickets;
- Completing the payment.
(1) Registering an Account on the Online Ticket Purchase System
You need to register an account on the online ticket purchase system before you can buy tickets. You can register an account in advance so that you can purchase tickets as soon as they go on sale. The registration process is simple: you only need to provide a valid email address, complete the verification process after receiving the verification code, and then set a password to complete the registration.
(2) Purchase Kawachi Wisteria Garden Tickets through the Online Ticket System
After the tickets go on sale, visit the online ticket system homepage, scroll to the bottom, and you will see the following ticket purchase button. Click on “Buy tickets“, confirm that you understand the ticket purchase rules (e.g., no refunds), and proceed to purchase the tickets.
When purchasing tickets, you need to select both the date and the time slot. Each time slot is 2 hours long, and each day is divided into 5 time slots:
- 08:00~10:00;
- 10:00~12:00;
- 12:00~14:00;
- 14:00~16:00;
- 16:00~18:00.
After purchasing a ticket for a specific time slot, you can only enter during that time slot. There is no restriction on the exit time, but if you purchase the last time slot (16:00~18:00), you must enter before 17:20 and leave by 18:00.
First, select the date you want to purchase the ticket for, then select the time slot, set the quantity, and finally click the “Proceed to checkout” button to proceed to payment.
If you are not logged in, log in first. If you do not have an account, you can register for one using the method described above.
If you are already logged in, you will be directed to the payment page. When purchasing tickets through the online ticket system, you need to pay a fee of 500 yen per ticket. The fee must be paid immediately using a credit card (only VISA, MASTERCARD, and JCB credit cards are accepted), and no refunds are allowed. After entering the card number, expiration date, security code, and cardholder name, click the “To purchase confirmation” button to proceed to the next step.
After confirming that the transaction details are correct, click the “Place an order with this information” button to proceed with the payment.
If your credit card requires a verification code for online transactions, you will receive a verification code on your phone. Enter the verification code and click the “Submit” button.
(3) Using E-Tickets
Tickets purchased through the online ticket system are in the form of e-tickets. After successful payment, you will receive the ticket immediately. You can click the “Print Ticket” button to download the ticket as a PDF file and print it yourself, or click the “Print Receipt” button to download the receipt as a PDF file.
In addition to downloading the ticket PDF file immediately after completing the purchase, you can also go to the My Page section of your account, find the purchased ticket in the purchase history, and click the “Print Ticket” button to download the ticket PDF file when needed.
In addition to printing the entire ticket, you can also display a simplified ticket with only the QR Code on your phone. To download a simplified ticket with only the QR Code, you can do so on the My Page section. You can do this on both the PC and mobile versions of the website, but if you download it on the PC version, you will need to save the ticket image to your phone, so it is best to do it directly on the mobile version.
After logging into the Kawachi Wisteria Garden online ticket system on your mobile browser, go to the My Page section, click the “Check the QR code” button, then click the “Download QR code” button, and finally click the “Save without typing” link.
A simplified ticket image displaying only a QR Code and Purchase Number will be generated. Long-press the image and click “Save Image” to save the image to your phone’s photo album.
The admission fee for Kawachi Wisteria Garden is 1,500 yen, but when you purchase tickets online in advance, you only pay 500 yen. Therefore, before entering, you need to go to the reception desk outside the garden (next to the entrance) to pay the difference. When paying the difference at the reception desk, you need to present your ticket or QR Code.
2. How to Purchase Kawachi Wisteria Garden Tickets at Japanese Convenience Stores?
In addition to purchasing tickets on the official website, during special ticket sales periods, Kawachi Wisteria Garden tickets can still be purchased at Japanese convenience stores. This year, tickets can be purchased at any of the following convenience stores in Japan: 7-11, FamilyMart, Lawson, and Ministop. If you are not in a hurry after arriving in Japan, you can purchase tickets at a convenience store in the airport before heading to your hotel or other destinations. If you arrive at Fukuoka Airport, there is a 7-11 convenience store in the international terminal arrival hall.
(1) How to Purchase Kawachi Wisteria Garden Tickets at 7-11 Convenience Stores?
To purchase Kawachi Wisteria Garden tickets at a convenience store, first use the self-service ticket machine inside the store, then go to the counter to pay and receive the tickets. The self-service ticket machine at 7-11 is a multifunctional machine called “マルチコピー機” (Multi Copy Machine).
The method to purchase tickets using a multi-copy machine is as follows:
(1) On the home screen, press “チケット” (Ticket), then press “JTB レジャー” → “レジャーチケット” → “九州•沖縄” → “九州の施設” → “河内藤園入園券“.
(2) Select the date and time of entry, then press “OK“. (Note: Tickets for Kawachi Wisteria Garden have specified entry times, and you must enter within the designated time. However, there is no restriction on the departure time. For example, if you purchase a ticket valid from “12:00 to 14:00”, you can only enter between 12:00 and 14:00, but you can stay until closing time.)
(3) Use the increase or decrease buttons to set the number of tickets (maximum 10), then press “OK“. After confirming the details, press “申込” to purchase the tickets.
Note: If this screen appears after pressing “申込“, it means the tickets for the selected time slot are sold out (or there are not enough tickets left for your desired quantity). You can repeat the above steps to choose another time slot or date.
(4) If tickets are available for your selected time slot, the machine will print out an A4-sized ticket voucher. Take this voucher to the convenience store counter, hand it to the staff, and pay to receive your entry tickets.
(2) How to Purchase Kawachi Wisteria Garden Tickets at FamilyMart Convenience Stores?
The method and process for purchasing Kawachi Wisteria Garden tickets at FamilyMart are the same as at 7-11. You first use the self-service ticket machine in the store to purchase the tickets, then pay and collect them at the counter. The self-service ticket machine at FamilyMart is called “Famiポート” (Fami Port). The method to purchase tickets is as follows:
(1) On the home screen, press “チケット” (Ticket), then press “JTBトラベル・レジャー” → “レジャーチケット” → “九州•沖縄” → “河内藤園入園券“.
(2) Select the date and time of entry, then press “OK“.
(3) Use the increase or decrease buttons to set the number of tickets (maximum 12), then press “申込” to purchase the tickets.
(4) Take the printed ticket voucher to the convenience store counter to pay and collect your tickets.
Transport Guide: How to Get to Kawachi Wisteria Garden?
Kawachi Wisteria Garden is located on the southern slope of Mount Sarakura, next to a small lake called Kawachi Reservoir in the mountains of Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The location is relatively remote, so the most convenient way to get there is by car. However, if you don’t drive, there are public transportation options, though they are infrequent and may take more time.
Additionally, during the Kyushu wisteria season, there are one-day tours departing from Fukuoka City that visit Kawachi Wisteria Garden and other attractions in Kitakyushu. If you don’t drive and don’t want to spend time and energy on transportation, you can consider joining these local tours. Below are the local tours to Kawachi Wisteria Garden that you can book on Klook and KKday:
- [Klook] Kawachi Wisteria Garden & Kokura Castle One-Day Tour (Departing from Fukuoka)
- [Klook] Kitakyushu – Kawachi Wisteria Garden, Mojiko port & Outlet 1Day Tour
- [KKday] Kitakyushu One-Day Tour | Kawachi Wisteria Garden & Kokura Castle | Departing from Fukuoka
- [KKday] Kitakyushu One-Day Tour | Kawachi Wisteria Garden, Shirakawa Botanical Garden, Mojiko Retro District Walk (Departing from Hakata)
1. Driving to Kawachi Wisteria Garden
The phone number for Kawachi Wisteria Garden is 093–652–0334. You can enter this number into your car’s GPS navigation system to find the location and get directions. There are two mountain roads to reach Kawachi Wisteria Garden: one from the north (Kitakyushu City) and one from the south. The southern route can be further divided into an eastern and western route. The eastern route (right side of the map) connects to the Kokura Minami IC on the Kyushu Expressway, while the western route (left side of the map) connects to the Yahata IC on the Kyushu Expressway.
The map below shows the location of Kawachi Wisteria Garden and the three driving routes to get there. (Click the map to open Google Maps)
Note: Information from Kanmon Tsushin website.
The northern and eastern routes to Kawachi Wisteria Garden are relatively easier to navigate and shorter in distance compared to the western route. The western route is longer and more challenging due to the higher elevation, and it is prone to falling rocks, so it is recommended not to take the western route. However, if you are driving from Fukuoka, the western route may be shorter, and your GPS might suggest it, so you may need to manually select a different route.
The northern route is the shortest, but the entrance is near the Ooya IC on the Kitakyushu Urban Expressway. If you are coming from Fukuoka City or Oita Prefecture via the Kyushu Expressway, you will need to enter the Kitakyushu Urban Expressway, which is not covered by the “Kyushu Expressway Pass” (KEP). If you have purchased the KEP, you will need to pay an additional fee (510 yen) for this section of the Kitakyushu Urban Expressway.
If you take the eastern route, you do not need to enter the Kitakyushu Urban Expressway. After exiting the Kyushu Expressway at the Kokura Minami IC, turn onto Prefectural Route 61 and drive to Tashiro Town, then turn onto Prefectural Route 62, which will take you directly to the garden.
The mountain roads to Kawachi Wisteria Garden are narrow and winding, but they are mostly two-lane roads, so they are not too difficult to navigate.
At the intersection near the garden entrance, you will see signs and staff directing you to the parking area.
There are two parking lots outside Kawachi Wisteria Garden. The parking lots are just open spaces with no facilities, and together they can accommodate around 200 cars. During the wisteria season, the parking lot of the nearby “Kawachi Onsen Ajisai no Yu” is also used as a temporary parking area. All three parking lots are free.
The map below shows the location of the parking lots at Kawachi Wisteria Garden. (Click the map to open Google Maps)
Note: Information from Kanmon Tsushin website.
The first parking lot is located near the entrance, but it has fewer spaces.
The second parking lot is relatively large and not far from the entrance of the Wisteria Garden.
2. Taking Public Transportation to Kawachi Wisteria Garden
If you are not driving, you can also take public transportation to Kawachi Wisteria Garden. According to the Kanmon Tsushin website, during the peak wisteria blooming season in previous years, Nishitetsu Bus offered free shuttle buses between JR Yahata Station and Kawachi Wisteria Garden. Therefore, non-driving visitors can take the JR to Yahata Station and then transfer to the shuttle bus. The journey from JR Yahata Station to Kawachi Wisteria Garden takes about 30 minutes. However, the shuttle bus service has been suspended since the 2020 pandemic.
When the shuttle bus service was available, the bus stop was usually located at the south exit of JR Yahata Station, with buses departing once per hour. Each departure would have 2-3 buses, but due to the high number of passengers and limited buses, waiting times could be long, so it’s best to arrive early.
Note: Images are from the Kanmon Tsushin website and Google Street View.
Apart from taking the free shuttle bus, another option is to take a taxi. The fare from the nearest JR Yahata Station to Kawachi Wisteria Garden is approximately 3,000 yen.
Travel Guide: How Much Time is Needed to Visit Kawachi Wisteria Garden?
Kawachi Wisteria Garden is not very large, so the visit won’t take too long. Generally, one hour for viewing and taking photos is sufficient, and a maximum of one and a half hours is more than enough.
Entrance and exit of the Wisteria Garden
Upon entry, you need to present the admission ticket purchased at a convenience store. If there is a price difference, you can pay the remaining amount at the entrance.
Although we purchased the admission tickets for Kawachi Wisteria Garden at a 7-11 immediately upon arriving at Fukuoka Airport at the end of April, the tickets for the next three days were already sold out. Since our itinerary included a few days in Fukuoka at the beginning and end, with a trip to Oita and Kumamoto in between, we had to purchase tickets for May 3rd, the day before our return. In previous years, May 3rd would have been the peak blooming period for the wisteria at Kawachi Wisteria Garden, but in 2018, the flowers bloomed early, and by May 3rd, most had already fallen. When we entered, we saw that the admission fee for the day was 500 yen, meaning no additional payment was required, which was a bad sign.
Kawachi Wisteria Garden is built on a hillside, and there are many slopes within the garden. Therefore, bamboo canes are available at the entrance for use as walking sticks, free of charge.
After entering the garden, you will see the first wisteria trellis. This wisteria tunnel is the most beautiful spot in Kawachi Wisteria Garden, but unfortunately, it was past its peak blooming period, so the scenery was not as impressive.
Below are some comparison photos borrowed from the Kanmon Tsushin website.
This is the blooming situation on April 25, 2018(Note: The following three photos are from the Kanmon Tsushin website)
Below is the blooming situation in early May before 2017(Note: The following two photos are from the Kanmon Tsushin website)
The wisteria tunnel is a long slope. Walking up the slope leads to another wisteria trellis. The wisteria here blooms later than in the tunnel, so when we arrived, the scenery was still quite beautiful, although the color of the wisteria was somewhat dull.
This is the blooming condition in previous years (Note: The following photo is taken from the Kanmon Tsushin website)
Related posts:
- Tateyama Kurobe Opening Dates, Transportation, Attractions, Luggage Delivery, and Travel Guide
- Guide to Purchasing Tateyama Kurobe Tickets, Train Tickets, JR Passes, and Booking Ride Times
- Tateyama Kurobe Snow Otani: Opening Hours, Snow Wall Height, and Travel Guide
- Tateyama Kurobe Travel Guide: One-Day Itinerary and Recommended Routes (JR and Self-Driving)
- Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass: Purchase, Exchange, Usage, and Riding Guide
- Japan Universal Studios Tickets, Fast Pass, VIP Tour: Official Website Purchase Guide
- 2025 Osaka Mint Bureau Sakura Avenue Reservation Guide
- Korea Electronic Arrival Card “e-Arrival Card” Detailed Guide
- UK ETA Application：A Step by Step Tutorial
- How to get and use the 10% Agoda Discount Code
- The latest 10% Hotels.com discount code