Vivid pink azalea flowers covering a hillside garden in spring Japan

Japan Azalea (Tsutsuji) Guide 2025

Japan's azalea season bridges the gap between cherry blossom spring and summer — vivid magenta and pink tsutsuji blanket shrine hillsides and urban gardens from April through June. This guide covers the best spots, timing, and what to expect from Japan's underrated flower season.

Book Your Tokyo Hotel for Azalea Season

Tokyo's Nezu Shrine and Ome temples put spectacular azalea displays within easy reach — April is a perfect time to visit.

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Azaleas in Japan — Tsutsuji & Satsuki

Japan has two primary azalea flowering seasons: tsutsuji (躑躅), which blooms in April and early May, and satsuki (皐月), which blooms in May and June. Both belong to the Rhododendron family but are treated as distinct seasonal events in Japanese garden culture. Tsutsuji tends toward the vivid magenta and deep pink of early spring, while satsuki, named for the fifth lunar month, produces more delicate pink and white bicolor blooms.

Azalea Types in Japan

KirishimaDeep crimson variety; named after Kirishima volcano; one of Japan's most iconic tsutsuji

HiryuVivid magenta; common in temple and shrine gardens throughout Kansai

RyukyuWild azalea native to southern Japan; particularly striking on Kyushu and Okinawa hillsides

SatsukiMay-June bloomer; extensively bred for bonsai; bicolor and striped varieties prized in garden culture

Best Azalea Viewing Spots

Shiofune-Kannon-ji Temple (Ome, Tokyo)

Tokyo's Best

Over 3,000 tsutsuji azalea plants cover the hillside of this mountain temple in Ome, western Tokyo. In late April, the steep approach transforms into a wall of magenta. 90 minutes from Shinjuku by JR Chuo Line; free admission.

Nezu Jinja Shrine (Tokyo)

Nezu Shrine in Bunkyo-ku hosts an annual tsutsuji matsuri (festival) in April with thousands of azaleas blooming alongside a long tunnel of small torii gates. Entry to the azalea garden ¥500; shrine grounds free. Peak third to fourth week of April.

Kirishima-Jingu Shrine (Kagoshima)

The birthplace of the Kirishima azalea variety. In spring, the approaches to the shrine and surrounding volcanic Kirishima highlands blaze with crimson kirishima tsutsuji across a dramatic mountain landscape. April is peak season.

Tateyama Caldera (Toyama)

At high altitude in the Japan Alps, dwarf alpine azaleas bloom against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks in late May and June — one of Japan's most spectacular azalea experiences for those combining flower viewing with mountain scenery.

Azalea Season Timing

Regional Peak Timing

KyushuLate March to mid-April (tsutsuji); late April to May (satsuki)

KansaiMid-April to early May — Kyoto garden tsutsuji typically late April

Kanto (Tokyo)Mid-April to early May — Nezu Shrine usually third week of April

TohokuLate April to mid-May

HokkaidoLate May to mid-June

The azalea season overlaps with late cherry blossom season in many parts of Japan, making late April a particularly flower-rich period. Gardens that feature both sakura and tsutsuji — such as Ueno Park in Tokyo and Maruyama Park in Kyoto — can be visited in a single trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do azaleas bloom in Japan?▼

Tsutsuji (spring azalea) blooms from late March in southern Kyushu through late May in Tohoku. In Tokyo and Kyoto the peak is typically mid-April to early May. Satsuki (late azalea) follows in May and June. The exact dates shift by 1–2 weeks depending on winter temperatures.

What is the difference between tsutsuji and satsuki?▼

Both are azaleas but tsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempferi and related species) blooms earlier in April–May with vivid pink and crimson flowers, while satsuki (R. indicum) blooms in May–June with more varied bicolor patterns. Satsuki is also famous as a bonsai subject and has been bred into hundreds of garden varieties.

Where is the most famous azalea festival in Japan?▼

Nezu Jinja Shrine in Tokyo's Bunkyo-ku hosts one of the most popular tsutsuji matsuri, with thousands of plants and the atmospheric combination of small torii gates. The Kirishima area in Kagoshima is famous for the original wild kirishima variety against a volcanic landscape.

Book Your Tokyo Hotel for Spring Flower Season

April–May brings azaleas across Tokyo's parks and shrine gardens — a beautiful time to explore the city.

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