Adventures in Fukuoka - Kawachi Wisteria Garden

For one of our last trips in Japan, Nate and I decided to head down to South Japan - the area of Fukuoka.  One of the top sights I wanted to see was the Kawachi Wisteria Garden, and has been listed as one of Japan's most beautiful places (#nolie)  These flowers only bloom for 2-3 weeks during the year, end of April to mid May.  You also have to purchase tickets before you're allowed in due to its popularity (see more details in our "Follow in our Footsteps" section.)  

After our quick flight from Okinawa to Fukuoka, we walked across the street to get our rental car.  Since we lived in Japan, it was easy to rent one since we already had our SOFA license.  Then began the hour drive to the Wisteria Flower tunnels.  Once we were close to the tunnels, we were winding up the mountain through the forests.  It reminded me of driving around California. #memories  

The moment had arrived, we were here and I was ready to walk through the whimsical flower tunnels and take a shitload of pictures.

In awe of the beauty around me

Taking a shitload of photos

Taking a shitload of photos

Wisteria, or fuji in Japanese, come to bloom after the iconic sakura (cherry blossoms).  Japanese have adored wisteria since around 710 AD (Nara period) and they even appear in one of the oldest existing collections of Japanese poetry from the 8th century, Manyoshu.  In this private garden there are over 150 individual vines of wisteria that are more than 100 years old.  Throughout the tunnels and trellises, there are 22 different kinds of wisteria, ranging in colors of white, pink, purples, and violet.

Nate enjoying the flowers

Nate and I were in awe of the beauty around us.  Everywhere we looked we saw colors of purples, pinks, and whites with greenery and sunlight filtering through.  Walking under the hundreds of wisteria, swaying gently in the breeze, led to a sense of peacefulness.  I couldn't get enough.

Top of the hill looking down on the wisteria and trellises.

Enjoy some more of our photos, we couldn't stop trying to capture the beauty, although they don't do them justice!

After the gardens, we drove back to the city of Fukuoka and checked into our hotel.  Then we hopped on the metro to go find a good spot for dinner.  With all that flower viewing we worked up an appetite!

Through TripAdvisor we found a spot on the 4th floor of a building, with a balcony overlooking the harbor.  We got to enjoy some sushi and BBQ our own meal.  #delish

Some of our sushi while we waited for BBQ

BBQ overlooking the harbor

Waiting for the metro

Tune in for the next day for more of our exploration in the Fukuoka area - Nagasaki!

Follow in our Footsteps:

Kawachi Wisteria Garden
2-2-48 Kawachi, Yahatahigashi-ku,
Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka
 093-652-0334
Hours:  8am - 6pm
Cost:  500 - 1500 yen
Buy tickets on a machine at 7-11, Family Mart, or online here (Japanican.com)
Note - ticket machines at 7-11 and Family Mart are in Japanese
​Official website here (in Japanese)

​Other Wisteria spots in the south here

Hotel La Foresta by Rigna
1-1-29, Hakataekihigashi, Hakata, Fukuoka,
Fukuoka-ken, 812-0013 Japan
+81 92-483-7711