Wisteria in Ushijima, Special Natural Monument in Kasukabe, Japan
Wisteria in Ushijima is a monumental wisteria plant that spreads across more than 700 square meters with flower clusters hanging two meters down from its support structures. The plant grows over carefully designed frames that hold its enormous branches and showcase its blue-purple blooms.
This wisteria was planted during the late Edo period and received natural monument status in 1955. The designation protected it as a cultural treasure for future generations.
The site grew from a temple into gardens where people still value the healing properties they associate with the wisteria flowers. You can feel this spiritual connection when walking through the grounds.
The gardens are about 10 minutes walk from Fujino-ushijima Station or accessible by car from Iwatsuki Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. The site is straightforward to reach and best visited in late spring when the blooms are at their fullest.
The root system has a circumference of about nine meters and the plant exceeds 1,200 years in age, making it one of the oldest of its kind. This remarkable age lets visitors truly grasp how many generations have enjoyed this single plant.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.