Kasama Tsutsuji (Azalea) Festival
Apr.13. - May.6, 2024
Kasama, a historic town known for its pottery production, holds a large garden located on a hilltop, blessed with stunning views of 8500 Azalea trees.
The flowers are usually in full bloom between the end of April and the beginning of May, when this festival is held. Kasama-inari, a shrine with a history of 1350 years, also has a large tree of glorious Wisteria that will be in full bloom around the same season.
Kasama Tsutsuji (Azalea) Festival
笠間つつじまつり
April.13(Sat) - May 6(Sun) 2024
Location: Kasama Tsutsuji Garden, Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Kasama Tourist Association
https://www.kasama-kankou.jp/
Getting there From Tokyo(Ueno Station) by train
From JR Ueno Station 上野, take the Joban-sen Train 常磐線 and get off at Tomobe Station 友部 to change trains. From Tomobe Station take the Mito-sen train 水戸線 and get off at Kasama Station 笠間. (Total travel time 2 hr 7 min.)
Or
From JR Ueno Station 上野 take the Utsunomiya-sen Train 宇都宮線 and get off at Oyama Station 小山 to change trains. From Oyama Station take the Mito-sen Line and get off at Kasama Station 笠間 (Total travel time 2 hr 14 min.)
Note that taking a Tokkyu express train requires an extra fee and the fare will almost be doubled.
From Kasama Station to Kasama-inari shrine, it takes about 20 minutes on foot. From Kasama-inari shrine to the Azalea garden is a 30-min walk.