In Japan, manjushage will bloom usually from the middle of September to the beginning of October. It is also called “Higanbana” because it blooms for about 3 weeks centered Autumnal Equinox Day. The English name is “red spider lily”.
There are parks with 5 million manjushage flowers in Saitama prefecture Hidaka city, which is called Kincyakuda park. Many tourists visit for appreciation during the season when manjushage blooms. Although it will be limited for blooming every year, why not consider visiting for those who are planning to stay around Kanto region at that season?
Season: Mid September to early October
Location: Manjushage Park in Saitama Hidaka city.
Admission fee: 300 yen
Access: From Ikebukuro Station to at Hanno Station on Seibu Ikebukuro Line, change to Seibu Chichibu Line and get off at Koma Station. About 60 minutes from Ikebukuro. \ 524 (one way, use IC card )
It is about 15 minutes on foot to the Manjushage Park from Koma Station, but it will be hard to understand the way. Go under the railway track and opposite the station. After across the road, enter a narrow street. Then it is on the big road again, and turn right. When you cross the bridge and turn right, it is the entrance of the park.
Since many people would be walking on the way to the park during the season, so it is OK. The park opens at 9 o’clock but I arrived around 8 o’clock, but I could enter. Group visitors arrive by bus around 9 o’clock, so I think that can be enjoyed taking photos in the earlier hours.
Kincyakuda, this name comes from the land shape, Koma River meanders and it looks like a pouch and you can see the shape from Mt. Hiwada.
In this year, manjushage bloomed a little earlier due to the climate. The area is divided between the upstream area and the downstream area, the upstream area was earlier in the bloom, so the flowers in the upstream area have reached the end. Sun is inserted to flowers in the morning, they shined brightly and it was very beautiful.
During the season, stalls opened and there were eat-in place. I tried rice cakes.
In the Kincyakuda Park, we can appreciate not only manjushage but also cosmos and cotton roses during this season. And cherry blossoms and rape blossoms bloom in spring.
Left the park, I visited an old folk house opposite the road. It is said that Arai family once served as a masterpiece in the late Edo period. In the Meiji period, he served as village head of Koma. Buildings are considered to be from the late Edo period to the early Meiji period. It consists of the main building and the guest house. It is free for the admission and volunteers will explain.
Although I did not go, there is a hiking course to Koma Shrine and the Koma family’s folk house for about an hour. Hiking may be nice on sunny days.
