Wisteria Festival in Japan

I'm planning to go to Japan next late April to beginning of May. I'm very fond of Wisteria Flowers. Could anyone advise where in Japan that have massive Wisteria Trees or Festivals. Please name all the places.... as many as possible. I'm planning this trip only for Wisteria Flowers. Millon thankssssss.

Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture is the best place for wisteria that I have visited so far:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3850.html

Byodoin in Uji (between Kyoto and Nara) has a well-known wisteria spot. Smaller and not nearly as lavish as Ashikaga Flower Park's display but in a nice setting where there is a famous temple, and easy to get to by JR (if you are in Kansai).

If you are really crazy for wisteria, then try to see the wild wisteria that grows so many places in the mountains and along riversides (wherever there are the right kind of trees, I guess). I don't know exactly how to time it (I believe it tends to peak after the cultivated, well-tended kind) but I always see it when I am riding trains after mid-May in Nagano Prefecture and late May in Tohoku (which would be too late for you). If you hit it at peak it can be fairly stunning, and it is so rugged and unpredictable. I really love it. I can't tell you exactly where to go to see it, but if you have a JR Pass maybe you can ask where it's peaking when you are there and then take a scenic train ride. You won't see it along the Tokaido Shinkansen route, though; you have to get into rural areas that have old enough trees. In the time frame of your trip it would be in the lower elevations.

some other wisteria sites besides Ashikaga Flower Park:

‹TŒË“V�_ŽÐ, Tokyo
http://kameidotenjin.or.jp/gallery/index.html

Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture
http://www.city.odawara.kanagawa.jp/kanko/Leisure/aruku/Flower/gyokann...

Fujioka, Gunma Prefecture
http://www.fujioka-kanko.net/fujioka3/01.html
2011 wisteria festival was held from Apr 16 to May 15; you can monitor the following webpage for any update information on the schedule for 2012.
http://www.city.fujioka.gunma.jp/kanko/fuji_maturi_3.htm

Ushijima, Saitama Prefecture
http://www.ushijimanofuji.co.jp/

Byakugou-ji, Hyogo Prefecture
http://www.byakugouji.jp/fuji-photoalbum.htm

Shirai Oomachi Fuji Park, Hyogo Prefecture
http://www.oomachi.info/index2.html

‘å�Î�_ŽÐ, Hyogo Prefecture
http://www8.ocn.ne.jp/~koumuten/fuji-top.htm

Tamano, Okayama Prefecture
http://tamanokankou.com/see/flower_view/spring.html

There is a Wysteria Festival (Fuji Matsuri) at Tennoji Temple in Obira city, Hokkaido but it's in June:
http://www.town.obira.hokkaido.jp/hotnews/detail/00000282.html

Koyasu Jizo Temple in Hashimoto city, Wakayama Prefecture is another wysteria temple:
http://higorono.blogspot.com/2011/05/koyasu-jizou-temple-temple-of-wis...

In Wake town (Okayama Prefecture) there is a Wisteria Park that holds a Wisteria Festival from May 3 to May 15:
http://www.town.wake.okayama.jp/info/event-fujimatsuri.html

Juunji Temple in Daisen (Tottori Prefecture) looks like a nice wisteria temple:
http://furusato.sanin.jp/p/area/daisen/15/

Sainokami in Fukuchiyama (Kyoto Prefecture) has wisteria:
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~sainokami/

In Tokushima Prefecture (Ishii town), there is a Wisteria Festival from April 22 to May 5 at Jifukuji Temple:
http://www.awanavi.jp/article/0000551.html

In Kamiyama Town (Tokushima Prefecture), Jinkoji has them:
http://www3.tcn.ne.jp/~jinkoji435/

Flower Park Serafujien in Sera town, Hiroshima Prefecture has many wisteria and a festival in early May:
http://serafuji.pupu.jp/

Shohoji Temple in Hino Town (Shiga Prefecture):
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/spot.php?id=544

Buzoji Temple in Fukuoka Prefecture:
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/shitorin/e/a7d671ffc8d2f7a6f7455e8e03e18709

For temples and shrines in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa Prefectures with Wysteria festivals, this site lists some:
http://flower.enjoytokyo.jp/fuji/

Note: I compiled this list from internet research NOT personal experience. I have never been to a Wisteria Festival, although some of these locations have piqued my interest. I've only personally seen wisteria at Byodoin Temple in Uji and Yawata city on the side of the mountain upon which Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine stands.

WOW....billion thanks to all of you for these info....now I can start planning the proper routes and timing. THANK YOU all sooooo much...

Jonangu Shrine in Kyoto also has some wisteria.

We are going to Byodoin Temple in Uji in mid April: will this be too early for Wisteria?
And is this temple a Sakura spot??

Hi fmj

Miss your post here till now; how is your ankle!? Healing fast I hope.

Wisteria season in Byodo-in is said to be during late Apr to early May.
http://www.byodoin.or.jp/tanbou-in-fuji.html

Cherry blossom in Uji and Byodo-in is best during early Apr. It may start as early as late Mar and may still be seen as late as mid Apr. A lot depends on the unpredictable weather these days, so keep monitoring the many sakura websites for update information when the time comes to travel.

On the first Saturday and Sunday in April there is the Ujigawa Sakura Matsuri held along the riverbank near Byodo-in. It would be fun to go at that time for the festive feel. The festival this year was cancelled due to Mar 11 but most probably it would resume in 2012.

http://www.rurubu.com/season/spring/sakura/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=260018

http://sakura.nihon-kankou.or.jp/detail/view.php?id=S2607&m=2&c=26

http://www.kyoto-kankou.or.jp/info_search/?event_id=6514&r=1324176753....

Hi william5: thanks: ankle taking its allotted time!!!
we are visiting Byoduin on April 16 with friends: so hopefully will see a little of whatever is flowering!
Thanks for all your info: wonderful as always