This post contains information for the early blooming tulips and other flowers that bloom in March in Shinrin Park, Saitama’s largest park in Namegawa Town.
Early blooming tulips
Shinrin Park, aka Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park, have a beautiful display of early blooming tulips again this year. In 2022, they were actually late to bloom and didn’t start blooming until the end of March. Normally, they bloom for the month of March and into early April. According to the official website, they are in full now, March 14th 2023.
Approximately 18,000 early blooming tulips, of 12 different varieties are grown near the Central Gate. The area is part of the Urban Botanical Garden, but near the babbling brook, the newer of two water play areas in the park. However, the babbling brook is not open for play until Golden Week.
Other Spring flowers
March is prime viewing time for the following flowers:
Christmas Roses
Beside the tulips there are approximately 1000 Christmas roses in bloom. They are expected to be in bloom until the end of March. Between the tulips and the Christmas roses you can see land prepped to grow another flower. That is the Lupine flowers which Shinrin Park has become quite famous for. They won’t bloom until April.
Katakuri
Shinrin Park has a relatively large display of Katakuri or Japanese Dogwood Violets. One of thee most beloved spring flowers in Japan. They are considered endangered by many, so nowadays they are not harvested. But once upon a time, people would pick and cook Katakuri. This year, the best time to see the katakuri is this month – March 2023.
They are a very interesting flower that goes through growth phases. They start with their flower closed, much like a closed umbrella. Then the petals slowly start to lift upwards. Finally, they curve upwards. By the end of March most should be open, and hopefully curved upwards. Last year, like the tulips, they were late and didn’t curve until April.
Other
There is a Mimosa tree in full bloom right now. The witch hazel are finishing up, but you might be able to see them for another day or two. You can also see about 500 tsubaki (camellia / sasanqua) in the park in March. In addition, there are some crocus by the aforementioned babbling brook. The wild azalea start to bloom around the end of March.
Shinrin park has a beautiful cherry blossom grove too. You can usually see different varieties of cherry blossoms viewing from around mid March to mid April. They cherry grove is near the South entrance. There is also a plum blossom grove near that entrance too, but the plum blossoms are almost finished. However, from the end of March (when they’re early) and for the month of April you can see nemophila and 700,000 (give or take) Icelandic poppies!
Shinrin Park Information
Event: Early blooming tulips 早咲きチューリップ
Dates: now until around early April
Hours: 9.30 am to 5 pm
Cost: entry to the park is 450 yen per adult. There is no charge for children.
Venue: Central Gate of Shinrin Park, 1920 Yamata, Namegawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0802. View on Google Maps. If you enter from another gate, you can either rent a bike, take the park bus or walk to the early tulips. Please note, it will take at least 20 minutes on foot from any gate other than the central gate.
Access:
You can get a bus from either JR Kumagaya Station or Tobu Tojo Line Shinrinkoen station. If you come by car parking is also charged; 650 yen for the day.
Official website of Shinrin Park.
You can use the Shinrin Park tag to find even more posts about the seasonal events and flowers at the park on this blog.
Editor’s note: this post is an adaption of an old event “Happy Spring Park” that used to be on in Shinrin Park until 2022.
a little bit of Amsterdam in Japan!