Kinchakuda is synonymous with “manjushage” red spider lilies in Saitama. Furthermore, it is the most famous of the three red spider lily festivals of Saitama. Moreover, the carpet of spiny red flowers is one of the most famous autumn scenes in all of Japan. There are also several other notable manjushage viewing spots in various locations around Saitama. But Kinchakuda is by far the largest with FIVE MILLION red spider lilies. In both 2020 and 2021 Hidaka City gave due notice that the flowers would not be accessible due to the pandemic. They actually cut the flowers down! However, finally – after three long years – the flowers will be open to the public in 2022. Moreover, they are having the festival.
Red spider lilies are called Higanbana or Manjushage in Japanese. In Kinchakuda they are most commonly called “manjushage”. The famous red spider lilies in Kinchakuda in Hidaka bloom from about mid September. They set the date for the corresponding festival close to the time they bloom. Usually, the best time to view the flowers is around a week after the flowers are officially declared open.
Red Spider Lily Festival Kinchakuda
The spider lily festival generally starts on a Saturday in the middle of September and usually runs until the end of September. They judge it on expected period of bloom. Until around 2012 the manjushage typically bloomed from silver week with full bloom at the end of September into early October. But in recent years, with the exception of 2019, they start blooming from mid September with full bloom around the 20th of September.
The festival attracts thousands of visitors. Approximately 200,000 of them (visitors)! This year, the festival will be similar to a normal year. They will have festival stalls, throughout the festival period, in the open courtyard in the middle of the spider lilies. This year, there are 21 stalls. They are not all food stalls, some are selling handmade goods or local produce.
There are normally live stage performances as well, but while there maybe the odd live performance, there is no live stage scheduled for 2022. However, you can see a saruwamashi, traditional Japanese monkey performance, occasionally during the festival. Unfortunately, there is no fixed schedule. And unlike in the past, it will not be on a stage, just in a small section of the festival area.
Kinchakuda Manjushage Park
Visiting the Manjushage
This year they have an APP for the festival. You can pick it up here, its the one at the bottom 巾着田曼珠沙華公園散歩マップ. Generally, they say the best time of day to get a good picture is around 10 am in the morning. The star in the picture below is one of the prime viewing spots. East of that by the Do-re-mi-fa bridge or on the North east edge of the bridge and also under Aiai bridge are key locations. More detailed general information about the park, including the stable tragedy, in English here.
Kinchakuda Red Spider Lily Festival Information
Dates: Saturday September 17th to Sunday October 2nd 2022 from 9 am to 4.30 pm.
Cost: The price has gone up 200 yen to 500 yen in 2022. That is the charge for adults, there is no charge for children under 16 years old. There is also a 500 yen charge for parking.
Nearby: On the edge of the park is an ORGANIC CAFE AND SHOP Alishan Organic Center to grab a bite or pick up some foreign healthy produce. Koma Shrine and the stunning Shoden-in are both a short drive from the park. If you are driving, you can also pick up a fresh ice-cream at Kato Farm too!
Kinchakuda Access
Address: 125-2 Komahongo, Hidaka, Saitama 350-1251.
By public transport: 15 minute walk from Seibu Ikebukuro Line’s Koma Station.
By car: 18 minute drive from Tsurugashima Interchange of Kanetsu Expressway. Parking costs 500 yen for the day. The parking lot is open from 7 am to 5 pm. Please note that the car park is always extremely busy during the prime viewing period, even on a weekday. It is not uncommon to have to wait to get into the car park and to queue to get back out!
The popular MOOK Aki Pia recommend combining a trip to see the Spider Lilies with the Hidaka Kuri (Chestnut) Festival. Unfortunately, information for the 2022 chestnut festival is not yet available. However, it is usually on a weekend during the bloom between the hours of 9 am to 4.30 pm. There is a high chance that the Chestnut Festival will not be on in 2022.
Where can I see red spider lilies, Higanbana, near Tokyo?
Kinchakuda (Hidaka) and Gongendo park (Satte) are the two most famous places you can see red spider lilies near Tokyo and in the Kanto region. Both are in Saitama prefecture, just north of Tokyo. However, there is a third at the Terasaka Terraced Rice Fields, also in Saitama (Yokoze in Chichibu), which is a little more remote and off the tourist trail. It has 2 million red spider lily. Moreover, another location relatively close to Tokyo, but with less visitors: spider lilies in Yoshimi.
First published in 2015, updated annually. Last republish July 2022.
amazing colours!