The stunning hydrangea shrine in Saitama City, with maple!

You hear so much about “ajisai dera” (hydrangea temples) at this time of year in Japan. But what about hydrangea shrines? Hundreds of shrines throughout Saitama have some hydrangea on their grounds, but for some reason its all about the hydrangea temples! Well there is an actual reason – hydrangea’s long and intricate connection with Buddhism, but that’s beside the point! In Tokyo of course Hakusan Shrine is famous for its hydrangea, but Saitama?

There are a few, but they just don’t have the exposure of neighboring Tokyo’s hydrangea spots. There is one place in particular in Saitama that always comes to mind when I think of hydrangea and shrines. A quaint neighborhood shrine that is neither big nor prominent, but they have a beautiful garden boasting dozens of hydrangea. It is well known among Saitama-jin, but I am not sure it is that well known outside the prefecture borders…

Hydrangea Shrine in Saitama City

The hydrangea shrine is located in the Sashiogi area of Nishi Ward, Saitama City. It is an Hikawa Shrine. The Sashiogi Hikawa Shrine, one of hundreds of Hikawa Shrines in the Kanto plain. Have you ever heard of Sashiogi Hikawa Shrine? It is quite a small shrine and garden in the middle of a built up residential area. But amazingly it has a parking lot. It fits about six cars. Moreover, it has the most beautiful hydrangea as well as a selection of other seasonal flowers including varieties of daylilies. Even without flowers in bloom the shrine is very picturesque with intricate wood carvings and a red roof, as you can see above.

The hydrangea normally bloom from around the middle of June. However, in recent years they have been blooming from the end of May. According to Saitama City you can see hydrangea here from mid May to early August. However, I have only ever visited in early June as I couple a visit here with Aobaen. This is one of those rare places that I go every year without fail, as I personally love it here. The hydrangea at Aobaen are always early, but they are later at Sashiogi, so I’d normally only get to see the white variety.

>>Another hydrangea shrine in Nishi Ward<<

Sashiogi Hikawa Shrine Hydrangea Festival 2026

The hydrangea festival is on Saturday June 20th and Sunday June 21st, 2026, between 10 am and 3 pm. There are some food stalls on the precincts, both days, for the occasion. They usually have a jazz performance on the Saturday and a traditional performance on the Sunday. The festival usually coincides with the prime bloom of the colored hydrangea. The hydrangea are particularly early blooming in 2026. (For posterity; the festival was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic)!

Daylilies

In early June you can normally see daylilies and the Japanese meadowsweet blooming on the shrine’s grounds too.

You don’t need a lot of time at this shrine. Moreover, if you are coming by car, you can’t really park for long either. But if you are in the neighborhood and looking for an hydrangea shot that isn’t already all over Instagram, Sashiogi Hikawa Shrine might be an option for you!

Don’t miss: just a 25 minute walk or 5 minute drive from the shrine is Aobaen where you will find even more hydrangea. And don’t miss this other off-the-beaten-path hydrangea shrine also in Nishi Ku (Nishi ward), Saitama City.

Autumn Maple Festival

Sashiogi Hikawa Shrine will have a Maple Leaf Festival on Saturday December 7th and Sunday December 8th 2024, all things equal. On both days it will be on from 10 am to 3 pm in their “kaede garden”. The Kaede garden has more than 90 maples trees of 30 different species, 7 of which grow naturally in Saitama prefecture. Some of the maple are colored even in summer. Maple with hydrangea in June 2025:

Sashiogi Shrine Information

It is called the Sashiogi Hikawa Shrine 指扇氷川神社, but Google Maps currently has it as “Akabane” Hikawa Shrine. I’ve sent in a request to have it edited, so hopefully it will be amended in the next few days! If not searching Akabane Hikawa shrine in Nishi ward should bring it up, or use the map below. There isn’t really much of a parking lot, moreover, during the festival I doubt you can use the little bit of space that is there for cars.

The shrine is about a 12 minute walk from Sashiogi Station on the JR Kawagoe Line.

In the area:

• Big Mouse Cafe
• A new Kids Land US , an excellent indoor play area
• Natural Monument 700 year old Wisteria in Saitama City
• Mihashi Park Nishi Ward
• Akiha no mori Park in Nishi Ward

?R202231