Every year, Kinchakuda Manjushage Park in Saitama lets visitors bask in its floral beauty. Harbouring over 5 million free-growing red spider lilies (natively known as Manjushage or Higanbana), the park transforms into a blooming red carpet.
The park hosts an annual autumn-flower festival from September 19. However, due to warmer weather this year, the blooming of the red spider lilies has been delayed, so the festival has been extended until October 5, making it perfect as the flowers are just sprouting, with a full bloom expected in late September.
The Manjushage or Higanbana is associated with heaven as it grows at the same time as the equinoctial period (time of the year when Japanese Buddhists visit the graves of their ancestors, as per custom). Folktales also suggest that red spider lilies grow in hell and help guide spirits to the afterlife or reincarnation.
At the festival, you can enjoy more than just the spectacular red spider lilies. There are a few paths to walk through the park, welcoming visitors to take in the tranquil scenery without disturbing the sensitive flowers. A large open-air area of the park is dedicated to food stalls, where you can try local delicacies, including chestnut-based snacks. It’s the ideal opportunity to sample local products and take souvenirs home while supporting local farmers.
What’s more, for photography enthusiasts, the park offers excellent views of the flowers with the mountains and river as a backdrop. Just remember that setting up tripods is not allowed.
Kinchakuda Park is open every day from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. During the flowering season, entry is ¥500 (Tk 412) per person, while junior high school students and younger children can walk in for free.
Tourists describe the magnificence as nothing short of a scene from a fairytale. If you are planning to go to Japan, do visit the Kinchakuda Manjushage Park. It will be a spectacle that will linger in your memory forever.
