If you happen to visit Japan in June, chances are you are in for a colorful surprise. Many popular sites and even along the streets are teeming with the colorful bloom of ajisai or more commonly known abroad as hydrangea. Since rainy season commences in June, it is considered as the symbol of tsuyu (rainy season) and a natural transition from spring to summer. This period is characterized by cloudy to rainy days with relatively high humidity.

It is said that hydrangeas are native to Japan and probably originated here. In fact there are hundreds of varieties of different shapes and shades. Common colors range from light to deep blue and red depending on the variety. Owing to this prominence, many Japanese families visit parks and gardens to enjoy the flower of the season. It has since attracted tourists and photographers all over the world.

In Toyama Prefecture, off the Sea of Japan and right under the Tatetayama alpine peaks, a popular hydrangea attraction is located within Taikoyama Land in Imizu City. This huge prefectural park is home to over 20,000 ajisai flowers strategically planted around the park turning it into a month-long attraction. Truly it’s a colorful sight to behold.

The hydrangea festival attracts thousands of locals and foreign tourists on weekends to witness the bloom. A popular option for families is to avail the in-house train that will take you around the park for a fee. On select Saturdays during the festival, you can enjoy the night illumination giving visitors a fairy-tale like experience.

A half-day tour would typically be enough but the park also offers other attractions like boating. Summer favorites like kakigori and fruits shakes are popular choices at food stalls. Beside a minimal day parking fee of 400-500 yen, the entrance is free.

Toyama Prefecture is connected by the bullet from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen for a little over 2 hours. From Osaka, it can be accessed by Limited Express Train Thunderbird for 2 hours to Kanazawa. Another option is from Nagoya via the Hida Takayama Limited Express. Day and night buses also serve these routes. The nationwide Japan Rail (JR) Pass and regional passes such as the Hokuriku Arch Pass, Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass and Takayama-Hokuriku Area Pass allows for unlimited ride on all JR Lines and JR buses. All-Nippon Airways/ANA also flies multiple flights to Toyama from Haneda.

From Toyama City or Kanazawa, the park is accessible for commuters by taking a local Ainokaze Railway train toward Kosugi Station in Imizu City. There are scheduled community bus trips to and from Kosugi Station that stops at Taikoyamaland or you can take a 15-minute leisurely walk following the road from station. If you come by car, the park is 10 mins away from Kosugi IC on the Hokuriku Expressway.

If you have extra time, popular attractions are just a few minutes from the park such as the Kaiwomaru Park, Takaoka Kojo Park, Takaoka Daibutsu (Three Great Buddhas of Japan) and the national treasures, Zuiryu-ji and Shoko-ji Temples.

When in Toyama, don`t miss to enjoy its fresh seafood specialties like the Toyama Bay sushi selection, snow crabs, hotaruika (firefly squid), shiro ebi (white shrimp), and buri (yellowtail).

For updates, visit Taikoyama Land website: https://www.toyamap.or.jp/taikou-land/