🗺️ Ushijima no Fuji (牛島之藤)藤花園

From mid-April to early May each year, it is the wisteria blooming season. There is a garden located in the Ushijima area of Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture, that is open to the public for just three weeks during this flowering period. This site was once the location of a Shingon Buddhist temple and is now managed as a wisteria garden by the local Kojima family. There is also a legend associated with the wisteria. Once, a farmer's daughter fell ill and heard that if wisteria were planted within the temple grounds at that time, it could cure her illness, so she prayed at the temple. After the wisteria was planted, the girl's health improved. Upon entering the wisteria garden, it is recommended to first climb the observation deck. From here, one can see the full view of the 1200-year-old ancient tree known as Ushijima no Fuji. The root of the wisteria measures 9.2 meters, and the total area of the wisteria trellis is about 700 square meters. The diameter of the flower room is also 2 meters, making it the largest wisteria garden in Japan. It is said that Ushijima no Fuji was personally planted by Kōbō Daishi during the early Heian period (774-835) and was designated as a National Special Natural Monument in 1955. The garden is only open for three weeks a year, making it a rare opportunity to see Japan's largest wisteria trellis, and it is highly recommended for flower enthusiasts.

The wisteria garden, which is only open for three weeks each year, features the largest wisteria in Japan. It was designated as a national special natural monument in 1955. It is said that the wisteria on Ushijima was personally planted by Kōbō Daishi.