Fall flowers: red buckwheat

Pictured above, red buckwheat flowers in the early stages of bloom, which I think you can agree looks more pink than red! Red buckwheat flowers are relatively rare in Japan, but in Saitama Prefecture we are lucky because we can see them in a few select locations. Not only are they rare, they are still quite new having only been brought to Japan in 1987 from the Himalayan mountains.

I think the Akasoba no Sato in Nagano, where there is four hectares of the beautiful delicate flower, is probably the most famous place for red buckwheat flowers in mainland Japan. The red buckwheat flowers in Nagano bloom early in Autumn, from late September to early October. However, in Saitama Prefecture, they typically bloom late in Autumn, generally from early to mid November. They are used for decorative purposes but also as a nectar source. 

Have you seen any red buckwheat flower displays in Japan? Any you would recommend?