Spring flowers in Japan: peony

The month of April brings many spring flowers in Japan. Its one of the best month for flowers. Among the mix; peony flowers. It feels like it was only a couple of weeks ago I was writing about the winter peony, but the spring peony should start to flower in the coming days in many places. Its a popular flower to view, so you will find several places for peony on City-cost. Below, I've created a list of links to articles on City-cost with peony flower recommendations. But first, a little about the peony flower...

Peony flowers

The Japanese for peony is botan. Although they start to bloom around the second week of April, they tend to be in their prime during Golden Week (early May). However, in recent years, many of the flowers have observed a different cycle, presumably due to global warming. We will just have to wait and see what way they bloom in 2025. 

In Japan, botan represent shyness and / or embarrassment. But they can also mean ‘riches and honors’. The latter is somewhat similar to one of the interpretations of the flower in European countries. The common peony is often said to represent prosperity and good fortune. You can find peony gardens in almost every prefecture in Japan. 

10 Places for Peony flowers

Ueno Toshogu Shrine in Tokyo
Nishiarai Daishi Temple in Tokyo
Botanen in Saitama Prefecture

On City-cost:

Peony Garden Tokyo, but actually in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture! Opening April 9th in 2025.

At a shrine in Higashimatsuyama in Saitama Prefecture.

At a local temple in Chiba Prefecture.
Temple with a peony festival in May, Chiba Prefecture.

Numata Park in Gunma Prefecture.

Shimizu Park in Chiba Prefecture.

Rural peony garden in Saitama Prefecture.