Spring flowers in Japan: yamabuki

The yamabuki flowers are blooming around Saitama Prefecture at the moment. They are a beautiful vivid yellow flower, native to Japan. The flower has been revered since ancient times and has even featured in many Japanese literary works, including the famous “Tale of Genji”, by Murasaki Shikibu.

The flower genus is the rose family and as such is often called a 'yellow rose' in English. However, they don’t look like roses at all. In my humble opinion, they look more like marigold. So its no surprise another name for them is Japanese marigold or the miracle marigold. The official name for them in English is Kerria Japonica, after Scottish gardener William Kerr who introduced them to the “West” in the early 1800s.

Despite their history, they are not that common. Moreover, while there are various different flower festivals annually, you don't hear of the yamabuki festivals as much as say the sakura or wisteria festivals. But they do exist. In Saitama Prefecture, there is only one yamabuki festival that I know of. That was on last weekend in Ogose town, in a somewhat famous spot: Yamabuki no Sato.

Does your prefecture have a yamabuki garden or attraction? And / or, do they have a yamabuki festival?