I received quite possibly the most beautiful garden picture I’ve ever seen from Ben Dhong last week. (And forgive me – someone else sent it to me recently but I can’t remember who…). It’s the famous Wisteria Tunnel, in Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu, Japan. This is yet another reason why I must return to beautiful Japan, and I will time it right to be able to see this gorgeous tunnel and garden!
Kawachi Fuji Garden has an incredible 150 Wisteria flowering plants spanning 20 different species throughout the garden; the main attraction is the Wisteria tunnel.
Wisteria is a member of the legume family which includes ten species of woody climbing vines that are native to Japan, Korea and China. Many years ago, it was introduced to Eastern and Western gardens, becoming wildly popular for its graceful hanging flowers. Wisteria is always a highlight when touring gardens if you happen to be lucky enough to see it in bloom. It is easily trained and grows surprisingly quickly, typically blooming within 3-4 years of being planted. Just make sure it has plenty of sun and a strong structure to support it! It blooms in cascades of long, lavender, white and various pastel shades flowers.
To be able to see this particular tunnel in its full glory, they recommend visiting this garden in late April or Early May, during the “Fuji Matsuri,” or “Wisteria Festival.” The garden is located about 6 hours from Tokyo. Perhaps you can catch the cherry blossoms beforehand…
