Smell the roses at park in Yokohama and Yokosuka

Yamashita Park in Yokohama City (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

While Japan has just enjoyed a chain of holidays “Golden Week” with fine weather, a walk through your neighborhood or local park will give you the opportunity to see early summer flowers, such as roses and wisteria.

Not as famous as spring’s cherry blossoms, these modest and elegant beauties add vivid colors to the blue skies of early summer.

In Yokohama City, Yamashita Park is known as the “Rose Garden of the Future.” The park is home to 1,900 rose trees that span 160 different varieties. Enjoy a brisk walk along the roses and check out Hikawa Maru, a memorial ship permanently birthed at the park, while you’re there.

Yamashita Park is brimming with green space and naval historical landmarks like the Hotel New Grand where Gen. Douglas MacArthur was a guest just after the end of World War II. The park is also near other Yokohama attractions like Chinatown, the Doll Museum, and the Red Brick Warehouse making for a fun outing.

Yamashita Park in Yokohama City (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Another great spot for late spring-early summer blooms is Shobu-en Iris Garden. This park is about 18-miles down south from Yamashita Park or a short 15-minute drive from Yokosuka Naval Base. Here you’ll see 11 different varieties of wisteria spanning 250 blooms. The park is also popular in the rainy season which starts in mid-June to early July, when 140,000 irises make their yearly appearance.

Shobu-en is a good for strolling and has ponds, hills and bridges to enjoy as well. The peak flower viewing season for the purple and white wisteria flowers run through until late May, so hurry over and bring a lunch bento to enjoy under the trellis!