Chrysanthemum Photography: Shinjuku Gyoen 2022

Yellow incurved chrysanthemum with curled petals against a dark, blurred background for chrysanthemum photography.

The Shinjuku Gyoen 2022 Chrysanthemum Festival was excellent. Great weather graced the event, making it a beautiful day for chrysanthemum photography.

I didn’t even need an autumn jacket. A T-shirt and jeans were enough. While I wish I had more time with the flowers, I got good photos, especially of the larger plants like the superb ozukuri and ogiku.

Garden pond and trees surrounding a purple-draped floral exhibit for chrysanthemum photography.

Giant ozukuri chrysanthemum domes

Ozukuri are large domes made up of hundreds of flowers. Their branches and flowers are supported by one central trunk. The trunk must be very thick as the entire plant can measure about two meters across.

A large dome of white chrysanthemums under a purple drape for chrysanthemum photography. — *A massive ozukuri*

Pink incurved chrysanthemum with curled petals against blurred yellow and white blooms for chrysanthemum photography.

How do you water these enormous plants?

Due to the ozukuri’s size, you might think they would be difficult to water. At the Shinjuku Gyoen 2022 Chrysanthemum Festival, I discovered that gardeners use a simple method.

Yellow spider chrysanthemum with long, spindly petals on a support disk, with blurred flowers behind.

They use a watercan with a two meter bamboo pipe attached. They poke them through the flowers into the base and pour the water down. I appreciated this for my chrysanthemum photography as there were no unsightly hoses visible.

Rows of yellow, white, and purple pompon flowers under a canopy for chrysanthemum photography. — *An uwaya booth filled with ogiku*

Ogiku & kengai flower displays

The ogiku chrysanthemums are also large flowers, but not the size of the ozukuri. They are known for their incurved petals which form a puffy and scaly flower. This time, I got pictures of them that were most satisfying for my chrysanthemum photography collection.

Close-up of a purple incurved chrysanthemum with thick, curled petals for chrysanthemum photography. — *Ogiku chrysanthemums*

Kengai are smaller chrysanthemums draped over a trellis. The effect makes it look as if they are cascading down a cliff.

Cascading red, yellow, and white flowers under a bamboo and purple fabric roof for chrysanthemum photography. — *My favorites, the kengai*

Kengai are beautiful and intriguing, getting my vote for the best display at the Shinjuku Gyoen 2022 Chrysanthemum Festival. If I am honest, they were the best in Tokyo. No other place came close to them that year.

Pink and yellow flower mounds in a park before a tall skyscraper under a dramatic, backlit sky.

Earlier in the morning, I went to Jindai Botanical Gardens to see its flowers. As it was a weekday, it was not crowded. With fewer people, the festivals have been a pleasure. I definitely went on the right day.

Should I get a macro lens for flower photography?

Often I’ve thought about getting a macro lens for flowers, especially chrysanthemum photography. In one way, I’m glad I haven’t got one yet. Why? At these events, it is hard to get close to the flowers. Tripods aren’t allowed so you shoot handheld.

But do you need a macro lens for the Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemum Festival or other flower exhibits? No, you don’t. They are just a luxury item for most photographers, including me. You can still get great photos. Hopefully, I got some good ones here.

My photography gear for this shoot

Camera body: Fujifilm X-T3
Lens: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
Flash: Godox V860II

Large domes of yellow and white blooms under a slatted wooden roof for chrysanthemum photography.

Magenta spider chrysanthemums with thin spiked petals arranged in a tiered display among yellow and white flowers.

Are Shinjuku Gyoen’s chrysanthemums worth photographing?

Definitely. The chrysanthemum displays are high quality and the setting is superb. On top of that, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden has so much to see once you’ve finished with the flowers. This park is perfect for photographers. Just to think it’s all available for ¥500.