The Bunkyo Azalea Festival 2023 at Nezu Shrine was amazing. Most readers know I say that every year. For anyone planning a future visit, you can find all the essential information—like opening times, history, and how to get there—in my guide to Nezu Shrine. But here, I want to share what made the 2023 festival so special.
The Bunkyo Azalea Festival 2023 experience
After paying the small entrance fee to get into the hillside azalea garden (you can find the current price in my main Nezu Shrine guide), the view that opens up is just incredible. While some late-blooming bushes hadn’t fully opened when I went, most had, creating an incredible view of deep reds, vibrant purples, and soft pinks overpowered the few patches of green.
Beautiful weather blessed the day. A few clouds were in the sky, but the temperature wasn’t too warm or too cool. It was perfect.
The festival was crowded even though it was a weekday! Many overseas visitors had come. I heard Chinese and Korean spoken everywhere. Indians and Eastern Europeans talked to me. Talk about cosmopolitan!
People were everywhere. Hopefully, the photos convey this. Walking around the hill took ages. Some took photos. Others enjoyed getting close to azaleas. Two or three kids ran around. The paths were jammed, and I waited for gaps to open. I went to enjoy the flowers and take photos. Going slow wasn’t a problem.
Construction next door was the only downside. A building had been demolished, and the site was being redeveloped. It looked pretty ugly so I didn’t take photos in that direction. Would it be finished before the next Azalea Festival? That was my hope.
My photography gear for this shoot
- Camera Body: X-T3
- Lenses:
- Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
- Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
These lenses are a good pair. The 16-55mm was my workhorse for many years as it covered most situations. I have no idea how many photos I took with it, but the number must have been 100,000s.
I took the Fujifilm XF55-200mm as it was my ghetto macro for closeups. It also produced beautiful bokeh. The compression for this longer lens was also good.
Is this Tokyo flower festival worth visiting?
If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo in the spring, I can’t recommend the Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival enough. It’s one of the city’s best flower events and a fantastic alternative if you miss the main cherry blossom season. Be sure to also walk through the shrine’s famous tunnel of red torii gates and explore the historic main hall, an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Did you go to the Bunkyo Azalea Festival 2023 at Nezu Shrine? I’d love to hear your thoughts! If this has inspired you to see the azaleas for yourself, your next step should be to read [Nezu Shrine Photography Guide].
The guide has everything you need to plan your trip, from travel directions to the shrine’s fascinating history and other must-see sights on the grounds. Leave any other questions and comments below!