Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival: Trip Report & Tips

Crowds of people walk along a narrow path through layers of multi-colored blooming azalea bushes at Nezu Shrine.

My trip to the 2022 Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival (つつじ祭り) started with a tough choice. With Tokyo’s spring flower season in full swing, it was either there or the tulips at Showa Memorial Park. I only had time for one. Knowing both would be crowded on a Saturday, I researched online and bet on Nezu Shrine having the thinner crowds. I made my decision, hoping I’d chosen wisely.

Red and pink azaleas bloom on a hillside at Nezu Shrine, below a traditional building and trees under a cloudy sky.

But when I arrived, my hopes sank. The famous hillside wasn’t the solid carpet of pink and purple I’d pictured; it was mottled with large, patchy gaps of green. The peak bloom had clearly passed, and for a moment, I wondered if I’d made a huge mistake.

Selective focus on red azalea blossoms with the traditional roof of Nezu Shrine blurred in the background.

My mind was ticking over. Hmm, what should I do? For a brief moment, I thought about going home. It was that type of situation. But I hate doing that. I gritted my teeth and thought I’d make the most of it. There was no way I would go home without some photos of the azaleas.

Masked visitors take photos amidst the dense red azaleas blooming at the Nezu Shrine flower festival in Tokyo.

2 actionable azalea photography tips for better shots

In the end, I made the best of the circumstances by using two simple azalea photography tips:

I pointed the camera only at the plants in good condition. I carefully composed my shots to completely exclude the green patches.
Use a zoom lens. By filling the frame with a cluster of colorful flowers, I created a sense of lushness and vibrancy that wasn’t really there in the wider scene.

Bright pink azalea clusters in sharp focus with a bokeh hillside of blooming flowers at Nezu Shrine, Tokyo.

Each shot made me feel better. The solution was simple but effective. Staying was the best choice, and I was pleased with the photos. While the hill was crowded, the people moving through the paths became an integral part of many shots, adding life to the scene.

Lush pink and red azalea mounds bloom below a hillside house at Nezu Shrine in Tokyo under a cloudy sky.

Were the 2022 Nezu Shrine Azaleas worth it?

In the end, it was a fantastic morning. While the Nezu Shrine azaleas weren’t perfect, I went home happy with the photos I got. Staying was the right choice, and it was a great reminder that with a little thought, you can find delight even in disappointing circumstances. The flowers would improve over the next few days, and while I didn’t go back that year, I’m pleased with the results I achieved. Here’s looking towards future events.

Visitors walk a winding path through dense mounds of red, pink, and white blooming azaleas on the hillside at Nezu Shrine.

Manicured red and purple azalea bushes blanket the hillside at Nezu Shrine during the spring flower festival in Tokyo.

Are you ready to see the shrine for yourself? I have written [Nezu Shrine: A Photographer’s Guide to an Edo-Era Sanctuary] which has all the information you need to know.