Review of Shibazakura Festival – A Pink Paradise Inspired by Mount Fuji

This festival, often hailed as one of Japan's most beautiful flower festivals according to various sources, truly lives up to the hype. Upon arrival, it feels like stepping onto a pink carpet with Mount Fuji majestically standing in the background, as if straight out of a painting. 🎨 Highlights I Noticed • The breathtaking view of over 500,000 moss phlox (shibazakura) flowers in vibrant shades of pink, light pink, purple, and white, beautifully arranged across a vast 2.4-hectare area. The contrast with the blue skies and Mount Fuji in the background is a true visual masterpiece. • There's a special section where the flowers are arranged to resemble Mount Fuji. Capturing this from the elevated viewing point is absolutely stunning. ⏰ Timing and Practical Tips • The festival typically runs from mid-April to late May, with the peak season being during Golden Week in early May. It's better to visit either before or after this period to avoid large crowds. • Open daily from around 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (sometimes until 5:00 PM in certain years). The flowers are at their best from late morning to early afternoon, offering the perfect lighting for photoshoots. 🍽 Food & Culinary Delights • The festival grounds feature food trucks and cafés offering local specialties such as Fujisakura pork, Koshu chicken stew, Fujinomiya yakisoba, Yoshida udon, and more. • I tried the sakura cherry-flavored malasada, a sakura donut paired with cherry ice cream – it was refreshingly sweet and delightful. However, if you opt to dine at a café, be prepared for longer wait times depending on the time of day.