Spring will soon be here, bringing with it Tokyo’s cherry blossom season. However, sakura are not the only spring flowers that turn people on the streets into Instagram-photographers. Another floral highlight at this time of year are tulips, with the Kanto region’s largest fields found in Tokyo’s neighbouring Chiba prefecture.
The annual Sakura Tulip Festa at Sakura City’s Sakura Furusato Square takes place from April 1 to April 20 (9am-4pm daily). You can look forward to around 600,000 flowers of 100 different tulip varieties, complete with a Dutch-style windmill for that perfect photo.
If you’d like to grow your own tulips at home, make a beeline for the designated field to pick your favourite flowers. You’ll have to dig out the entire plant with its bulb, so make sure to wear some sturdy shoes that can handle getting muddy. Ten tulip plants cost just ¥600 (or 13 plants for the same price on weekdays).
It’s easy to spend an entire day here as the festival features food trucks and stalls run by local restaurants. Plus, you can go on a sightseeing cruise across the adjacent Lake Inbanuma, from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the festival grounds. The boat ride takes about 40 minutes and runs only on Saturdays and Sundays. A ticket will set you back ¥1,000 (children ¥500).
Sakura is just under an hour from Keisei-Ueno Station on the Keisei Main line. From Keisei-Sakura Station's north exit, you can take the Chiba Green bus to Sakura Furusato Square for ¥260 one way. The bus timetable is on the festival website.
Entry to the Sakura Tulip Festa is free. For more information, check the event website.
This article was published on March 24 2022 and updated on March 4 2025.
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