Autumn in full bloom

No flower says autumn like the cosmos. While the lack of rain this year means that the beloved autumn flower hasn’t grown as tall as usual, these flowers are still worthy late-October flower viewing. The best place to view them is Showa Kinen Park, where several varieties of cosmos have been planted at slightly different times, meaning that visitors can come back to enjoy a wealth of different hued blooms repeatedly throughout the season. While this park is definitely the highlight, we have put together a number of other great places to check out one of the symbolic flowers of autumn.

Showa Kinen Park (Tachikawa)

Cosmos Festival 2010 is on here until November 3. Since September, 11 varieties of cosmos, including ‘Happy Ring’ and ‘Yellow Garden’, have been opening one after the other inside the park at the Minna no Harappa and Kosmos no Oka. In October, approximately 4.7 million cosmos plants including Dwarf Sensation Pinocchio, Yellow Campus, Orange Campus, Crimson Campus and Deep Red Campus varietals can be enjoyed. Stamp rally points have been set up throughout the park for visitors to enjoy a stroll through the park while collecting commemorative stamps. There are also face photo boards set up where you can have you own photo taken with the cosmos in full effect in the background.

Date: Until Fri Nov 3
Time: 8.30am-5pm
Location: Showa Kinen Park (Full details & map)
Admission: ¥400; children 6-15 years old, senior citizens ¥80, free admission on Sun Oct 31
Website: www.showakinenpark.go.jp/2010autumn/cosmos.html

Adachi-ku Toshi Nogyou Park (Nishi Arai)

Sensation and Yellow Campus are just some of the varieties of cosmos among the 60,000 plants spread across 2,200sqm of flowerbeds along the Arakawa riverbank. So that people don’t trample the flowerbeds they have been made into large-scale maze popular with kids. (Full details & map)

Shinagawa Hanakaido (Nishi-Ooi)

The Shinagawa Kaido Project started in July 2002 fuelled by the motto ‘Let’s make a riverbank garden at Katsushima Unga’. Flowerbeds have been made along the Unga River with autumn being the best time to see the cosmos. There are beds on the city side and warehouse side, but for 2010 we recommend those that are on the Unga River side. Be sure to visit before November 14 when rape blossoms will be planted. (Full details & map)

Symbol Promenade Park (Daiba)

At this park, wildflowers can be enjoyed in spring and autumn for approximately three months of the year. First there is Wildflower Appreciation Month followed by the Wildflower Festival, when guests can have fun picking flowers.　Right now cosmos and marigolds are in season and in celebration, the Rinkai Fukutoshin Wild Flower Festival Autumn 2010 will be held on October 30 from 10am until 4pm. Visitors are able to pick cosmos and marigold to take home. A flower arranging class and craft class will also be held. (Full details & map)

Fuchu-shi Kyoudo no Mori Hakubutsukan (Fuchu)

Inside the grounds of the museum are a park, plum tree garden and eight restored buildings, making it the perfect place for a stroll. The cosmos can be found between Yaragi Tei and the pond, allowing visitors to stop and enjoy them while on their walk. Near the Fuchu-shi Kyoudo no Mori Museum is the Musashino Suntory Beer Factory. After you’ve had your fill of cosmos, top off your daytrip by stopping in for a tour. (Full details & map)