Kinchakuda Manjushage festival in 2025

The dates have been set for the 2025 Kinchakuda Manjushage festival. Manjushage are called many different names in both English and Japanese. I think English speakers people based in Japan most commonly call them red spider lilies. Similarly, higanbana seems to be the most common name in Japanese. But the official name of the festival in Kinchakuda, is the "manjushage festival". The manjushage of Kinchakuda, a riverside park in Hidaka City, are among the most famous flowers in Japan. Thousands of people descend on, the otherwise quiet, Hidaka City every September to see the sight of millions of manjushage in bloom.

This year, 2025, the festival is on from Friday September 19th to October 5th. Regardless of the condition of the flowers. In other words, even if the flowers aren't blooming on the 19th, the festival will go ahead. However, in saying that, it is not uncommon for them to bring the start date forward and the end date back. The reason the dates are important to them is because during the official time period of the festival you have to pay into see the flowers. This is how they make their money to maintain the five million odd manjushage flowers!  Also, please note, if you come by car, you also have to pay for parking. 

As above, this festival attracts thousands of visitors each year. It can get very crowded during the day and the area becomes very congested. It is not unusual to have to wait to get a photo of the flowers. Also, please note that you can not go in among the flowers. They have the areas roped off. However, there is a footpath through sections so it is possible to get photos that make it look like you are standing among the flowers. But, again, you usually have to wait quite a while to get a clear shot! Or be prepared to cut people out of your photos afterwards. 

Have you been to see the red spider lilies of Kinchakuda?