What to expect at a Chrysanthemum Festival

I have shared a few different places with chrysanthemum festivals in the Kanto plain over the last week. If you are new to Japan, you may be wondering what the chrysanthemum festivals are all about.

First and foremost, a chrysanthemum festival is essentially an exhibition of potted chrysanthemum flowers, not a festival in the typical sense. Although, some of the festivals do have things like food trucks and entertainment. Chrysanthemum festivals are most often carried out on the grounds of a temple or shrine. 

Often, the chrysanthemum festivals are competitions too. The chrysanthemum exhibitions you can see on display are also judged by a panel and a winner announced. They often sell the chrysanthemums too.

There are some standard forms of exhibition styles you can see at a chrysanthemum festival. For example, most of the festivals will have what are called "cliff" style displays. Which are supposed to resemble chrysanthemum growing up a cliff. 

They are usually on late in Autumn, with November 1st to 23rd being the most period for a chrysanthemum festival. Some start as early as October, some mid October and several starting the last week in October. Most do end by November 23rd though. There are exceptions.

Have you been to a chrysanthemum festival in Japan?