Prime dahlia viewing at Ueno Toshogu, in Ueno Park

Ueno Toshogu Shrine is known for its peony garden, but every year in Autumn you an see dahlia in the garden. Dahlia are a long blooming flower. They typically bloom from early September to early November. However, this year due to the excessive heat, the dahlia were not in great condition in September. But they are expected to come into their prime right about now, as the weather has finally cooled.

The "Ueno Toshogu Peony Garden Special Festival: Dahlia Autumn Garden" started on September 20th and will run until November 3rd 2025. It is being held at Ueno Toshogu Shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tokugawa Yoshimune, and Tokugawa Yoshinobu are enshrined. They have approximately 200 dahlia plants with diverse colors and forms. In addition, they have beautiful Japanese umbrella displays as well as potted arrangements such as bonsai too. They look quite striking against the Edo-period architecture.

The festival is on from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. It costs 800 yen for adults to enter the garden. There is no parking lot, please come on foot. The nearest train station is JR / Keisei Electric Railway Ueno station. Have you been to Ueno Toshogu before? Have you seen either the peony or dahlia there, or maybe both?