How to source info about other spring flowers in Japan

I'm a big fan of Japan's stunning array of flowers, and there are so many of them to enjoy during spring. Azaleas, nemophila, shibazakura, and wisteria are just a few of them, and they grow in abundance at a number of spots across the country. 

If you're trying to find information about the best places to enjoy various spring blooms, here are my tips!

Know the names of the flowers in Japanese

If you search for something like "azaleas in Tokyo" in English, you're only going to come back with English language results. However, if you search for 東京つつじ (literally, Tokyo azalea) you'll get many more results. For instance, there's a nice article here in Japanese which covers a bunch of places in Tokyo where you can enjoy this type of flowers.

I also find that even when certain websites have English versions, the information on the Japanese version of their site is so much more comprehensive. 

Here is a quick running list of some spring flowers and their names in Japanese:

Azaleas: tsutsuji, or つつじ

Wisteria: fuji, or 藤

Nemophila (baby blue eyes): rurirkarakusa, or るりからくさ

Moss phlox: shibazakura, or 芝桜

Peony: botan, or 牡丹

Poppy: popi, or ポピー

Search by season on prefectural websites

Most prefectural websites have specific sections dedicated to showing off their natural wonders, and typically those websites allow you to filter by what's in season. For instance, below is a screenshot of the Visit Gunma website, and you can choose "nature and outdoors" as the category, and "spring" as the season. Very handy!

From there, my search yielded me with a bunch of results, including spots like the Gunma Flower Park, a wisteria garden called Fuji no Saku Oka, a rose spot called Nakanojo Gardens, and the Hanadaka Flower-Viewing Hill which has a variety of different blooms at different times of year. I'm looking forward to checking out a few of these places since they're not too far away from where I live in Niigata.

Search on Instagram

I wrote a more detailed article about this topic here with a focus on sakura season, but the tips I gave in the post can really be applied to any springtime bloom. Check relevant hashtags, follow Japan-based travel accounts for inspiration, and save posts so you don't forget the destinations!

How do you find information on flower spots here in Japan during spring? Do you have any useful tips or suggestions that could help others find great places for seasonal blooms?