{"id":1163,"date":"2026-08-27T13:14:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T04:14:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/?p=1163"},"modified":"2026-08-27T13:14:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T04:14:38","slug":"the-flowers-of-early-autumn-walking-through-the-hagi-tunnel-at-mukojima-hyakkaen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/near-shinjuku\/the-flowers-of-early-autumn-walking-through-the-hagi-tunnel-at-mukojima-hyakkaen\/","title":{"rendered":"The Flowers of Early Autumn: Walking Through the Hagi Tunnel at Mukojima Hyakkaen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tokyo in September exists somewhere between two seasons. The intense heat of summer has not completely disappeared, yet the first signs of autumn are beginning to appear. Cicadas grow quieter, evenings become slightly cooler, and delicate autumn flowers start to bloom. For travelers hoping to experience this subtle seasonal change, Mukojima Hyakkaen<\/strong> offers one of Tokyo’s most charming and lesser-known escapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hidden in the traditional Mukojima neighborhood of eastern Tokyo, this small garden feels very different from the city’s grand landscaped parks. Rather than dramatic ponds or perfectly shaped pine trees, Mukojima Hyakkaen is filled with wildflowers, climbing plants, poetry stones, and narrow paths. In September, its most famous attraction comes into bloom: a beautiful 30-meter-long tunnel covered in hagi<\/em>, or Japanese bush clover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Garden Created by the People of Edo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mukojima Hyakkaen has a history stretching back to the Edo period. It was established during the Bunka and Bunsei eras of the early nineteenth century by Sahara Kiku-u, a wealthy antique dealer who worked together with artists, writers, and other culturally minded friends to create a garden devoted to flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike many famous Japanese gardens that were originally built for feudal lords or powerful families, Mukojima Hyakkaen grew from the cultural world of ordinary townspeople. Its name is often interpreted as meaning “a garden where a hundred flowers bloom throughout the four seasons.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The garden originally contained hundreds of plum trees, but over time, more plants were added\u2014particularly species mentioned in classical Chinese and Japanese literature, including the Manyoshu<\/em>, Japan’s oldest surviving collection of waka poetry. Today, it is considered the only surviving flower garden of its kind from the Edo period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That literary spirit can still be felt throughout the grounds. Stone monuments engraved with haiku and classical poems appear among the plants, turning a simple walk through the garden into a quiet journey through the artistic culture of old Edo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walking Through a Tunnel of Hagi<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The highlight of Mukojima Hyakkaen in early autumn is undoubtedly the Hagi Tunnel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hagi, or Japanese bush clover, is a delicate plant with small pinkish-purple flowers that appear toward the end of summer. At Mukojima Hyakkaen, the plants are trained over curved bamboo frames, eventually creating a natural flower tunnel approximately 30 meters long. By late September, the branches hang overhead and tiny blossoms surround visitors as they walk beneath them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike cherry blossoms, which create an immediate and spectacular impression, hagi flowers are much more understated. Their beauty lies in their softness\u2014the thin branches bending in the breeze, the small flowers scattered among green leaves, and the way they seem to blend naturally into the surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This quiet beauty has been admired in Japan for centuries. Hagi appears frequently in classical poetry and is one of the traditional Seven Flowers of Autumn<\/strong>, or aki no nanakusa<\/em>. Rather than announcing autumn with bright colors, these plants represent the gentle transition from the heat of summer toward the cooler months ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walking through the Hagi Tunnel therefore feels like more than simply viewing flowers. It offers visitors a chance to experience the Japanese appreciation for subtle seasonal change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discovering the Seven Flowers of Autumn<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many visitors to Japan are familiar with the Seven Herbs of Spring, which are traditionally eaten in rice porridge in January. Less familiar are the Seven Flowers of Autumn<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These plants\u2014including hagi, pampas grass, bellflower, and other autumn wildflowers\u2014have been celebrated in Japanese poetry for more than a thousand years. Unlike the spring herbs, they are not gathered for eating. Instead, they are admired for their appearance and for the atmosphere of early autumn they create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mukojima Hyakkaen is an especially fitting place to discover this tradition because the garden was designed around plants connected with classical literature. Rather than arranging flowers only for visual impact, the garden invites visitors to notice their cultural associations as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For travelers, this provides a different way to experience Japan’s famous seasonal culture. Autumn does not suddenly begin when maple leaves turn red in November. Long before that, smaller changes\u2014the appearance of hagi flowers, the sound of insects in the evening, and cooler air after sunset\u2014quietly announce that a new season is approaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Quiet Corner of Old Tokyo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another reason to visit Mukojima Hyakkaen is its atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The garden is located in Sumida, not far from Tokyo Skytree, yet it feels far removed from the modern city surrounding it. Narrow paths wind between flowers and bamboo trellises, small ponds reflect the greenery, and traditional structures appear between the plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike some of Tokyo’s larger gardens, Mukojima Hyakkaen does not require several hours to explore. Its relatively compact size encourages visitors to walk slowly, stop to examine individual flowers, read the poetry monuments, and simply enjoy the quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This makes it an excellent addition to a day exploring eastern Tokyo. Visitors can combine the garden with the old streets of Mukojima or continue toward Tokyo Skytree afterward. The contrast is particularly striking: within a short journey, you can move from an Edo-period flower garden to one of the most recognizable symbols of modern Tokyo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcoming Autumn with the Hagi Festival<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best time to experience the garden is during its annual Hagi Festival<\/strong> (Hagi Matsuri<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2026, the festival will take place from September 19 to October 12<\/strong>, when the famous Hagi Tunnel is expected to reach its seasonal beauty. Visitors can walk through the garden while enjoying the changing autumn plants, and special cultural activities are also held during the festival period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One particularly charming activity invites visitors to write their own haiku or waka inspired by hagi. Tea gatherings and wildflower observation events are also scheduled on selected days. These activities continue the garden’s original connection between flowers, literature, and the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For travelers visiting Tokyo in September, the festival offers something quite different from the city’s more famous attractions. There are no enormous crowds waiting beneath cherry trees and no spectacular illumination displays. Instead, the experience is about noticing small things: flowers moving in the breeze, insects beginning their autumn songs, and a garden slowly changing from summer green to early autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, experiencing Japan’s seasons is not about finding the most dramatic scenery. It is about learning to notice the moment when one season quietly becomes another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Mukojima Hyakkaen, that moment can be found beneath a tunnel of tiny purple flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mukojima Hyakkaen Gardens\uff08\u5411\u5cf6\u767e\u82b1\u5712\uff09<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3-18-3 Higashi-Mukojima, Sumida City, Tokyo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

About an 8-minute walk from Higashi-Mukojima Station on the Tobu Skytree Line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Adults: \u00a5150
Visitors aged 65 and over: \u00a570<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Hours<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

9:00 a.m.\u20135:00 p.m.
Last admission at 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Time to Visit<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Late September to early October<\/strong> for the Hagi Tunnel and early-autumn flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 Hagi Festival<\/strong> will be held from September 19 to October 12<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tokyo in September exists somewhere between two seasons. The intense heat of summer has not completely disappeared, yet the first signs of autumn are beginning to appear. Cicadas grow quieter, evenings become slightly cooler, and delicate autumn flowers start to bloom. For travelers hoping to experience this subtle seasonal change, Mukojima Hyakkaen offers one of Tokyo’s most charming and lesser-known escapes. Hidden in the traditional Mukojima neighborhood of eastern Tokyo, this small garden feels very different from the city’s grand landscaped parks. Rather than dramatic ponds or perfectly shaped pine trees, Mukojima Hyakkaen is filled with wildflowers, climbing plants, poetry stones, and narrow paths. In September, its most famous attraction … The Flowers of Early Autumn: Walking Through the Hagi Tunnel at Mukojima Hyakkaen<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-near-shinjuku"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1163"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1166,"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1163\/revisions\/1166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tateshina.co.jp\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}