Hello, fellow travel lovers!
This time, I visited the Kaisei Hydrangea Festival in Kaisei Town, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Unfortunately, the weather was rainy.
But strolling among hydrangeas with a camera in one hand and an umbrella in the other has its own special charm. In fact, hydrangeas may be at their most beautiful on rainy days.
Visiting the Kaisei Hydrangea Festival
The Kaisei Hydrangea Festival is held from June 6 to June 14, 2026.
A shuttle bus runs from Kaisei Station to the festival venue, "Ajisai no Sato" (Hydrangea Village), costing 240 yen for adults and 120 yen for children.
There is also a special parking lot near the venue for 1,000 yen per visit. If you don't mind a short walk, I also found a Times parking lot with a maximum daily fee of just 440 yen.
The first thing I spotted was the "Ajisai no Sato Map" standing in the middle of the beautiful rural landscape.
At the entrance, staff members were handing out festival brochures despite the rain.
Thank you to all the hardworking staff!
A Photo Board You Can't Miss
As I walked through the venue, I found a fun face-in-hole photo board.
Of course, I couldn't resist taking a commemorative photo
—even in the rain!
Unfortunately, I won't be sharing that picture, so you'll just have to imagine it.
Hydrangeas Along the Waterways
One of Kaisei Town's greatest charms is its combination of waterways and countryside scenery.
The hydrangeas blooming along the canals were beautiful, and the raindrops made the flowers appear even more vibrant.
As I continued my walk, I came across a small rest area with a sundial.
But on this drizzly day,
I wondered if the sundial was taking a little break from telling time.
Children's Performances Bring Energy to the Festival
At the main event area, local kindergarten children were performing songs and dances.
Around them stood proud parents with cameras and smartphones in hand.
Around them stood proud parents with cameras and smartphones in hand.
Watching everyone enthusiastically capturing the moment made me smile.
A Relaxing Walk Through Hydrangeas and Satoyama Landscapes
I took a leisurely walk around the entire Hydrangea Village.
The area isn't covered entirely in hydrangeas, but that's part of its appeal.
The flowers blend naturally with the rice fields, waterways, and satoyama countryside scenery, creating a peaceful atmosphere that invites visitors to slow down and enjoy the season.
Flowers or Food? Definitely Corn!
Ahead of me, I noticed a building that immediately caught my attention.
As I got closer, I discovered it was a stand selling fresh white corn.
Hydrangeas are lovely, of course, but food always gets my attention too!
I bought some freshly harvested white corn and tried it raw on the spot.
Sweet!
Juicy!
And incredibly fresh.
Be careful when taking a bite—the juice can easily splash onto your clothes.
But honestly, my first thought was:
"Wouldn't this be even better boiled?"
When I asked the staff, they smiled and replied,
"Of course! It's delicious boiled too!"
Back home, I heated it in the microwave as I usually do.
The result?
Absolutely delicious.
Raw corn was surprisingly good, but my vote still goes to the cooked version.
A Cozy Break with Oden and Chimaki
After finishing my walk, I returned to the main festival area and picked up some oden and chimaki.
I also enjoyed a cup of hot tea under one of the tents.
It was the perfect way to warm up after spending time in the rain.
Rain Has Its Own Beauty
Hydrangeas are naturally beautiful on rainy days, but what impressed me most about Kaisei Town was the combination of flowers, waterways, and peaceful countryside scenery.
The atmosphere was completely different from a sunny day—calm, quiet, and relaxing.
Walking with an umbrella wasn't a drawback at all.
If you're thinking, "Maybe I should skip it because of the rain," I'd encourage you to go anyway.
The journey continues... Wishing you all a wonderful trip!
＊＊TabiJun＊＊
