Japan's Most Beautiful Red Spider Lily (Higanbana) Spots and Best Viewing Times 2026

Kitakami City, Iwate

Nyoirin-ji Temple is located next to the Kunimiyama Abandoned Temple Ruins, a nationally designated historic site, on a hill by the east bank of the Kitakami River in central Iwate Prefecture. The spider lily blooms vibrantly on the slopes of the approach path and around the temple grounds. On sunny days, you can enjoy the beautiful contrast of wide-open azure skies and fiery-red spider lilies.

Osaki City, Miyagi

Haguroyama Park is situated on a hill where Sengoku Castle once stood. Seasonal flowering trees and shrubs, such as cherry blossoms in spring and spider lilies in autumn bloom here, and during peak season, the park bustles with many visitors enjoying the blossoms.

The spider lilies cover the entire hill as if a red carpet has been laid out. Their beauty is said to be the best in the prefecture, overwhelming visitors. The park also features playground equipment, making it an excellent spot for family recreation and leisurely strolls.

Namegata City, Ibaraki

Sairen-ji Temple, an ancient temple said to have been founded in 782, is symbolized by a roughly 1,000-year-old ginkgo tree, which is designated as a prefectural natural monument. Approximately 100,000 spider lilies bloom magnificently across an area of about 2,000 square meters (21,528 square feet).

You can also enjoy a panoramic view of the temple grounds from the hill near the large ginkgo tree. Why not follow the walking paths and enjoy the Japanese countryside scenery along with the spider lilies? In summer, you can also admire about 20,000 yamayuri (gold-banded lilies).

Satte City, Saitama

The Manjushage (spider lily) Festival is held annually from September to October at Gongendo Park. You can freely stroll through the park and admire approximately three million spider lilies blooming across the entire embankment.

This highly popular event offers a breathtaking sight, allowing visitors to feel refreshed by the lush green trees and the vibrant red landscape. During the festival, food trucks are available, and the spider lilies are lit up from sunset until 10:00 PM.

Hidaka City, Saitama

Kinchakuda is a famous spot for large clusters of spider lilies, surrounded by the clear waters of the Koma River. During the blooming season, approximately five million spider lilies bloom, painting the entire area in a beautiful red.

Kinchakuda Manjushage Park also hosts one of Japan's largest spider lily festivals, featuring local gourmet food, specialty product sales, and stage events.

Yamato City, Kanagawa

Josen-ji Temple, affectionately known as the 'Flower Temple,' is famous for its rare white spider lilies. Red and white spider lilies bloom throughout the temple grounds, and it is said to be one of the Three Great Spider Lily Spots in Kanto, alongside Kinchakuda in Saitama and Hinata Yakushi in Kanagawa.

It has also been selected as one of Kanagawa's 100 Best Flower Spots, and it offers various flowers throughout the year, including mitsumata (paper brush) flowers. The numerous kappa (water-dwelling folklore creature) statues enshrined on the temple grounds are also a must-see.

Fujisawa City and other areas, Kanagawa

The Koide River, which flows through central and southern Kanagawa, is a locally popular area where tens of thousands of spider lily plants bloom along approximately 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) of its banks. It's recommended as a walking course in a tranquil environment filled with lush greenery.

The Koide River Spider Lily Festival is held during the blooming season, allowing you to enjoy beautiful spider lilies at multiple venues along the Koide River. In addition to red, some venues also feature rare white, yellow, and pink spider lilies. Food stalls are also set up, and the festival attracts many visitors every year.

Isehara City, Kanagawa

The Hinata area in Isehara City, Kanagawa, where a traditional Japanese countryside scenery still remains, offers beautiful rural landscapes in autumn with vibrant red spider lilies set against a backdrop of fields, mountains, and sky. During the blooming season, rice harvesting takes place in the surrounding areas, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

It has also been selected as one of Kanagawa's 100 Best Flower Spots and is popular as a photography spot. Many visitors and photo creators gather here.

Handa City, Aichi 

The Yakachi River, the setting for the famous Japanese children's story Gon, the Little Fox, is a tranquil area with a rural landscape that feels straight out of a fairy tale. In autumn, over three million spider lilies bloom simultaneously along approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) of the river.

During the blooming season, the Gon's Autumn Festival is held. Additionally, from October 1st to 4th, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM, the spider lilies are illuminated, and on the evening of October 3rd, sky lanterns are released, creating a magical spectacle.

Kaizu City, Gifu

Along the Tsuya River Embankment, approximately 100,000 spider lilies bloom from mid to late September, stretching for about 3 kilometers (1.86 miles). You can enjoy the spectacular view of the spider lilies painting the entire area red, with the vast Yoro Mountains as a backdrop.

The spider lilies reflected in the river on a sunny day are also beautiful, attracting many visitors with their cameras. Why not enjoy an autumn stroll while listening to the gentle murmur of the flowing river?

Kameoka City, Kyoto

Anao-ji Temple, the 21st temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, is renowned for its beautiful garden, which is designated as a scenic spot in Kyoto. In the surrounding fields, spider lilies bloom profusely along the rice paddy ridges, creating a captivating scene in combination with the golden rice stalks. You can enjoy the changing beauty of the landscape from morning to evening.

Kyoto City, Kyoto

Ohara no Sato offers a nostalgic rural landscape. It is one of Kyoto's premier spots for viewing spider lilies, which bloom vibrantly along the rice paddy ridges and riverbanks.

Nearby, you'll find other attractions such as Jakko-in Temple and Sanzen-in Temple, known for its beautiful moss gardens. Consider visiting during your autumn trip to Kyoto.

Gose City, Nara

Katsuragi Hitokotonushi Shrine is distinguished by a ginkgo tree estimated to be 1,200 years old. From the shrine grounds to the vicinity of Kuhon-ji Temple, a serene rural landscape unfolds, offering a spectacular view of spider lily clusters alongside golden rice stalks.

Numerous spider lilies also adorn the terraced rice fields, embankments, and ridges, creating a vibrant contrast with the lush green surroundings.

Uda City, Nara

Butsuryu-ji Temple is an ancient temple believed to have been founded in 850. Near the temple gate, you'll find a mountain cherry tree approximately 900 years old, and in autumn, spider lilies bloom profusely throughout the temple grounds.

Along the approach to the main hall, clusters of spider lilies welcome visitors from both sides of the stone steps. You might even spot rare white spider lilies. There is also a waterwheel nearby, allowing you to quietly enjoy the picturesque scenery.

Takashima City, Shiga

In Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, spider lilies can be seen throughout the area, including along the shores of Lake Biwa and in the countryside. Katsurahama-enchi Park, in particular, is renowned for its dense clusters of spider lilies.

In spring, Japanese wild radish flowers bloom here, while in autumn, spider lilies burst into beautiful bloom against the backdrop of Lake Biwa. The sight resembles a vibrant red carpet spread across the landscape. This spot has recently grown in popularity as a picturesque location for photography.

Ukiha City, Fukuoka

At the Tsuzura Rice Terraces in Ukiha City, Fukuoka, approximately 500,000 spider lilies bloom across the rice terraces nestled in the mountains. This location has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, allowing you to enjoy beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.

During the spider lily blooming season, the Terraced Rice Field in Ukiha Spider Lily Tour is held, which features sales of local mountain products. It bustles with many visitors from both within and outside the city.

Yame City, Fukuoka

The Yoshibi Rice Terraces are a spectacular spot where spider lilies bloom profusely, covering the slopes of the rice paddies. The green of the mountains, the yellow of the rice stalks, and the red of the spider lilies blooming along the ridges create a beautiful harmony. A serene rural landscape, where you can truly feel the beauty of nature, spreads out before you.

Although there are fences to deter deer and wild boars, visitors are permitted to enter during the blooming season, attracting many sightseers with cameras from both within and outside the prefecture.

Ogi City, Saga

The Eriyama Rice Terraces are located on the middle slopes of the Tenzan mountain range, spreading across an elevation of approximately 250 meters (820 feet). This popular spot attracts so many visitors during the spider lily blooming season that it can cause traffic jams. In addition to the vibrant red spider lilies that adorn the paths between the paddies, you may also find rare white and yellow varieties blooming here.

You can enjoy the beautiful scenery, which has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields, one of the Top 100 Rural Landscapes in Japan, and also as a Saga Heritage to be Preserved for the 22nd Century.

Omura City, Nagasaki

The Hachimakiyama Observatory offers a captivating 360-degree panoramic view with Unzen and Saikai Bridge in the background, and Omura Bay stretching out below. While famous as a spot for sunrises and sunsets, it is also popular in autumn as a renowned spider lily destination, with approximately one million spider lilies blooming across the entire area. In addition to the red varieties, rare white and cream-colored spider lilies also bloom, delighting visitors.

Taketa City, Oita

The Nanatsumori Kofun (ancient burial mounds) are home to approximately 200,000 spider lilies blooming across an area of about 600 tsubo (21,350 square feet). Its popularity has grown even further after being featured in a movie scene. While some areas are maintained, most of the spider lilies here are wild.

Yamaga City, Kumamoto

The Bansho Rice Terraces, consisting of about 200 paddies, are located at the foot of Mount Yahogatake and have been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields. Known as one of Kyushu's premier spider lily spots, you can witness vividly colored spider lilies in bloom here.

You can also see old houses and stone walls, creating a tranquil rural landscape. It was awarded the Grand Prize in the Prefectural Rural Landscape Contest.

Takaharu Town, Nishimorokata District, Miyazaki

Ojibaru Park is a nature park located at the foot of Mount Takachiho, the main peak of the Kirishima mountain range, centered around Ojibaru Shrine. It is said to have the largest number of spider lilies in Miyazaki Prefecture, where you can see a vibrant red carpet created by the flowers.

If you climb up, you'll find gazebos and benches, allowing you to view the spider lilies from the shade of the trees. Surrounded by nature, you can spend a comfortable and pleasant time here.

The images shown are from past blooming seasons.