Fuji Shibazakura Festival: dates, tickets and getting there

The Fuji Shibazakura Festival is held every spring at Fuji Motosuko Resort, near Lake Motosu on Mt Fuji’s west side. In 2026 it ran from 11 April to 24 May, its 19th year, with about 500,000 moss phlox plants (shibazakura) in pink and white laid out in front of the mountain. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet; going by 2026, when the dates were public by early March, expect them early in 2027.

It is the furthest of the big Fuji sights from Lake Yamanaka: about 39 km, roughly 42 minutes by car. That is still an easy morning trip from the lake, and the Narusawa caves are on the way.

Fuji Shibazakura Festival 2026 at a glance

From the organisers’ press release (10 April 2026), with the per-period detail from japan-guide. The festival has ended; treat 2026 as a guide to 2027.

	2026
Dates	11 April to 24 May (44 days, open daily)
Venue	Fuji Motosuko Resort, Motosu, Fujikawaguchiko
Flowers	About 500,000 plants, six varieties, about 1.5 ha
Hours	8:00 to 16:00; 6:00 to 17:00 from 29 April to 6 May
Adult (junior high and up)	¥1,000 (11 to 24 April, 11 to 24 May); ¥1,300 (25 April to 10 May)
Child (3 and up)	¥500 to ¥700 by period
Parking, per car	¥1,000 at peak, ¥500 before 25 April and after 10 May (japan-guide)
Bus	Shibazakura Liner from Kawaguchiko Station, about 40 min
Organiser	Fuji Shibazakura Festival committee, run by Fujikyuko

CONFLICT on the plant count: the organisers say about 500,000; japan-guide says roughly 800,000 in five varieties. We use the organisers’ figure.

What you see at the festival

Shibazakura is the Japanese name for moss phlox, a low plant that covers the ground in a carpet of small flowers in spring. At Fuji Motosuko Resort it covers about 1.5 ha, with Mt Fuji rising behind.

The 2026 press release named two of the six varieties: McDaniel’s Cushion, a strong pink, and a white variety the organisers compare to the snow on Fuji’s summit. Each year the organisers add photo spots. In 2026 these included a mirror installation for reflected shots, a door set in the flowers that opens onto a view of Fuji, and a Mt Fuji sculpture.

The same site has a Peter Rabbit English Garden with about 300 kinds of plants, character photo spots and a café selling limited-edition sweets during the festival.

When will the 2027 dates be announced?

Not yet. In mid-October 2026 the resort’s official site showed only its autumn Rainbow Flower Festival, with nothing about spring 2027.

For 2026, the opening date was public by 2 March. The press release with the full details came out on 10 April, the day before opening. If the pattern holds, look for the 2027 dates around February or March 2027, with prices confirmed close to opening. We will update this page when they appear.

Best time to go

Peak bloom: japan-guide says the first three weeks of May are usually best, though it shifts with the weather each year. The 2026 peak-price period, 25 April to 10 May, overlaps it.

Time of day: early. In 2026 the gates opened at 6:00 during Golden Week and at 8:00 on other days. For the chance of a clear Fuji, see the visibility guide, and the best time to see Mt Fuji for spring in general.

Weather: the festival is about the flowers in front of the mountain. If Fuji is in cloud, consider waiting a day. The resort runs a live camera, linked from its home page, so you can look before you set off.

The resort sits at about 1,000 m, by its own description, so bring a layer for early mornings in April.

Getting there

Shibazakura Liner from Kawaguchiko Station

During the festival a direct bus, the Fuji Shibazakura Liner, runs from Kawaguchiko Station to the venue in about 40 minutes. The organisers sell a combo ticket that bundles the return bus fare with entry, which saves queueing for tickets at the gate. Fares for 2027 have not been published.

By car

The organisers ask drivers to use the designated car parks and forbid parking on the road. Japan-guide gives parking at ¥1,000 a car at peak and ¥500 in the quieter weeks.

From Lake Yamanaka, the drive is about 39 km, roughly 42 minutes in free-flowing traffic, west past Kawaguchiko and along the north side of Mt Fuji. Allow more on Golden Week mornings.

From	How	Time
Lake Yamanaka (Asahigaoka)	Car	About 42 min, 39 km
Kawaguchiko Station	Shibazakura Liner (festival only)	About 40 min
Narusawa Ice Cave	Car	On the way; the caves are about 27 km from Lake Yamanaka

Drive times are free-flow estimates. Times checked October 2026.

Tips

• Buy the combo ticket if you come by bus. It covers the return Liner fare and entry, so you skip the ticket queue at the gate.
• Use the official car parks. The organisers forbid parking on the roadside.
• Check the 2027 prices. The 2026 adult range was ¥1,000 to ¥1,300; 2027 prices had not been published in October 2026.
• Look at the resort’s live camera before you leave, linked from its home page.

Making a day of it

The festival pairs well with the Narusawa Ice Cave and Fugaku Wind Cave, which are on the way from the Kawaguchiko side and charge ¥350 each. A full day from Lake Yamanaka could be the flowers early, the caves late morning, and Lake Kawaguchiko in the afternoon.

None of the coach day tours on our tours page currently include the festival, so it is easiest by car or on the Liner from Kawaguchiko.

Outside the festival

Fuji Motosuko Resort opens for other events through the year. In 2026 it held a Rainbow Flower Festival from 29 August to 12 October (adult ¥1,000, child ¥500, free parking) and it runs a Peter Rabbit English Garden and a Diamond Fuji viewing event.

If you want spring flowers with Fuji closer to Lake Yamanaka, Hananomiyako Koen has about 300,000 m² of outdoor flower fields that are free to walk, with Fuji behind.