This event has ended】Enjoy lotus flowers and the 46th Takada Joshi Park Lotus Festival in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.
- Niigata
- Sightseeing
The 46th Takada Joshi Park Lotus Viewing Party
Since lotus flowers open at sunrise and turn into buds in the afternoon, viewing them in the morning is recommended! This is the only time of year when you can see the lotus flowers spreading all over Takada Joshi Park, so why not take this opportunity to visit?
0 Period: July 19 (Sat) to August 24 (Sun), 2025
0 Place: Takada Joshi Park, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture
Origin of Kanren-kai
In 1953, when the late Dr. Ichiro Ohga, a well-known lotus researcher, visited, he praised the lotus pond, saying that its large size was rare in the world, especially with its mixture of red and white. Hearing this, the citizens of Takada Castle Park began to talk about the pond as "the best in the East".
In 1983, Professor Fumio Kitamura of the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Agriculture donated 12 new lotus species, which can be seen in the lotus garden on the north side of the west moat.
19 hectares (190,000 square meters) = 4 times the size of the Tokyo Dome
What is the time for lotus flowers to bloom beautifully?
～The lotus blooms from 5 to 6 a.m. on the first day, opening at a rate of about 2 millimeters per minute, and closing around 8 a.m. on the second day.
It opens around 1-2:00 a.m., opens to a bowl shape by 7-9:00 a.m., and closes by noon.
On the third day, it will begin to open around 1-2:00 a.m. and open completely by 9-10:00 a.m. It will be half-open in the afternoon and remain half-open until noon. In the afternoon, it opens halfway, and the day ends without any change.
Day 4] The flowers begin to open at midnight and are fully open by 6:00 a.m. The petals then begin to fall off. After that, the petals begin to fall off, and the flower is said to disappear in the afternoon.
If the flowers are still open in the afternoon, that is the last day of the season.
-
Location
44-1 Honjo-cho, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture
Access
Approximately a 15-minute walk from Takada Station on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway and Myoko Haneuma Line.
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*This listing is current as of July 2025.
Image courtesy of Joetsu Convention & Visitors Association
It will be held again this year! Summer Honmachi Gachizuri Festival
The exciting menu includes jumbo shirokuma shaved ice filled with fruit, a large panna cotta, and more. Each restaurant will offer special menus that are more than twice the usual volume! You can enjoy the sweets in your favorite style, sharing them with friends and family or enjoying them all by yourself.
Period: Friday, August 1, 2025 - Sunday, August 24, 2025
〇 Location: 11 participating restaurants in the Takada Honmachi area (Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture)
〇 Participating restaurants: Cafe Ajisai, Patisserie Fleur, Buran Cafe, Burger Caf'e & Grill PICCOLO, Public Restaurant Chao's, Wang Hua Restaurant, Yakiniku Watanabe Steak Dining Blanc, Kushikatsu Tanaka Joetsu Takada, Daichi no Megumi, Yakitori Shaba Torikatsu
*Period and hours of operation vary by restaurant.
Please contact each participating restaurant for details.
*Please make reservations in advance as the number of items on each menu is limited.
Rules of the Gachi-Sakimatsuri Festival
You are free to share, but you are strictly forbidden to leave any leftovers.
*Take-out is available at some restaurants, so please use it to enjoy the festival with your family back home during the Bon Festival.
-
Access
Get off at Takada Station on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway and Myoko Haneuma Line.
Target stores: Restaurants in Takada Honmachi area (11 stores)
*Please check the map for detailed store locations.
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.
*This information is current as of July 2025.
Image courtesy of Takada Honmachi Machizukuri Co.
After the lotus viewing party, let's go for a town tour in Joetsu City!
Takada Joshi Park is famous for Japan's three greatest night cherry blossoms, but the "lotus viewing" is also a summer tradition, with a variety of lotuses from around the world as well as Japanese lotuses that can only be seen at this time of year. In addition, the Takada Honmachi shopping street, a 10-minute walk from the park, offers many sightseeing spots where visitors can enjoy gourmet food from the surrounding area.
This summer, why not visit Takada Joshi Park for lotus flowers and gachimori? We look forward to seeing you all.
Combine your favorite train with lodging or a day trip plan for a great travel experience!
