The Kasama Azalea Festival is an annual event held in Ibaraki Prefecture, and it dates back to the late 1960s. The residents of the city were determined to plant as many azalea bushes as there were residents – an inspired effort – and there are around 8500 of them covering approximately seven hectares to enjoy. There are different azalea types, too, including the likes of Kirishima, Hinode, Kurume, and Yamatsutsuji variants.
There is an admission fee to enjoy the flowers, which differs depending on how they're looking. Before the peak, adult admission is ¥300, but when the flowers are at their best this increases to ¥500. Updates about the flowering status are posted on the official event website.
