Timing is Everything at the Kyu-Furukawa Rose Festival

The 2023 Kyu-Furukawa Rose Festival was a letdown, but the fault was entirely my own—I visited too late in the season. Below are some photos and my thoughts on the experience.

For complete visitor information, including directions, hours, and a map, please see my main guide to the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens.

The flowers weren’t great, but they were good enough for photography. It was a matter of walking around to find the best. That took time because the sun had treated them harshly.

The weather had been hot. Even though it was May, we saw days of over thirty degrees Celsius. That was warm for that time of year. I wonder what next summer will bring us. And it was bright, so I didn’t use my flash for many photos.

The roses at Kyu-Furukawa are stunning, but timing is everything. The Tokyo heat can be intense, even in May. For the best experience and the fullest blooms, I highly recommend visiting during the first two weeks of the festival.

The weather had been hot. Even though it is May, we’ve seen days of over thirty degrees Celsius. That is warm for this time of year. I wonder what summer 2023 will bring. And it was very bright, so I didn’t use my flash for many photos.