Nerima Ward's Shikinokaori (Fragrant Seasons) Rose Garden is holding the "2026 Rose Garden Festival" from May 1 (Friday) to June 7 (Sunday), 2026. The garden, which opened in 2016, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year as its 333 varieties and 573 rose plants reach their most spectacular spring bloom.
333 Varieties and 573 Plants Color the Garden in Spring
Spring roses, having stored energy through their winter dormancy, are known for producing particularly large and striking blooms. The garden's highlights include its signature rose "Shikinokaori," which fills the air with a fresh tea fragrance, the "Fragrant Rose Garden" offering six distinct scent profiles — from Damascus to spicy — and the "Color Rose Garden" painted in shades of red and pink like an artist's palette.
Admission is free, and the garden is conveniently located near Hikarigaoka Station on the Toei Oedo Line. During the festival, closing time is extended by one hour to 6:00 PM (normally 5:00 PM), giving visitors more time to stroll through the grounds.
Peak rose bloom is typically mid to late May (may vary depending on weather conditions).
10th Anniversary Events and Garden Tours
To celebrate the 10th anniversary, the garden is planning a symbolic rose exchange ceremony with Maebashi City's Shikishima Park Kadokura Techno Rose Garden — a city with which Nerima Ward has a disaster-preparedness agreement — along with a talk show featuring past head gardeners.
Featured Events
10th Anniversary Opening Ceremony & Talk Show
- Date: Saturday, May 2 — 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
- Capacity: First 70 guests (gifts included)
The ceremony will feature the exchange of "Akagi no Kagayaki" (Maebashi's symbolic rose) and "Shikinokaori" (the garden's symbolic rose), followed by a panel exhibition tracing the garden's 10-year history, giveaways of herb seedlings and original anniversary postcards, and the installation of a commemorative photo spot in the Fragrant Rose Garden.
10th Anniversary History Panel Exhibition
- Dates: May 1 (Friday) to June 7 (Sunday), 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Location: Lecture Hall
Anniversary Photo Spot
- Installed from May 1 onward inside the Fragrant Rose Garden
Spring Garden Tours (Free)
Gardeners guide visitors through the rose-filled garden, explaining highlights along the way. Due to popular demand, additional tour dates have been added.
- Dates: Wednesday May 20, Thursday May 21, Friday May 22, Saturday May 23
- Time: 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM on each day
- Meeting point: In front of the Lecture Hall (cancelled in case of rain)
- Capacity: 8 participants per session (first-come, first-served)
Shikinokaori Market & Café
Running every day during the festival period, the market and café will feature original merchandise illustrated by botanical watercolor artist Shiro Fujikawa (a new 10th anniversary collection), rose-themed products, aromatherapy items from "Seikatsunoki," houseplants, and Nerima Ward-made sweets and goods. The popular rose soft-serve ice cream has also been redesigned into a rose shape.
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily (no holidays during the festival period)
- Market: 1F of the Lecture Hall
- Café: 2F of the Lecture Hall
2026 Rose Garden Festival Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Period | May 1 (Friday) to June 7 (Sunday), 2026 |
| Hours | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (extended by 1 hour during festival) |
| Venue | Nerima Ward Shikinokaori Rose Garden |
| Admission | Free |
| Access | Near Hikarigaoka Station (Toei Oedo Line) |
| Address | 5-2-6 Hikarigaoka, Nerima Ward, Tokyo |
For event details and pre-registration, visit the official website: https://www.shikinokaori-rose-garden.com/event/
Pre-registration for certain events opens from Thursday, April 2, and can be submitted via the online form at https://www.shikinokaori-rose-garden.com/contact/ or by postcard to the garden address above.
