There are plenty of compelling reasons to visit the Tokyo island of Hachijojima, including the incredible natural landscapes, fantastic opportunities for hiking, diving, and surfing, and ultra-relaxing hot springs. The island is also home to some beautiful floral displays, and the Hachijojima Freesia Festival is an event you shouldn't miss if you're visiting during spring.
Running from late March through until early April, the festival includes an amazing 350,000 freesias blooming in various colors of the rainbow. Records say that these flowers were introduced to Japan in 1905, and cultivating them on Hachijojima commenced over 100 years ago in 1914 and 1915 – and the annual freesia event has been running since 1967.
In addition to all of the beautiful flowers to enjoy, there is a cafe that sells sweets, souvenirs, and specialty products from the island, so bring yen if you plan on making any purchases.
