I am hoping to travel to Japan during their best season for chrysanthemum viewing. What time of the year would be the best in order to attend the best shows and where do they take place ?

Chrysanthemum season in mid Oct to Mid-November. Here is a list of activities, including several "Kiku Matsuri" (chrysanthemum festivals) in Tokyo last month:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/entertai...festivals.html

i know the Yushima Tenjin exhibition is quite popular.

My mother's first name was Kikue.....

We went to the exhibition at the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo this past Oct. It was free, small,yet beautiful all the same. There are others held throughout Japan during the mid Oct thru Nov time frame.

I have been to Tokyo's Shinjuku Gyoen Park and seen the chrysanthemums but not during festival time which is held in the first part of November.

Aloha!

HT- if her name was Kikue, she should have named you Lief or Buddy (Bud-e....)

Or even Chris (Chris and the mum)

Thanks HT and Icuy.

If all things are equal, would mid to late October , or early to mid- November be a better time to travel to Tokyo, Hakone and up to the Tohoku area, to view the kiku as well as take in onsen and hike ? Is it accurate to assume there will be chrysanthemum shows in many places during this time period ? Thanks again.

I don't think it will make much difference either way. The earlier you go, the more chance of rain, but it will be warmer and sunnier. The later you go, the temps may be lower and the days are shorter, but there will be less chance of rain and better autumn leaves.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2273.html

Thanks Icuy. Maybe we will look at mid-November. I wonder if there is a sumo tournament going on around then ? So much to see and do !

Here is your sumo schedule:
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/ticket/nittei_hyo/index.html

Thanks for the sumo schedule Icuy. The Nov tournament appears to be in Kyushu. May have to wait for another trip in the spring to see it in Tokyo or Osaka. Thanks.