The 39th Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival takes place June 10 through 18, 2023, in Bunkyo City, central Tokyo, Japan. (It’s Ajisai Matsuri in Japanese.)

The hydrangea festival has been held at Hakusan-Jinja Shrine since 1985. Hakusan-Jinja Shrine is also known for being worshiped by Tsunayoshi, the fifth shogun of Tokugawa, and Keishoin, the birth mother, and is popular as a guardian of Koishikawa.

During the rainy season in June every year, the precincts of Hakusan-Jinja Shrine and the adjacent Hakusan Park are decorated with about 3,000 colorful hydrangeas. During the festival, Fujizuka will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with special events held mainly on Saturdays and Sundays.

At 1 p.m. both Sundays, a particularly Japanese event — a toothbrush memorial service — will be held at Hakusan-Jinja Shrine, which is known for curing toothache. A dental consultation corner also will be open both Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Photos courtesy of Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival