Unohana Flowers in Full Bloom at "Tamagawa no Sato" in Takatsuki City, a Site Also Immortalized by Matsuo Basho

At the historic site "Tamagawa no Sato" (Tamagawa 2-chome) in the Nishizura district of southern Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture, the Unohana flowers, a symbol of early summer, are now in full bloom, delighting visitors and walkers with their lovely white blossoms.

Unohana, also known by its Japanese name "Utsugi," grows in a cluster of about 300 plants along the eastern side of a waterway, about 100 meters downstream from Tamagawa Bridge. They typically bloom and reach their peak from May to June each year.

As of May 14, 2026, about 70% of the flowers have bloomed. On this day, the lovely white flowers were a delight to the citizens out for a walk.

The site is counted as one of the six Tamagawa rivers in Japan, known as "Tamagawa of Mishima in Settsu Province," and has been a scenic spot celebrated in poetry and songs since ancient times. In 1843 (Tenpo 14), a stone monument was erected, engraved with a haiku by the poet Matsuo Basho: "Unohana ya / Kuraki yanagi no / Oyobigoshi" (The deutzia flowers / reaching for the dark willow / as if stooping). It continues to be cherished by the citizens, along with the Unohana flowers.

【Access】

From JR Takatsuki Station South or Hankyu Takatsuki-shi Station, take the city bus bound for "Hashiramoto Danchi," get off at "Karasaki Nishiguchi," and walk west for about 600 meters. No parking is available.