The Chrysanthemum Festival, held from mid-to-late October, is a historic festival that is celebrating its 66th anniversary this year.

Even though we refer to them simply as chrysanthemums, there are many different varieties.

A colorful array of chrysanthemums, including large, captivating stems and adorable small ones, are on display—various types that you don't usually see.

This time, we'll introduce the charms of the "Kitami Chrysanthemum Festival"!

<Table of Contents>
1. A collection of chrysanthemums I've never seen before.
2. The History of the Chrysanthemum Festival
3. Chrysanthemum Competition
4. The main attraction of the Chrysanthemum Festival
5. Fancy Chrysanthemum Dolls
6. Here are our recommended limited-edition items!
7. Conclusion

1. A collection of chrysanthemums I've never seen before.

After passing through an arch made of chrysanthemums, you'll find several greenhouses lined up.

Since the Chrysanthemum Festival is a flower festival, measures are taken to withstand the cold.

The moment you enter the venue, you are greeted by a wonderful scent and a riot of colorful chrysanthemums.

The flowers are blooming so beautifully, in a variety of colors and shapes, that you might wonder, "Are these all chrysanthemums?"

Like me, people seeing them for the first time are often surprised by the sheer variety.

2. The History of the Chrysanthemum Festival

The Chrysanthemum Festival began in 1953, shortly after World War II, when the first festival was held at the Chamber of Commerce.

The event continued to grow in scale, eventually including various sections in addition to the chrysanthemum competition.

It has now become one of Kitami's most representative autumn festivals.

3. Chrysanthemum Competition

A chrysanthemum competition is being held on Mint Road, which connects Kitami Station and the chrysanthemum festival venue.

For this day, 1,500 meticulously crafted chrysanthemums were submitted from across the Okhotsk region.

The sight of bonsai-style chrysanthemums and large, straight-growing chrysanthemums competing for awards seems to convey a dignified stillness, yet also a passionate spirit.

There are also sculptures made from chrysanthemums, and visitors to the festival are enjoying taking pictures of them in their own way.

This year's theme is a big heart and Hello Kitty.
You can see the train tracks from Mint Road, so taking photos with a train in the frame is very photogenic!

4. The main attraction of the Chrysanthemum Festival

Upon entering the chrysanthemum festival grounds, you'll be greeted by chrysanthemum dolls adorned with chrysanthemum flowers.

These are works by members of the Kitami Chrysanthemum Doll Dressing Association.
We create our works every year based on the theme of NHK's historical drama series.

This year's theme is Saigo Takamori, and the women's outfits are colorful.
The man is wearing a kimono made of chrysanthemum flowers, which gives him a dignified and elegant appearance.

The Ainu woman doll, created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Hokkaido, was charmingly decorated with mint leaves and small chrysanthemums.

One of the joys of visiting is seeing how the chrysanthemum dolls change to reflect current themes and topics.

5. Fancy Chrysanthemum Dolls

Among the chrysanthemum dolls, there are also some fancy pandas.

The ingenious way in which chrysanthemums are used to represent a panda is enjoyable even when viewed from a distance.

In fact, I saw many children who thought "Chrysanthemum dolls are scary!" approaching the pandas.

6. Here are our recommended limited-edition items!

The Kitami Local Products Fair sells many items that can only be obtained during the Chrysanthemum Festival.

This time, we'll introduce two particularly rare items!

First up is a confection called "Kiku Ningyo" (Chrysanthemum Doll), which is sold in limited quantities by Yamajuhyo Co., Ltd., famous for its mint-flavored ice sculptures.

This confection consists of white kidney beans coated in various flavors.
They're all delicious, but I recommend the sesame kinako and matcha flavors.

It has an elegant flavor that pairs perfectly with freshly brewed green tea, making it hard to stop eating.

And here's the donut version.

You might think, "Mint in donuts?", but it actually goes very well together. The subtle scent is that of mint.

These donuts, filled with white kidney beans, offer a refreshing taste and satisfying texture, and pair perfectly with coffee.

And the chrysanthemum tempura rice bowl is a popular dish every year.

Wow! They've deep-fried an entire edible chrysanthemum in tempura batter!
Upon hearing about it, I immediately placed an order.

There really was one flower inside.
They fry it to order, so it's super crispy.

The sweet and savory sauce complemented it perfectly, and I finished it all in no time.

7. Conclusion

A festival where you can encounter so many chrysanthemum flowers is probably rare even nationwide.

The venue is filled with a variety of colorful chrysanthemums, a feast for the eyes.

Why not come and enjoy the chrysanthemum dolls, which have a different theme each year, and some delicious food?

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