Miyagi Grand Chrysanthemum Exhibition, Shibata

Shibata is famous nationwide for the cherry blossoms of Funaoka Castle Park and the Shiroishi River embankment, but in autumn it shows another face as a chrysanthemum town. The Shibata round of the Miyagi Grand Chrysanthemum Exhibition gathers large-flowered specimens, cascades and sculpted displays built from small-flowered varieties, all grown by enthusiasts across the prefecture, and has become a fixture of the local autumn. In 2026 it runs from 25 October to 18 November in the courtyard of the Shibata Folk Museum at the foot of Funaoka Castle Park, open 9:00 to 16:00 with free admission. Because the flowers follow their own timetable, the organisers note that the dates may shift with the blooming, so visitors travelling from afar should check the latest notice shortly before their trip. Behind the venue, Funaoka Castle Park turns to autumn colour in November, and the summit observation deck looks out over the Zao mountains and the town below. The museum is about a 15-minute walk from JR Funaoka Station, making an easy circuit that takes in both chrysanthemums and foliage.