Tucked away in the pottery town of Mashiko, Tsuyukusa is a flower shop unlike any other. Surrounded by nature, it offers wildflowers and plants that reflect the quiet beauty of the Japanese countryside. From ready-to-enjoy seasonal cut flowers to hands-on classes that explore the deep cultural ties between flowers and Japanese poetry, Tsuyukusa invites visitors to slow down and reconnect with nature—one bloom at a time.
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Yukiyo Kaneko
The owner of the blueberry farm “Blueberry, Satoyama and…”. Bathed in plenty of sunlight, the farm features around 40 varieties of blueberries, offering a fresh, juicy taste straight from nature. While savoring the delicious berries, visitors can paint on a large canvas, relax, and soak in the serene beauty of the surroundings. Under the bright blue sky, people return year after year to create unforgettable summer memories.
If you’re interested in discovering more hidden gems in Mashiko, please check the article below.
Celebrating the Beauty of Natural Japanese Flora
Tsuyukusa is a unique flower shop that specializes in wild plants, trees, and flowers that grow naturally, rather than cultivated or imported varieties. The shop highlights the beauty of plants in their natural form, celebrating their quiet elegance. The flowers, all native to Japan and shaped by its climate, possess a delicate yet resilient beauty. Tsuyukusa arranges these plants in pots or as cut flowers, allowing visitors to experience the true essence of nature’s simplicity and strength.
Inspired by the Quiet Elegance of Wildflowers
The shop is called Tsuyukusa, and it holds two meanings.
The first is that tsuyukusa (Dayflower) is a common plant found everywhere, yet it possesses its own unique beauty.
The second meaning is that the dew (like rain) that rests on the grass reveals its own quiet beauty.
The owner aims to share the hidden beauty found in everyday wildflowers that we may overlook in our daily lives. Originally a flower stylist, the owner used to arrange flowers for restaurants, hospitals, and furniture stores. With a growing passion for the beauty and charm of flowers, every time the owner returned to their family home in Ibaraki, they became more captivated by the natural beauty surrounding them. This led to the opening of Tsuyukusa.
Flowers, Poetry, and Mashiko Craft at Tsuyukusa
At Tsuyukusa, visitors can buy cut flowers starting from ¥300 and potted plants ranging from ¥2,000 to ¥10,000, all made with natural blooms. The shop also offers unique flower arrangement classes. In each two-hour session (¥5,000), participants not only learn how to arrange flowers but also explore how Japanese people have viewed flowers in daily life through history. The class weaves in classical poetry like waka, showing how people once expressed feelings—such as comparing a flower to a lost lover—through nature. Some arrangements use pieces made by local Mashiko artists, giving participants a chance to experience Mashiko’s creative culture as well.
After the Interview
Tsuyukusa offers a very different experience from the bold, colorful flowers often found in Tokyo flower shops. The flowers here feel calm and familiar—like something you’d see growing naturally in the Japanese countryside. Since they grow in the wild, no two are exactly the same, and that natural irregularity gives them a fresh, quiet beauty. Each bouquet comes ready to display, so you can easily bring a touch of the season into your home. It’s a new and simple way to enjoy the charm of wild grasses and flowers in everyday life.
Details:
- SNS: Instagram
- Address: 3018-10 Mashiko, Mashiko-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi 321-4217, Japan
