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When to plant hyacinths in Tokyo: 14 November – end of December

In Tokyo, hyacinth: plant from 14 November to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include わくわく広場日本橋浜町店 (farm shop, 9 km) and JA東京むさし 三鷹緑化センター (garden centre, 11 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

The average daily temperature here stays above 0 °C all winter, and at least three months average 7 °C or less: our rule of thumb for the winter cold spring bulbs need. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS.

Hyacinth in Tokyo: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January; the coldest, January, averages -0.1 °C.

Planting14 November – end of December
First autumn frost14 December
Coldest nightsJanuary, -0.1 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of January
Daylight10:20 on 14 November
Daylight at the winter solstice9:44

The same dates in Tokyo hold for Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil and Crocus.

Hyacinth in Tokyo: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant hyacinths 10 cm deep, at least 7.5 cm apart (RHS). In the ground hyacinths are fully hardy, but in containers they can be frost tender in cold winters (RHS); here winter nights average below 0 °C, so wrap the pots or move them to a sheltered spot.

In Tokyo the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 15 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 12–15 weeks at about 2–10 °C. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

Flowers get smaller in the years after planting: for full spikes, replace the bulbs or add a few new ones each autumn (RHS).

If squirrels are a problem, protect the bulbs with wire mesh (RHS). Hyacinths are toxic to dogs, cats and horses: intense vomiting and diarrhoea (ASPCA).

Sources: RHS, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, ASPCA.

Hyacinth in nearby cities

Around Tokyo, Sendai is 21 days earlier and Niigata 6 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Hamamatsu209 kmby 18 November4 days later
Niigata255 km20 November – end of December6 days later
Nagoya259 km10 November – end of December4 days earlier
Sendai305 km24 October – end of December21 days earlier
Kyoto363 km7 November – end of December7 days earlier
Osaka397 km17 November – end of December3 days later

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Tokyo

Planting stock goes into the ground from 14 November to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Tokyo OpenStreetMap lists 30 garden centres, 3 farm-supply shops, 1 plant nursery, 28 markets and 31 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant hyacinths in Tokyo?

In Tokyo, hyacinth: plant from 14 November to the end of December. Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

When is the last spring frost in Tokyo?

Last spring frost around 17 March, first autumn frost around 14 December.

Other crops in Tokyo, with their dates