10 Japanese Iris Gardens In and Around Tokyo

In Tokyo? Welcome the start of summer with these Japanese iris gardens!

Before the sound of cicadas fill the air and people fill the night in anticipation of fireworks, irises coming into bloom is one of the first signs of summer. Japanese iris gardens typically bloom in June in Japan. However, some regions and varieties are known to flower as early as May. With their bluish-purple or pink petals, these flowers add splashes of color to gardens and parks across the country as skies turn gray during the rainy season.

Irises in Japan fall into one of three species (hanashobu, kakitsubata and ayame) and each has many varieties. Hanashobu are the most common and tend to grow in wet areas, while ayame can be found growing wild in dry terrain. Kakitsubata rest somewhere in the middle as they can be cultivated in wet and dry earth.

Tokyo and the surrounding area are abundant in parks and gardens despite the high-tech reputation. Among these are some of the finest places to enjoy Japanese irises in the whole country. So, keep reading for your guide to this early summer bloom!

1. Horikiri Iris Garden
2. Koiwa Iris Garden
3. Fukiage Iris Park
4. Shobunuma Park
5. Meiji Shrine’s Iris Garden
6. Showa Memorial Park
7. Kitayama Park
8. Mizumoto Park’s Iris Square
9. Yokosuka Iris Garden (Kanagawa)
10. Suigo Sawara Ayame Park (Chiba)

1. Horikiri Iris Garden

© Photo by iStock: y-studio

From late May to mid-June, the Horikiri Shobuen (Iris Garden) is awash with brightly colored irises. Historically, irises have been cultivated in the marshlands of the Horikiri area since the Edo period. The irises in this garden were famously depicted in Hiroshige’s ukiyoe (Japanese woodblock prints). The Horikiri garden features around 6000 stalks of irises and 200 varieties such as the Kumo-isho and Goko-no-asobi. The popular Katsushika Iris Festival also takes place during the peak blooming period (usually early June) and includes bazaars and parades. 

• Address: 2-19-1 Horikiri, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 
• Admission: Free!
• Nearest station: Horikiri Shobuen (Keisei Electric Railway)

2. Koiwa Iris Garden

© Photo by iStock: dreamnikon

In May and June, the banks of Tokyo’s Edogawa River are painted pink and purple as nearly 50,000 irises burst into bloom. The local community donated these flowers at the garden’s founding and represent 100 different varieties of iris. This garden also has extensive sports fields for softball and baseball, as well as promenades for pleasant walks. Don’t miss the Koiwa Iris Festival in June when the flowers are at their peak alongside water lilies and hydrangeas for an especially beautiful rainy season view.

• Address: 4 Kita-Koiwa, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo
• Admission: Free!
• Nearest station: JR Koiwa (Sobu Line)

3. Fukiage Iris Park

© Photo by iStock: Amstk

Located in Ome, Tokyo, this valley park is home to over 100,000 irises of over 200 varieties with the calm greenery of forests surrounding them. Take a stroll on the wooden raised paths through the white, lavender and purple flowers to get up close to the blossoms and take the most stunning photographs. When the irises are in full bloom in early summer, Fukiage Iris Park holds an Iris Festival with refreshments and food as well as the opportunity to buy iris seedlings and green plums.

• Address: 425 Fukiage, Ome City, Tokyo
• Admission: ¥200 
• Nearest station: JR Higashi-Ome (Ome Line) 

4. Shobunuma Park

© Photo by iStock: pianoman555

This park showcases 8,100 irises and 140 varieties which reach full bloom in early June. The irises in this park are planted in rows so that visitors can easily compare them side-by-side. Also, wooden paths are set up between the rows, to allow for easy strolling and up close viewing of the irises. The flowers come in a number of colors, ranging from deep purple to pure white. During the peak blooming period, the irises are also illuminated at night.

• Address: 4-1, Yanaka 2-chome, Adachi-ku, Tokyo
• Admission: Free!
• Nearest station: Kita Ayase (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)

5. Meiji Shrine’s Iris Garden

© Photo by iStock: Masaaki Ohashi

Tucked inside the Meiji Shrine complex, the Inner Garden is a small green space that was once owned by a feudal lord during the Edo period. Measuring over 80,000 square meters, this area features over 1,500 irises of more than 150 types which flower in whites, blues and purples from late-May to late-June. Weave your way through the paths that surround the irises and feel the maple trees with fresh green towering in the background. 

• Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo
• Admission: ¥500 (Meiji Shrine is free to visit, but the inner garden requires a fee)
• Nearest stations: Meiji-jingumae (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)

6. Showa Memorial Park

© Photo by iStock: Goryu

Showa Memorial Park is the largest park in the Greater Tokyo area at over 165 hectares. While you’ll find plenty of maples changing color in the fall and sunflowers in the summertime, mid-May to mid-June is the time for irises. Take a stroll around the large Waterfowl Lake located in the Botanical Garden near Nishi Tachikawa Gate and see the blooms sitting on the water’s surface. Or, head to the Japanese Garden at the northern end of the park and find irises decorating the tops of ponds.  

• Address: 3173 Midori-cho, Tachikawa-shi, Tokyo
• Admission: ¥450
• Nearest station: JR Tachikawa (Chuo Main Line)

7. Kitayama Park

© Photo by iStock: bungoume

With an area of approximately 6,300 square meters, Kitayama Park is home to over 100,000 irises, including about 600 varieties. Every year in the first half of June, the park hosts the Higashiyamamura Iris Festival. Among the hundreds of varieties you can see at Kitayama Park, look out for the Kitayama Maiden, a rare iris that can only be found here. Stick around until after sunset on the weekend to enjoy the illuminated blooms.

• Address: 1416-1 Tairamachi, Kasama, Ibaraki
• Admission: Free!
• Nearest station: Higashi-Murayama (Seibu Shinjuku Line) 

8. Mizumoto Park’s Iris Square

© Photo by Mizumoto Park

Throughout June, you can see over 200,000 irises in full bloom at Mizumoto Park, the largest park in Tokyo’s 23 wards. Covering 16 fields with a total area of 9,000 square meters, these irises come in almost 100 varieties. For an especially iris-filled outing, come during the annual Katsushika Iris Festival which is held at Mizumoto Park and nearby Horikiri Iris Garden. In addition to the flowers, you can also pick up a bite to eat at the food stalls installed on site and enjoy live performances.

• Address: 2-9 Mizumotokoen, Katsushika City, Tokyo 
• Admission: Free!
• Nearest station: JR Kanamachi (Joban Line) 

9. Yokosuka Iris Garden (Kanagawa)

© Photo by Yokosuka Iris Garden

From late-May to late-June, the renowned Yokosuka Iris Garden hosts its Iris Festival. At almost four hectares in size, this park has over 140,000 irises representing nearly 400 types. While marveling at the violet and blue blooms, stop to enjoy the traditional musical performances held on weekends. Wind your way through the boardwalks or look out onto the irises from a hilltop for different perspectives on the famed flower. 

• Address: 18-1 Abekura, Yokosuka, Kanagawa
• Admission: ¥310
• Nearest station: JR Kinugasa

10. Suigo Sawara Ayame Park (Chiba)

© Photo by Suigo Sawara Ayame Park

With its 1.5 million irises and over 400 varieties, Suigo Sawara Ayame Park is the largest iris garden in Asia. At over six hectares in area, the park is blanketed with irises throughout June during the iris festival. As well as enjoying the fresh blooms in pinks, blues, whites and more, you can take a small boat ride through the iris-filled waters. If you’re planning on getting married, the park also offers traditional Japanese wedding services on weekends.  

• Address: 1837-2 Ogishima, Katori, Chiba 
• Admission: ¥800
• Nearest station: JR Sawara

Other Flower Gardens in Tokyo

• 10 Japanese Azalea Gardens In and Around Tokyo
• 6 Wisteria Gardens In and Around Tokyo
• 5 Sunflower Gardens In and Around Tokyo
• 5 Cosmos Gardens In and Around Tokyo
• 5 Hydrangea Gardens In Tokyo
• 5 Rose Gardens In and Around Tokyo

Do you have any Japanese iris gardens in your area? We’d love to hear about it below!