Fields of riotously blooming Japanese iris? Yes, please! The iris gardens in central Tokyo are small, but choice; the ones in the outskirts are vast and exuberant and well worth a pilgrimage!
Here are the best places in and around Tokyo to see the Japanese iris extravaganzas of your dreams:
HORIKIRI IRIS GARDEN in Horikiri-shobuen
The most famous iris garden in Japan is a train ride from central Tokyo, and it’s been attracting flower lovers since samurai days.
This ukiyo-e print dates from 1857, and is one of Hiroshige’s “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.”
And it’s still worth a pilgrimage today!
With an impressive number of blooms…
and a mind-boggling variety of rare hybrids, it’s well worth a visit.
Iris are at their peak in this garden from June 1 – 15
Hours: 9:00 – 16:30
Open: Every day
Admission: Free
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KOSHIKAWA KORAKUEN GARDEN in Korakuen
This is one of the two must-see iris gardens right in central Tokyo. The setting of this iris pond is especially beautiful, and no matter which angle you view it from, the background is gorgeous.
There are boatloads of different kinds, and (as you can see) their profusion does not disappoint!
Iris are at their peak in this garden from June 1 – 15
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
Open: Every day, except 12/29-1/3
Admission: ¥300
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MEIJI SHRINE NAI-EN GARDEN in Harajuku
This famous iris garden has been around since the Meiji Era, and it’s one of the most crowded because it’s at the must-see Meiji Shrine. If you want to see it with as few people as possible, be there on a weekday when it opens, or from mid-late afternoon.
It’s set in a winding valley, with a picturesque rest hut off to the side…
Wooden bridges criss-cross the fields for up-close viewing…
and it has a respectable number of varieties on display
Iris are at their peak in this garden from June 1 – 15.
Hours: 8:00 – 17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
Open: Every day, except the third Friday of each month
Admission: ¥500
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NEZU MUSEUM GARDEN in Harajuku
Ordinarily a garden with just one kind of iris wouldn’t make the cut, but this one at the Nezu Museum isn’t just gorgeous, it’s a piece of living art history!
In mid-May every year, they exhibit this screen, which is a National Cultural Treasure painted by Korin. The iris on the screen and the iris in the garden are the exact same variety!
Iris are at their peak early in this garden from May 7 – 15
Open: Six days a week, closed on Mondays and during exhibition installation
Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (Last entry 16:30)
Admission (you can’t visit the garden without a museum ticket):
Adults: ¥1000, Students: ¥800 (plus extra fee for some special exhibitions)
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KIYOSUMI GARDEN in Kiyosumi-shirakawa
This garden (and its irises) is one of the best-kept secrets in Tokyo. The main garden surrounding it’s artful pond is green and serene in any season…
but it’s the small back garden where the irises surprise and delight in early June.
Iris are at their peak from June 1 – 15.
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
Open: Every day
Admission: ¥150
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The most enormous and impressive iris gardens tend to be on Tokyo’s outskirts, but as you’ll see, they are well worth an extra train ride!
MIZUMOTO PARK in Kanamachi
For sheer size, the Mizumoto Park iris display beats everything else, hands down.
There’s a vast field with a traditional zig-zag bridge wending its way among the blooms…
with a nice little rest hut right in the middle of it…
It’s planted all along the Obe river…
so you can literally stroll through patch after patch…
of blooming flowers…
in every color imaginable…
for hours.
Iris are at their peak in this garden from June 1 – 15
Open: Every day
Hours: Public park, open 24 hours
Admission: Free
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SHŌBUNUMA PARK in Kita-ayase
This iris park is smaller, but…
they carefully curate and cultivate the flowers…
so each exquisite variety blooms all at once.
It also has a unique Edo-era water pumping system that makes for extra-picturesque photos.
Iris are at their peak early in this garden from June 1 – 15
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
Open: Every day
Admission: Free
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MEIGETSU-IN TEMPLE IRIS GARDEN in Kamakura
If you know, you know. This secret iris garden is only open from the end of May to mid-June, so if you’re in Kamakura then, don’t miss it.
The classic zig-zag bridge makes for premium up-close-and-personal viewing…
And even though the Meigetsu-in temple is famous for hydrangeas, once you’ve seen this soul-restoring spot, you’ll be surprised it’s not irises that are responsible for its claim to fame.
Fortunatly, you can see both if you go in early June!
Iris are at their peak in this garden from June 1 – 15.
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
Open: Every day
Admission: ¥300 for entry to the temple, ¥500 additional to see the secret iris garden
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HONDO-JI TEMPLE in Kitakogane
If you’re out in northeastern Tokyo, this temple is also famous for its iris and hydrangeas, and if you go in early June, you can see them both blooming at the same time.
Iris are at their peak in this garden from June 1 – 15.
Hours: 8:00 – 16:30
Open: Every day
Admission: ¥500
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
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Beautiful! 🙂