The 2026 Suigo Sawara Iris Festival: Enjoy the irises at Suigo Sawara Iris Park in Katori, Chiba!

  • Chiba
  • Sightseeing
Yomeiri-Bune (boat for married couples)
Suigo Sawara Iris Park, located in Suigo Tsukuba National Park, will hold the "Suigo Sawara Iris Festival" from May 23 (Sat) to June 21 (Sun), 2026. The view created by 1.5 million irises of about 400 varieties blooming in the approximately 8 hectares of the park is spectacular. Here are some of the highlights of the festival, such as the "park boat tour" where you can see irises, water lilies, and lotuses up close, and the "Yomeiri Boat," a traditional wedding culture in the Suigo area.

Suigo Sawara Iris Park" to enjoy seasonal flowers by the water

Suigo Sawara Iris Park is a representative tourist facility in Katori City, a waterside flower theme park where visitors can experience the four seasons of Suigo. In the spacious park, irises, wisteria, water lilies, and lotus flowers are in full bloom in each season. In addition to flower viewing, Suigo Sawara Ayame Park offers many other ways to enjoy the park, such as boat tours, playground equipment, and a dog run. Why not refresh yourself in a space surrounded by colorful flowers?
Enjoy a walk in the park
Water lilies growing in groups along the waterways bloom in the morning and close in the afternoon. If you want to enjoy the blooming of the lilies, it is recommended to visit the park early in the morning. You can see the water lilies up close from a boat.
You can see water lilies from a boat.

The best time to see irises is from early to mid June!

There are about 400 varieties of irises grown in Suigo Sawara Iris Park. The early varieties start blooming in mid-May, and the late varieties finally bloom in late June. You can check the blooming status on the official Instagram.
Instagram】Suigo Sawara Iris Park

Enjoy the irises at their best at the "Suigo Sawara Iris Festival

The "Suigo Sawara Iris Festival" is held every year at "Suigo Sawara Iris Park" when the irises are in full bloom. This year's festival will be held from May 23 (Sat) to June 21 (Sun), 2026. In the park, as many as 1.5 million irises of about 400 varieties with names such as "Fujibakama" and "Dainagon" will be in full bloom. There is a wide variety of flowers, including Edo, Ise, and Higo types. Please enjoy the beautiful view of the entire area as if it were a purple carpet.
Iris in full bloom in the park

Watch waterside flowers by small boat

Waterways are arranged in the park, and visitors can appreciate the flowers while riding on a boat. Among the many iris gardens in Japan, only Suigo Sawara Iris Park allows visitors to appreciate the flowers while riding on a boat. In Sawara, this small boat is called a "sappabune. Visitors can enjoy the graceful appearance of irises from a different perspective than on land, and they can also see water lilies and lotuses growing in clusters along the waterways up close. The sight of a female boatman in a kasuri kimono, red apron and tabi (socks), and a triangular woven hat steering a pole is a poetic sight at this time of the year. You can feel the arrival of early summer.
Enjoy a boat tour of the park while admiring the irises

Boat tour in the park" details

■Fare
Junior high school students and older: 500 yen (400 yen for groups)
3 years old and up to elementary school students: 200 yen
■Service hours
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
*Service may be suspended in case of bad weather.
Suigo Sawara Ayame Park official website Entrance fee & opening information

The "Yomeiri Boat" is a unique feature of the Suigo area.

In the Suigo area until the 1950s, it was a common sight to see brides heading for their bridal destinations on Japanese-style boats loaded with their bridal accessories. At the Suigo Sawara Ayame Festival, the bride and groom, dressed in kimono, board the "Sappa-bune" and proceed along the waterways of the park. The bride and groom, who are congratulated by many visitors to the park, are a real couple, chosen through a public contest*! The 2026 event will be held on May 31 (Sun), June 6 (Sat), and June 13 (Sat), and is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. for a 30-minute performance.
*Applications for 2026 have already been closed.
Yomeiri-Bune (boat for married couples)
In addition, during the Suigo Sawara Iris Festival, there will be a performance by a Dutch band and a local performing arts club performance by local junior high school students. Please enjoy the scenery unique to the Suigo area.
Boat tour in the park during the Iris Festival

Admission fees during the Suigo Sawara Iris Festival

Adults (15 to 65 years old *excluding junior high school students): 800 yen
Children (elementary and junior high school students): 400 yen
65 years old and over: 700 yen

*Only same-day tickets are available at the Ayame Park counter, and advance and same-day tickets are available at Seven-Eleven, Family Mart, Lawson and Mini Stop nationwide.
*Blooming time is subject to change depending on the weather, so please check the official SNS for blooming information before visiting the park.
Instagram】Suigo Sawara Iris Park

Enjoy the "lawn square" and "dock run" and more! There are many other ways to enjoy!

At the entrance of the park, there is a photo spot with a panel showing a face that is unique to the Suigo Sawara Ayame Park! Benches are placed in the spacious park, so you can relax in the breeze and enjoy a picnic with your family on the lawn. In the back of the park, there are slides and playground equipment that resemble irises, as well as a dog run (for a fee) that can be enjoyed by dogs.
Panel showing a face

How to get there from Sawara Station

From May 23 (Sat) to June 21 (Sun), a shuttle bus will run from JR Sawara Station. When you exit the station, head in the right direction while looking at the statue of Tadataka Ino, and you will find the shuttle bus stop on the No. 2 line. Please note that the schedule changes on weekdays and holidays. Please check the official website for details.

■Fare (cash/IC card)
One way: 600 yen (junior high school students and older) 300 yen (elementary school students)
Suigo Sawara Ayame Park official website Shuttle bus timetable

Enjoy waterside flowers in Suigo Sawara

Suigo Sawara Iris Park" where you can enjoy a variety of waterside flowers. The "Suigo Sawara Iris Festival" is not only a place to appreciate flowers, but also to enjoy the unique culture of the Suigo area. Why not visit to enjoy the scenery of early summer?
*The information in this article is current as of April 2026.
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*Image courtesy of Suigo Sawara Tourist Association
*All images are for reference only.

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