Guida
The Suigo Sawara Ayame Festival is a beautiful celebration of early summer held at the Suigo Sawara Ayame Park in Katori, Chiba. Across a vast 6-hectare area, you will find a sea of colorful irises in shades of purple, white, pink, and blue. With approximately 400 varieties and 1.5 million plants, this collection is renowned as one of the finest in the Orient. It is a poetic event where natural beauty meets traditional Japanese culture.
The main attraction is the overwhelming spectacle of colors created by the massive number of irises. A highlight is the 'Sappa-bune' boat tour, where you can glide through the water canals to see the flowers from a unique, close-up perspective. Additionally, the festival features live performances of traditional Sawara music, local folk arts, and elegant 'Yomeiri-bune' boats, allowing visitors to experience the essence of Japanese seasonal beauty and heritage.
The festival highlights take place on May 29. Please note that during the festival period (May 29 to June 27), the park's operating hours differ from the standard schedule.
The event is held at Suigo Sawara Ayame Park, located within the Suigo Tsukuba Quasi-National Park.
As this is a waterfront event, we recommend a relaxed pace to enjoy the seasonal breeze. The boat tours (approx. 10 minutes) and traditional music performances offer a wonderful sensory experience. Since the nearby 'Sawara Historical District' is also a major attraction, consider combining this visit with a stroll through the historic town.