Suigo-itako Iris Garden

It’s my first time visit a festival in Japan because when I arrive here Covid started. But I see a lot festival in TV or movies. And when I visit Ayame Festival it’s exactly as what I watch in TV. Especially the background music and the theme is so Japanese. When you want to enter there is a thermometer and a alcohol as Corona Prevention. And you don’t have to pay cause it’s free. But if you want to take a picture from the river you can pay for ¥1000 / person to take the boat. I hope I can visit it again next year. And I really wish for every festival start again like before. Hope these year will be more fun than 2 years before.

I went on a tour on October 21st, not for the purpose of iris, but to ride the rowing boat "Rofune" which uses a potter's wheel. Park the bus in front of Itako Station and head to Suigo Itako Iris Garden. It seems like there's going to be a Halloween event, and everyone is busy getting ready. The season for irises is June, so the leaves look like they have not been taken care of, and the scenery is lonely, with no shadow to be seen. The [Wind Sound Investigation] event was being held, and the park was decorated with colorful strips of paper and windmills, and there was a plan in place that would allow visitors to feel the sound of the wind with devices such as bamboo wind chimes and bamboo clappers. We wrote our wishes on colorful strips of paper and hung them on a string next to the river. There were eight people in one boat wearing life jackets, and the boatman was a woman. You can sit on the floor or on a small wooden chair. The wind is a little cold, but it's nice to hear the gentle breeze and the faint sounds of wind chimes and clappers. During the iris season, there seemed to be a huge crowd of people, but there were only 26 people in our group, and three boats were moving along the river, with the boats slightly staggered. The boatman will give you various explanations, then proceed from the pier, pass several bridges, return, and then head to the other side of the pier. It is a boat trip of about 30 minutes. You will probably be able to see a different view during the irises season.