Horikiri Iris Garden, Botanical garden in Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan.
Horikiri Iris Garden is a botanical garden in Katsushika, Tokyo, featuring around 6,000 Japanese iris plants from 200 different varieties arranged along winding paths and by small ponds. The site also includes a traditional meeting facility called Seikantei.
The garden was established in 1975 but continues a tradition reaching back to the Muromachi period, when iris cultivation began with specimens brought from Asaka Marsh. This long history shows how the passion for growing these flowers remained alive in the region.
The garden appears in many woodblock prints from the Edo period, particularly in works by Utagawa Hiroshige, which show its importance as a cultural landmark. These artistic records reveal how valued this location was for people throughout centuries.
Visitors should plan their trip primarily between June and early July when most flowers are blooming. Arriving early in the day helps with navigating the paths and offers better photo opportunities with fewer crowds.
During the Katsushika Iris Festival in June, visitors can see rare iris varieties like Juunihitoe, Suibijin, and Geishobiui that are otherwise rarely displayed. These specialized flowering varieties are maintained to preserve their particular genetic traits.
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