Yokosuka Shōbu-en

Yokosuka Shōbu-en is a botanical garden dedicated to iris cultivation spread across multiple outdoor zones with water channels and pathways. The grounds are divided into distinct areas where different iris varieties grow, with some sections featuring elevated walkways to view blooms at closer range.

The garden was established to preserve Japanese iris cultivation and make it available to the public. Over time it became a center for maintaining a collection of many distinct varieties while following long-standing horticultural traditions.

The garden draws visitors through its careful arrangement of water channels and pathways, where irises frame the movement through space in a way that reflects traditional Japanese garden thinking.

Visit on overcast days or early mornings when iris blooms are fully open and the air stays cool, which helps preserve the flowers. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, as the pathways cover considerable distance through the different zones.

The site also cultivates Japanese wisteria alongside irises, with the vines blooming in late spring to create a separate flowering season. This allows visitors to experience dramatically different floral displays depending on when they visit.