Horikiri Shobuen

It was during the Edo period (1603-1868) when the iris garden opened in the Horikiri area in Edo (current Tokyo) as a tourist attraction. Among other iris gardens in Edo, the Horikiri Iris Garden was particularly chosen as the motif of ukiyo-e paintings by famous painters of the Edo period, such as Utagawa Hiroshige, because of the garen's magnificent sceneries. Even today, it is known as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Tokyo Metropolis. During mid-June every year, 200 cultivars and 6,000 bulbs of irises gracefully welcome the visitors. The flower is associated with words such as ”good news,” ”trust,” and ”grace.” To coincide with the peak blooming season, the Katsushika Iris Festival is annually held around the garden in early June, attracting many people with parades, fairs, and bazaars. The garden is also a Japanese garden designed to enjoy the flowers of the season such as plum blossoms, wisteria, winter-blooming cherry, and peonies. It is a 10-minute walk from the Horikiri-shobu Station on the Keisei Line.