Thursday 9 February 2017

Risoukyo Flower Festivals 2017

Risoukyo's lovely botanical gardens are a hidden gem of Towada. In the spring/early summer it has three major flower festivals: lupin, Chinese peony, and Japanese iris festivals.

Risoukyo Lupin Festival Lupinus Matsuri 鯉艸郷 ルピナスまつり Risoukyo Chinese Peony Festival Shakuyaku Matsuri 鯉艸郷 芍薬まつり Risoukyo Japanese Iris Festival Hanashoubu Matsuri 鯉艸郷 花菖蒲まつり

See the website for a handy chart of predicted blooming times.
(Japanese only - look for "2017年 開花予測")

Status Legend
JapaneseEnglish
ルピナスLupin
芍薬Chinese Peony
花菖蒲Japanese Iris
上旬early (in the month)
中旬mid-month
下旬late (in the month)
つぼみbud
咲き始めstarting to bloom
見頃best viewing period
三~吾分咲き30-50% blooming
見納めend of viewing period


Lupin Festival
ルピナスまつり (lupinus matsuri)
Date: May 27 - June 30, 2017
Description: Enjoy 10,000 flowers spread over 4000 square metres
Risoukyo Lupin Festival Lupinus Matsuri 鯉艸郷 ルピナスまつりRisoukyo Lupin Festival Lupinus Matsuri 鯉艸郷 ルピナスまつり

Chinese Peony Festival
芍薬まつり (shakuyaku matsuri)
Date: June 3-18, 2017
Description: Enjoy about 2000 blooms of 140 varieties
Risoukyo Chinese Peony Festival Shakuyaku Matsuri 鯉艸郷 芍薬まつりRisoukyo Chinese Peony Festival Shakuyaku Matsuri 鯉艸郷 芍薬まつり

Japanese Iris Festival
花菖蒲まつり (hanashoubu matsuri)
Date: June 17 - July 23, 2017
Description: Enjoy 20,000 flowers of 500 varieties
Risoukyo Japanese Iris Festival Hanashoubu Matsuri 鯉艸郷 花菖蒲まつりRisoukyo Japanese Iris Festival Hanashoubu Matsuri 鯉艸郷 花菖蒲まつり


If you want to take a break while viewing the extensive gardens, try the traditional thatched-roof house turned restaurant, Risoutei (鯉艸亭). Among other things, it offers "handmade waterwheel soba" (手打ち水車そば teuchi suisha soba) made from buckwheat milled in the waterwheel near the entrance of the park, stewed apples (りんご煮 ringo-ni) for dessert, and perilla juice (しそジュース shiso juice)--all very refreshing on a hot summer day. (Risoutei is closed weekdays except for reservations in May. Open daily June-July.)
Risoukyo Restaurant Risoutei 鯉艸郷 レストラン鯉艸亭
Risoutei
Risoukyo Restaurant Risoutei Handmade Waterwheel Soba 鯉艸郷 レストラン鯉艸亭 手打ち水車そば
Handmade Waterwheel Soba

Risoukyo Restaurant Risoutei stewed apples 鯉艸郷 レストラン鯉艸亭 りんご煮
Stewed Apples
Risoukyo Restaurant Risoutei Perilla Shiso Juice 鯉艸郷 レストラン鯉艸亭 しそジュース
Perilla Juice

Location: Risoukyo 手作り村鯉艸郷 
Torigamori-2-10 Fukamochi (青森県十和田市深持鳥ケ森2−10)
Towada City, Aomori Prefecture 034-0106
TEL: 0176-27-2516

Hours: April 30-July 31, 2017 9:00-17:00 Friday-Wednesday (closed Thursdays, but open May 4)
(Open Sundays only, or on weekdays with reservations August-October; Closed November-April)
Admission:
(Note: Admission is cheaper before/after the flower festival season)
  • Adults (High School-Aged & Up): 550yen
  • Elementary-Junior High School Students: 200yen
  • Groups (15+ people): 450yen
  • Handicapped: 400yen

More Information:
Risoukyo Official Website (Japanese/English) http://www.risoukyo.com

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