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.

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

Status Legend

Japanese	English
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

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

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

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.)

Risoutei

Handmade Waterwheel Soba

Stewed Apples

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