Horikiri Shobuen and Its Beautiful Japanese Iris Garden
Horikiri Shobuen is a beautiful Japanese iris garden. A festival is put on for its flowers every year. I went to it on a boiling hot day in June 2024. Sweat covered me by the time I finished, but that was okay. I loved photographing these purple beauties. It is another great Tokyo photo spot.
What is Horikiri Shobuen?
Horikiri Shobuen is a flower park. It’s in Horikiri, which is in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward. That puts it in the city’s east, about four kilometers from Tokyo Skytree.
The park opened in Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868). Its iris garden was used as a tourist attraction even then. Utagawa Hiroshige, the ukiyo-e artist, chose it as the subject of a painting. He loved its beauty.
Today it is still famous and just as popular. Every year in mid-June, the park displays 6,000 Japanese irises for visitors. Flower photographers need to put this place on their bucket list.
Why is it good?
- The quality of the flowers is awesome.
- It’s spacious.
- Horikiri Shobuen is in Tokyo’s suburbs, so it’s different.
What don’t I like about it?
The big, ugly, and old Metropolitan Expressway is next to it. Plan your compositions.
Horikri Shobuen Japanese Iris Festival Video
This time, I did something different. I made a video of the garden. Please enjoy.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoy these photos. Horikiri Shobuen should be on every flower photographer’s bucket list. It is beautiful. Just be careful with the Expressway next to it! Leave questions and comments below.
Date photos and video taken
June 15, 2024
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External related websites:
- Horikiri Shobuen (official website)