Blue Festival Featuring Iris and Lavender

Kuki City has a nationally famous spot for iris and lavender. Shobu-Joshi Ayame-En (Iris castle ruin garden) has almost 16,000 irises, and around Shobu Sogo Shisho (Iris general office), there are Lavender Garden, Lavender Banks, and Shirasagi Park with nearly 11,000 lavenders planted.

The peak season is mid to late June, when many come to enjoy and take photos of the vast blue scenery. While blooming, the annual Iris/Lavender Blue Festival offers the colors and aroma of exquisite flora, and the taste of Lavender ice cream and lavender rice cake. Lavender ice cream is so popular that it is usually sold out by early afternoon.

Cut flowers and lavender products are sold. Local stores put out popular food in many booths. Music and folk lion dance “Mizu Sasara” performance and many more fun events. It is not only for flower lovers, but also for those who enjoy shopping and festivities.