Each year from around mid-June to the first week of July, Yamagata's Nagai Ayame Park is filled with the color of around a million irises in bloom. From those million flowers, there are around 500 different varieties of them! The park holds an annual iris festival to celebrate their beauty, and it typically includes extra events like stage performances, sales of local produce, and even horseback riding.
Admission to the park is normally free, but during the iris blooming season there is an admission charge of 500 yen for adults and 200 yen for children.
Yamagata's Nagai Ayame Park is located around six minutes on foot from the Ayame Koen Station, served by the Yamagata Railway's Flower Nagai Line.
For those who opt to drive to the park, it's around a 20 minute drive from the Nanyo Takahata IC on the Tohoku Chuo Expressway. On-site parking is available for approximately 200 vehicles.
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I'm an expat who has lived abroad for almost a decade, including 7 years in Japan. I've also visited 44 of 47 prefectures and hope to get to the last three someday! I'm particularly fond of exploring off the beaten path destinations, gardens, and tea houses, and have a real interest in Japan's growing vegan scene.