One of the best places to see Iris in Saitama Prefecture is at Someya Iris Garden in Saitama City. There are approximately 20,000 iris flowers of 200 different varieties. Which, as far as I know, also makes it the largest iris garden in Saitama Prefecture.
Someya Iris Garden
The garden is particularly picturesque with wooden boardwalks and garden pagodas. In one area the boardwalk is raised into a dais, which gives a great view of the colorful garden. The pagodas also serve as rest areas, so you can sit among the flowers. In addition, there is also a dedicated rest area, even a traditional tea house! However, the traditional tea house has not been open since the pandemic began. But it still adds a nice aesthetic to photos!
The garden only opens to the public during the period of bloom. In the past it had a fixed schedule of opening; from 1st of June to 30th of June annually, as the iris always bloomed around then. However, in recent years they haven’t been able to work to that fixed schedule, because the iris bloom has not been as predictable as before. Now they set a date to open when the flowers bloom, which has been late May recently. In 2023, they have set a tentative opening date of Saturday May 27th. The close date now also depends on the condition of the bloom. In 2022, they closed on June 20th.
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Information
Event: Someya Iris Garden 2023 Season 令和5年度の染谷花菖蒲の開園
Dates: as of May 17th 2023 they are hoping to open on Saturday May 27th. The close date will be decided by the condition of the flowers. They generally open for about 3.5 to 4 weeks.
Time: during the bloom period they generally open everyday. During the bloom period you can access the garden between 9 am and 5 pm.
Cost: 500 yen per adult, 200 yen for elementary school aged children and people over 75 years old. Parking costs 300 yen per car.
Venue: Someya Iris Garden 染谷はなしょぶ蒲 2 Chome-248 Someya, Minuma Ward, Saitama, 337-0026. View on Google Maps.
Someya Hanashobu Garden Access
You can get a Kokusai Kougyo bus bound for Someya Shindo from Omiya Station. The garden is about a ten minute walk from the bus stop. By car the nearest interchange is Shin-Toshin Nishi on the Shuto Expressway Saitama Route.
The featured photo, at the top of the post, is from Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau.
i dont know why but I really love walking on boardwalks!