Risoukyo Flower Festivals

Risoukyo's lovely botanical gardens are a hidden gem of Towada. In the spring it has three major flower festivals: Chinese peony, lupin, and Japanese iris festivals.

Chinese Peony Festival
芍薬まつり (shakuyaku matsuri)
Date: May 30, 2015 (Sat.) - June 14, 2015 (Sun.)
Description: Enjoy about 2000 blooms of 140 varieties

Lupin Festival
ルピナスまつり (lupinus matsuri)
Date: May 30, 2015 (Sat.) - June 30, 2015 (Tue.)

Description: Enjoy 10,000 flowers spread over 4000 square metres

Japanese Iris Festival 
花菖蒲まつり (hanashoubu matsuri)
Date: June 20, 2015 (Sat.) - July 20, 2015 (Mon.)
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
Towada, Aomori 034-0106
0176-27-2516

Hours: 9:00-17:00
Admission: 

• Adults (High School-Aged & Up): 550yen (May: 300yen)
• Elementary-Junior High School Students: 200yen (May: 100yen)
• Groups (15+ people): 450yen (May: 270yen)
• Physically Disabled: 400yen (May: 200yen)

More Information:
Risoukyo Official Website (Japanese/English) http://www.risoukyo.com