Introducing Ibaraki's Suigo Itako Ayame Festival

The title of the video is “Digest for Wedding Boat- Bride from Itako Goes by a Boat- (Suigo Itako Ayame Festival)（嫁入り舟ダイジェスト～潮来花嫁さんは舟でゆく～ （水郷潮来あやめまつり））”

When the rainy season starts, irises are in bloom and the Suigo Itako Ayame Festival is held in Suigo Itako Ayame Garden.
The beautiful bride, wearing a pure white dress is shown in the video.
Enjoy Japanese tradition and culture by watching this video.

What Is a Wedding Boat?

Photo：Itako's Wedding Boat

Suigo Itako Ayame Festival is famous for the wedding boat.
The video shows a traditional marriage in Itako.
As shown in the video from 1:09, at the festival, a bride, a boatman and a mediator go through the park full of iris.
Then, row a boat and go towards a groom who is standing across the river.
The boat slowly moves and it is watched over by people who came to enjoy the festival.
It is quite the site.

After meeting with the groom, wearing a hakama with a family crest, they take hands and promise an everlasting love. This is shown from 3:38 in the video.

How to Enjoy the Festival

Source :This article Video

Fountain spot “WAiWAi Fantasia” which is across the garden, is popular as a spiritual site for love and marriage.
It is shown from 3:50 in the video.
After sharing their vows, the groom and bride lock the “key that brings happiness” in the fountain.

At the festival, there are dance contests and illuminations. It is very lively.

Sightseeing at the Suigo Itako Ayame Garden

Photo：Suigo Itako Ayame Festival

At the Suigo Itako Ayame Garden in Ibaraki, people can enjoy 500 different kinds of over a million irises.
It is a very popular spot and was selected as one of “the 500 most beautiful roads in Japan.”

Itako has a history of a water transportation system and a lot of boats came and went during the Edo period (1603 to 1868). If you are going to Suigo Itako Ayame Festival, we recommend rowing the boat and looking at the monument of the Itako bride.
Trying the rare Yuki silk experience is a great idea as well.

Summary

The Suigo Itako Ayame Festival, introduced in the video, is a very popular event and 800 thousand people visit it annually.
Enjoy looking at the beautiful Japanese bride wearing a pure white dress.

If you want to visit Suigo Itako Ayame Festival, we recommend first checking out the bloom conditions, the schedule of the festival, sightseeing spots and then booking a hotel.

◆Suigo Itako Ayame Garden Information◆
【Address】Ayame 1-5 Itako city Ibaraki prefecture
【Access】3 minutes walk from JR Itako Station. Bus available during the time of Suigo Itako Ayame Festival.
【Parking】available (A toll parking lot during Suigo Itako Ayame Festival)
【Telephone No】0299-63-1111
【Entrance fee】Free

【Official Website】Suigo Itako Ayame Festival
http://english.ibarakiguide.jp/