The cherry trees that line the Miya River in the jinja grounds are a magnificent sight when in bloom, and in this season you can bask in the glories of spring.
In late March the cherry trees in the grounds begin to blossom, and you can see many varieties, including shidare-zakura (枝垂れ桜: weeping cherry) and taki-zakura (滝桜: waterfall cherry). The grounds also boast some unusual varieties, such as gyoikō (御衣黄), with green flowers, and kiku-zakura (菊桜: chrysanthemum sakura), with many petals on each flower.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is held every year in early April, and attracts large crowds.
The cherry blossoms along the Miya River in the jinja grounds symbolise the glory of spring.
The Ichinomiya Iris Garden, which covers over 2,000 square metres, is planted with about 80,000 irises of 80 varieites. Irises bloom throughout the season, from late May to early June, at different times depending on the variety.
Admission is ¥300 for junior high school students and older, and free for elementary school students and younger. Opening hours are from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays, and 8:30 am to 5 pm on weekends. The opening and closing dates of the garden vary depending on when the irises flower in a particular year, and so they are announced separately every year. While the gardens are open, irises are available for sale at ¥1,000 each (five to six buds per plant).
