How would you like to have your wedding? Celebrating at a beautiful chapel, or a party-style wedding at beach resort?
There is no big difference between Japan and Canada when it comes to wedding style, but you can also see some very unique wedding traditions, such as the “Yomeiri-bune (marriage boat)” in Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
This ceremony takes place in late May to late June, when the Suigo Itako Iris Festival is held in Itako.
Itako is surrounded by lakes and rivers (Suigo meaning riverside district), and is famous for having approximately one million irises that bloom throughout the course of the festival.
A bride dressed in a traditional Japanese wedding kimono walks through the iris garden along with her matchmaker, before setting off on a rowboat to go to see her groom.
The rowboat moves at a gentle pace, as the bride receives warm celebrations by hundreds of spectators.
People in Itako used to use rowboats to move around the city, much like Venice in Italy, and this is said to be the origin of this traditional wedding style.
So, do you now feel like trying the rowboat?
If so, there is a perfect place for you, just a 7-minute drive from the Suigo Itako Iris Festival.
The Suigo Sawara Ayame Park is located in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture and it’s just across the river from the iris garden in Itako.
This park boasts over 1.5 million irises in late May to late June, where you can also take a traditional rowboat ride.
It is such an amazing feeling to witness the full bloom of beautiful irises from the rowboat.
Both of these iris destinations are not far from the Narita International Airport (about a 30-40-minute drive).
Why don’t you add it to your future Japan travel itinerary?
Written by G.M.
The opinions expressed in the above article do not reflect the views of JNTO. All content and images are property of the writer unless otherwise specified.
*This article is based on the writer's experience before COVID-19.
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