Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I took a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Itako City is a scenic area surrounded by water called the Suigo Area, and is famous for traditional events such as the Suigo-Itako Iris Festival and the marriage boat. This time, I would like to take a closer look at its charm.
Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is located in the southeastern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, and is a water district blessed with lakes and rivers such as Lake Kasumigaura and Kitaura. Since the Edo period, it has prospered as a key point for water transport and has fostered a water village culture. Even today, rowing boats called Sappa-fune can be seen plying the waterways, providing a scenic view of the area. In addition, the Suigo-Itako Iris Festival is held every year from late May to mid-June, and approximately 1 million irises are in full bloom, attracting many tourists. The biggest highlight is the traditional event called yomeirifune. This originates from the fact that in the past, in this region, brides and wedding accessories were transported using waterways, and the real brides selected through public recruitment would board a sappa boat and travel to the place where the groom was waiting. The bride leaves for Ayameen in a rickshaw with her matchmaker and walks to the boat pier while being blessed by many tourists. From there, you will slowly move through the iris garden with the boatman and matchmaker. While passing through four bridges on the way, cheers are sent from the riverbanks and bridges. At the end, a ceremony will be held where the groom will be reunited at the fountain facility where he will be given the key to happiness and receive a certificate. This marriage boat operates on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the Iris Festival.
It takes about 2 hours to get from central Tokyo to Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture using the Shuto Expressway and the Higashi-Kanto Expressway. I set out on my beloved Harley-Davidson FLSB Sport Glide.
I took the Shuto Expressway No. 9 Fukagawa Line from the Sumida River Ohashi Bridge and transferred to the Shuto Expressway Wangan Line at Tatsumi JCT. The Shuto Expressway Bayshore Route is a road with a spectacular view of Tokyo Bay. The night view is especially beautiful, so much so that it is called the Sea of Light. As you drive along the Shuto Expressway Bayshore Route, you will see landmarks such as the Tokyo Sky Tree and Rainbow Bridge. These buildings are familiar symbols of Tokyo. I headed towards the Higashi-Kanto Expressway while admiring these views.
Higashi-Kanto Expressway is an expressway that connects Chiba Prefecture to Ibaraki Prefecture. This road has a lot of traffic as there are many facilities such as airports and industrial areas. However, riding a bike gives you a sense of speed and exhilaration. I drove for about an hour on the Higashi-Kanto Expressway to Nobeta, Itako City. From there, I took Prefectural Route 101 and entered the Itako city area.
Prefectural Route 101 is a road called Suigo Road. This road is characterized by a landscape of rice fields and waterways. A variety of rice called Koshihikari is grown in the rice paddies. This rice is sold under the brand name “Itako Ayame-chan” and is sticky, sweet, and delicious. Traditional fishing gear called sappa boats and iris hats can be seen on the waterways. Ayamegasa is a hat made from woven iris stems, and was used by fishermen and farmers to shade from the sun and rain. Nowadays, it has become a popular souvenir among tourists.
I drove on Prefectural Route 101 for about 10 minutes and arrived at the center of Itako City. Here you can find the Suigo Itako Iris Garden and the departure and arrival place for wedding boats. I decided to take a tour of the marriage boat first.
The highlight of Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture is definitely the bride boat. The term yomeri-bune originates from the ancient times in this region where brides and wedding accessories were transported through waterways, and real brides selected through public recruitment would ride on sappa-bune to the place where the groom was waiting.
The bride leaves for Ayameen in a rickshaw with her matchmaker and walks to the boat pier while being blessed by many tourists.
From there, you will slowly move through the iris garden with the boatman and matchmaker. While passing through four bridges on the way, cheers are sent from the riverbanks and bridges. At the end, a ceremony will be held where the groom will be reunited at the fountain facility where he will be given the key to happiness and receive a certificate. This marriage boat operates on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the Iris Festival.
I bought my ticket at the tourist information center at the departure point for the wedding boat. Tickets are 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children. Your ticket will include your boarding time and seat number. I made a reservation for the flight starting at 13:00. Since we still had some time before boarding time, we decided to take a walk around the area.
Nearby attractions include Suigo Itako Iris Garden and Itako City Museum.
Suigo Itako Iris Garden is a horticultural facility with approximately 1 million irises planted on an approximately 8.5 hectare site. There are approximately 500 varieties of irises, and they come in a variety of colors and shapes. Inside the park, there are signboards introducing the names and characteristics of irises. There are also waterways running through the park, which you can enjoy by boat or rental boat. I went around the park on a boat. A sappa boat is a traditional wooden pontoon boat that is rowed by a boatman using a pole. The irises seen from the boat were so beautiful that they reflected on the water, making it look like a painting.
Motorcycle parking lot in Itako, Ibaraki Prefecture
There are several motorcycle-friendly parking lots in Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture. I used the Suigo Itako Ayameen-mae parking lot, which is close to the departure and arrival place for the wedding boat. This parking lot is adjacent to the main entrance of Suigo Itako Iris Garden, and you can park your motorcycle for free. However, the number of seats is limited, so we recommend arriving early. In addition, from this parking lot, Suigo Itako Iris Garden and the departure and arrival place for the marriage boat are within walking distance.
There are also spaces for motorcycles at the Itako City Hall Parking Lot and the Itako City Museum Parking Lot. These parking lots are also free of charge, but spaces are also limited. In addition, these parking lots are a little far from Suigo Itako Iris Garden and the departure and arrival points for the wedding boats. Therefore, if you don’t like walking, we recommend the Suigo Itako Ayameen Parking Lot.
Summary
This time, we toured from central Tokyo to Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Itako City is a scenic area surrounded by water called the Suigo Area, and has fostered a water town culture. In particular, the traditional event called yomeirifune is a must-see attraction. It was moving to see the bride carrying her happiness on a boat. In addition, at Suigo Itako Iris Garden, approximately 1 million irises were in full bloom, making for a beautiful sight to behold. Furthermore, the Itako City Museum held exhibitions and events related to water village culture, allowing us to experience history and culture. I was fascinated by the charm of Itako City while touring.
Itako City in Ibaraki Prefecture is close to Tokyo and is easily accessible by bike. It feels great to ride a bike and enjoy the scenery of the water district. You can also park your bike for free, so it’s also economical. Itako City, where you can feel the water village culture, is the perfect spot for motorcycle touring. Please come and visit us at least once.
The above was sent to you by _hiroyuki.ta. Next time we look forward to.
