Japan Photo Journal: 420,000 iris flowers color southwestern Japan park in vivid purple
April 19, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
(Mainichi/Takashi Umeyama) Irises blanket a garden in purple at Hayamizu Park in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, on April 18, 2021. Some 420,000 flowers consisting of 28,000 iris plants showed the first signs of blossoming about two weeks earlier than in an average year, and are now in full bloom, according to the park s information center. The park is unsure whether the flowers will last until the Golden Week holidays from late April to early May. While the iris garden behind the Hayamizu Shrine in the 14-hectare-wide park is spectacular, many small clusters of irises also dot the park. Many people enjoy the flowers while walking their dogs, taking photos or painting pictures. For more information, please contact the park s information desk by phone at 0986-23-4980 (in Japanese).