Hekinan City Iris Festival
Date: May 23,2026(Sat) ～ Jun 7(Sun)
A festival centered around Hekinan City's pride and joy
Aburagafuchi is Aichi Prefecture's largest natural lake and marshland. The northern area is home to a park with a 18,000-m2 garden full of Hekinan City's flower, the iris. Thirteen thousand plants of 80 varieties inhabit the garden and become the center of attention during the city's major event, the Iris Festival, held from late May to early June each year as the flowers meet their peak beauty.
Once the sun goes down during the festival period, the lights are turned up to illuminate the beautiful blossoms in addition to numerous events. Plus, each weekend during the festival sees food trucks and stalls as well as street performers and everything else a fun-filled festival could want!
Event info
Opening of Oninji Temple Main Hall—temple with ties to famous head priest Rennyo Shonin
Commemorative temple visit stamps are often available at temples around Japan, and while this temple has no live-in priest to normally create the stamp cards, they are specially available during the event period only!
• Dates and times: 9:00 am–4:00 pm every day during the event period
Cognitive invigoration watercolors group exhibit
Look upon watercolor paintings of flowers, landscapes, Buddhist statues, and those close to a group of passionate illustrator friends.
• Dates and times: 9:00 am–4:00 pm every day during the event period
• Oninji Temple Main Hall
Food trucks and street performances
• Dates and times: Around 9:00 am–5:00 pm every weekend during the event period
• Location: Aburagafuchi Park
Choice wood craft exhibit
Crafts are put on display and available for sale. These pieces make use of choice wood with beautiful grain patterns and are available to buy at incredible prices. Strung tsurushibina decoration and illustrated postcard exhibits are also set up to enjoy.
• Dates and time: 10:00 am–5:00 pm; Fri, May 29–Sun, May 31, 2026
• Location: Nishibata Shimo Community Center Parking Lot
Namba lantern illumination
Namba lanterns which are as red as chili peppers grace the entire Iris Festival area, lighting up the night. A bubble-blowing performance and surreal atmosphere grace this year's festivities.
• Date and time: Sundown–around 9:00 pm; Sat, May 30, 2026
• Location: Festival venue
Notes:
• Canceled should rainy weather occur.
• Should cancellation occur, a statement will be made on the Hekinan Tourism Association website or Instagram page by 6:00 pm the previous day of the event.
Twilight Walk
Walk the Iris Path at twilight as you enjoy the sounds of traditional Japanese court music and namba lanterns. Food is available for purchase as well as a target shooting event.
• Date and time: Around 11:00 am–8:30 pm; Sat, May 30, 2026
• Location: Nishibata Shimo Community Center Parking Lot and Oninji Temple
Tea ceremony
• Date and time: 10:00 am–3:00 pm; Sun, May 31, 2026
• Location: Oninji Temple Main Hall
• Price: JPY 650/session (with Japanese confection)
• Guide: Munetomo Fujiwara of the Urasenke tea ceremony school
#EggsTodayToo with Hekinan Stamp Scavenger Hunt
Twenty-nine establishments around the city participate, letting you get a stamp with an order of egg cuisine. Get three stamps to enter a drawing for incredible prizes. There's even a Flower Festival Bonus Stamp at the festival venue!
• Period: Wed, Mar 18–Sun, Jun 7, 2026
EVENT OVERVIEW
| Date | Light display: Around sunset–9:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Place | Area around Aburagafuchi Park and Oninji Temple |
| Location | 〒447-0083 2-72 Aburafuchi-machi, Hekinan-shi, Aichi Note: • The Access Map shows the location of Aburagafuchi Park. |
| Fee | Free of charge Note: • Prices are subject to change. Check the official site, etc. for the most up-to-date information. |
| Parking | Available, free of charge (approx. 140 spaces at the spots below:) • Parking lot below Oninji Temple • Aburagafuchi Waterside Park Parking Lotv |
| Phone number | 0566-95-9894 (Hekinan Tourism Association) |
Note: This page may not be current due to update time differences between site databases.
Should accuracy be critical, please verify this information using a direct source, whenever possible.
ACCESS
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- Access by public transport
- From Kita Shinkawa Station on the Meitetsu Mikawa Line, take the Kurukuru City Route Bus (free of charge) to Aburagafuchi Yuenchi Bus Stop (approx. 30-min. ride).
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- Access by car
- Approx. 20 min. from Agui Interchange on Chitahanto Road.
Share spot information with a smartphone
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