The Iriya Asagao Matsuri (入谷朝顔まつり) is Japan’s largest morning glory festival, held annually from July 6 to 8. Centered at the Iriya Kishimojin Temple, the event features roughly 100 specialized flower stalls alongside 100 festive food vendors. Established in the late Edo period, this matsuri celebrates the vibrant asagao blooms and attracts over 400,000 visitors. While stalls open at 5:00 AM to showcase the fresh morning blossoms, the lively street-fair atmosphere continues until 11:00 PM, marking a staple of Tokyo’s early summer season.
The festival is most conveniently accessed via a short walk from Iriya Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line or JR Uguisudani Station. Because morning glories bloom at sunrise and begin to fade by midday, serious collectors often arrive as early as 6:00 AM to purchase the most prized varieties. During the three-day period, the Kototoi-dori thoroughfare is closed to traffic in the afternoons and evenings, allowing the massive crowds to navigate the rows of potted plants and traditional food stalls safely. Visitors should look for the unique “morning glory charms” sold only at the temple during the festival dates.
