The Iriya Morning Glory Festival is held from July 6 to July 8
Morning glories are easy to grow in Japan and are excellent for children to observe, making them a popular subject in elementary school curriculums. They are very familiar plants to many people.
The Iriya Morning Glory Festival (Asagao Matsuri) is held just outside JR Uguisudani Station from July 6 to 8, so I woke up early to attend. The festival runs from 5 AM until 9 PM, and from noon, the streets are closed to cars and become pedestrian-only zones. Stalls are being set up along the streets.
Morning glories have been loved since the Edo period, and markets used to be held around the Kishimojin Temple (Shingen-ji) in Iriya, making it a tradition to “go to Iriya to buy morning glories.” The festival in its current form has been held since 1948, after World War II, and has become a seasonal event in Tokyo.
Although tourists from abroad can’t purchase morning glories, it’s an event where they can enjoy the traditional atmosphere of Tokyo’s Shitamachi, known for its historic neighborhoods and old-town charm.
