Brides in white kimono will ride on a bride boat through the blooming irises of Suigo Itako Iris Garden, recruiting “Itako Hanayomesan” for a unique “Suigo” bride-entry event.
The 74th Suigo Itako Iris Festival Period: Friday, May 23 through Sunday, June 22, 2025
Bride Boat will be accepted from May 23 (Friday) to June 22 (Sunday), 2025.
Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 23 (Fri.) to June 22 (Sun.), 2025
Wednesday：11:00
Saturday：11:00 / 14:00 / 19:30 (Evening Yomeiri-Bune)
Sunday: 11:00 / 14:00
Yoi no Yomeiri Boat, traditional musical performance of Itako, will be staged by Geza-ren on a boat.
Geza performance (Geza-bune) at other times of the day is an optional extra.
Number of groups
29 groups (tentative)
Eligibility】 【Application Requirements
(1) Those who are at least 18 years old as of April 1, 2025.
(2) Married after June 2024, or planning to be married by June 2026.
(3) Those who can handle various interviews and PR activities.
(3) Applicants must be able to handle various types of interviews and PR.
Application Requirements
(4) Please apply as a team of four: a bride, a groom, and a matchmaker (one male and one female).
If you do not have a matchmaker, your parents, relatives or friends may play the role of the matchmaker.
(If you do not have a matchmaker, your parents, relatives or friends are acceptable.)
About the groom
Grooms are not allowed to board the boat. (If this is not possible, please contact us for details. (It is a tradition for the bride to marry into the groom’s family by boat.)
How to apply
Please fill out the prescribed application form and submit it along with one L-size photo of the bride’s upper body and one L-size photo of the bride’s full body, either in person, by mail, or by e-mail.
The prescribed application form is available at the Itako City Hall or can be downloaded from here.
Application by e-mail
Download the application form (for input only), fill in the required information, attach one full-length and one full-length photo of the bride (under 3MB), and send it to the following address.
*Please be sure to clearly write “Itako Hanayomesan Application” in the subject line of the e-mail.
If you send an e-mail, please call the Itako Hanayomesan Section of the Tourism, Commerce and Industry Division.
Please contact us at ✉Sending address ✉ hanayome@city.itako.lg.jp
2025 Itako Bride Application Form
Application period
Friday, November 8, 2024 – Wednesday, January 15, 2025 (must arrive no later than 5:00 p.m.)
Cost】 160,000 yen
160,000 yen
(bride’s dressing, wig and makeup, groom’s and matchmaker’s dressing (including hair set for matchmaker), bride’s support fee (with hair stylist), bride’s taxi, 2 rickshaw rides, etc.)
(bride’s dress, wig, make-up, groom’s and matchmaker’s dressing, bride’s support (including hair set for matchmaker), bride’s taxi, 2 rickshaws, costume, souvenir, insurance, etc.)
Costumes
Costumes are available from Itako City.
Costumes for the bride, groom, and matchmaker are available, but not all sizes are available.
(You may also bring your own costumes.) We will guide you to a designated beauty salon in the city for preparation and dressing.
Result Notification
The applicant will be notified of the results at the designated e-mail address in late February 2025 (tentative).
Notes】 【Notice】 (1)Applicants will be notified by e-mail by the end of February 2025.
(1) If there are too many applicants, you may not be selected, or you may not be able to attend your preferred date and time. Please understand this in advance.
(2) In the event of inclement weather, the tour may be cancelled or the course may be changed.
For application and inquiries, please contact
Itako City Hall, Tourism and Commerce Division, Itako Hanayomesan Section, 626 Tsuji, Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 311-2493, Japan
Tel. 0299-63-1111 Brides in white kimono will ride on a bride boat through the blooming irises of Suigo Itako Iris Garden, recruiting “Itako Hanayomesan” for a unique “Suigo” bride-entry event.
