Where: Iiyama City Nanohana Park

There will be many stage performances and activities during the 3-day festival, on top of stalls selling food and souvenirs! One activity is a storytelling corner happening on May 5 from 10 am to 3 pm, where trained storytellers would read interesting books to visitors (especially children).

For more information about the Nanohana Festival, please visit this website:

https://iiyama-nanohana.jp/

Where: Iiyama City Furusato Hall (pick up and drop off)
Who: Iiyama City residents ages 6 and above
(guardian required for 3rd grade elementary or below; adults are welcome!)
Capacity: 20 people (Please call 0269-67-2030 to sign up)
Fee: 200 yen
What to bring: notebook, writing instruments, water, comfortable clothes, umbrella
RSVP deadline: May 10 (Sun)
Note: Sign up and the event is conducted in Japanese only. 

Let’s step outside the Furusato Museum and join a guide to explore the flowers and plants blooming around Lake Nozomi in Madarao, and experience the unique natural beauty of Iiyama!

Where: Iiyama City Furusato Hall
Hours: 9:00~17:00 (last entry at 16:30) (Closed on Mon, or next weekday if Mon is a public holiday)
General admission: 200 yen (adult), 100 yen (junior high school student or under)
*Free entry for elementary and junior high school students of Iiyama City

Shojuan is a historic Zen temple designated as a Nagano Prefecture historic site, where the Rinzai Zen monk Dokyo Etan (the Elder Shoju) spent his life. It is renowned for offering profound Zen training to cultivate the mind. Treasures passed down at Shojuan, now celebrating its 360th anniversary since founding, will be displayed at the Furusato Hall.

Where: Iiyama City Art Museum
Hours: 9:30~17:00 (last entry at 16:30) (Closed on Mon, or next weekday if Mon is a public holiday)
Admission: 300 yen (adult), 200 yen (child)
*Free entry for elementary and junior high school students of Iiyama City

Special Event: Jumbo Kamishibai Storytelling and Artist Talk Show
Date and Time: May 16 (Sat) 13:30~14:30
Where: Iiyama City Art Museum
Content: Storytelling by trained storytellers and a talk show by Makio Fujioka himself
*Reservation not required, but admission to the Art Museum is required

Makio Fujioka's picture books depict the rich nature and daily lives of people in Shinshu (Nagano Prefecture) with a gentle touch and vivid colors, beloved by readers of all ages. This exhibition features over 100 works, primarily original illustrations selected from 15 picture books published between 1999 and 2025. Visitors can fully appreciate the delicate brushwork unique to original artworks and immerse themselves in the fantastical, fairy-tale-like worldview.