Colors of My Heart

When people think of Kinchakuda in Saitama Prefecture, the vibrant red spider lilies (Manjushage) are what usually come to mind. However, just a short distance from Kinchakuda lies a beautiful field of cosmos flowers.  Every year, when I visited to photograph the spider lilies, I would always make a stop at the cosmos field to capture their beauty as well. The sight of cosmos blooming in profusion under the clear autumn sky was truly breathtaking. Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8-3.5 SWD / ISO100 / f3.5 / 1/640s / +0.7 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2,0 SWD / ISO100 / f2.9 / 1/1250s / 0.0 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F, 2. 0 SWD / ISO100 / f2.6 / 1/3200s / 0.0 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD  / ISO100 / f3.0 / 1/2000s / 0.0 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2,0 SWD / ISO100 / f3.1 / 1/2000s / 0.0 Olympus E620 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD / ISO100 / f5.7 / 1/1600s / 0.0 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD / ...

 The garden located in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, is a famous destination for robai (wax plum) flowers, which bloom every winter and attract many visitors with their vibrant yellow blossoms. The garden is situated at the foot of Mount Hōtōzan, offering opportunities for hiking and mountaineering. At the summit of the mountain stands the Hōtōzan Shrine, making it a popular tourist spot. Additionally, the Chichibu area is known for its hot springs and other tourist attractions, so it's highly recommended to explore the surrounding area after enjoying the robai flowers. Robai are winter-blooming flowers known for their strong fragrance and striking yellow color. They typically bloom from December to January, offering a splash of bright color in the cold season, becoming a winter tradition for those who visit. The Hōtōzan Robai Garden spans approximately 2.2 hectares, and thousands of robai trees are planted throughout the garden. A variety of robai species are cultivated, and ...

Manjushage (spider lilies) at Kinchakuda is a beautiful spot located in Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, particularly famous for its blooming Higanbana in the autumn.  This area is renowned as one of the largest habitats for Higanbana, attracting many tourists each year who are captivated by its beauty.​ ​The distinctive feature of Manjushage is its vibrant red flowers. These flowers beautifully enhance the autumn landscape, and during the peak blooming period from late September to early October, the expansive grounds of Kinchakuda are astonishingly covered in a sea of red. Situated in a flatland along both banks of the Hachiyosone River, Kinchakuda offers visitors a variety of stunning scenery, surrounded by lush trees and flowers that showcase the changing seasons.  It is important to note that Manjushage is toxic, so caution should be exercised not to consume them.  Moreover, as this area attracts many visitors during the blooming season, if you wish to avoid c...

Ajisai-yama Park, located in Mugihara, Saitama Prefecture, is a nature-rich park renowned for its stunning hydrangea blossoms during the rainy season. From the entrance of the park, visitors can stroll along the scenic “Ajisai Kaidō” (Hydrangea Road), a 3-kilometer path lined with approximately 5,000 hydrangea plants. Even just walking along this road offers a delightful experience of the flowers’ beauty.  Within the park itself, around 8,000 hydrangea plants bloom in full glory, including varieties such as Hon-ajisai and Gaku-ajisai. As you walk along the winding trails that climb the hillside, you can enjoy the colorful blossoms up close, making it an ideal spot for photography enthusiasts. The best time to view the hydrangeas is typically from mid-June to mid-July. The flowers become even more vibrant when wet with rain, and their beauty stands out even under cloudy skies. Surrounded by nature, this park offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life, making i...

Ancient Gyoda Lotus Village in Saitama Japan​ Located in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, the "Ancient Lotus Village" (Kodai Hasu no Sato) is a park born from the miraculous natural germination and blooming of lotus seeds estimated to be between 1,400 and 3,000 years old. It is beloved as a site where visitors can feel the romance of ancient times. In 1973, during excavation work for a public facility, ancient lotus seeds were accidentally unearthed. Remarkably, these seeds sprouted and bloomed, and the lotus was subsequently named "Gyōda Lotus" (Kodai Hasu). To preserve and showcase this valuable botanical discovery, the park was officially opened in 1995. The park is home to approximately 120,000 lotus plants representing 42 different varieties, including the Gyōda Lotus itself, collected from around the world. From mid-June to early August, the park becomes a popular destination during the blooming season, attracting many visitors who come to admire the stunning f...