Colors of My Heart

Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is located in Sengokuhara, Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, and is Japan’s first botanical garden dedicated to wetland plants. It was established in 1976 with the aim of preserving and promoting awareness of wetland environments. The garden features approximately 1,700 species of plants that thrive in wetlands, rivers, and lakes, blooming beautifully throughout the four seasons. The garden is divided into eight distinct zones, allowing visitors to experience the ecological transitions from lowlands to alpine areas, and from early-stage wetlands to more developed ones. Seasonal flowers such as Asian skunk cabbage ( Mizubashō ), dogtooth violet ( Katakuri ), great burnet ( Waremokō ), gentian ( Ezorindō ), daylily ( Nikkōkisuge ), and primrose ( Sakurasō ) can be enjoyed throughout the year. The walking trail within the garden takes about an hour and a half to complete at a leisurely pace, especially if you stop to take photographs along the way. Stro...

Hakone Yamano Hotel is a luxury accommodation located in the hot spring area of ​​Hakone and is particularly attractive for its spectacular views and luxurious services. The hotel offers relaxation and healing to visitors in a quiet environment surrounded by the nature of Hakone. Hakone Yamano Hotel is about a 90-minute drive from Tokyo and is located in a place where you can enjoy beautiful views of the Hakone mountains. Rich nature spreads around, and you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons. I have not stayed there yet, but the hotel offers a choice of Japanese-style or Western-style rooms, and all rooms have hot spring baths. In particular, many of the rooms allow you to enjoy beautiful views while bathing in the hot spring. The hot spring is a natural hot spring, and the water is good for the skin. As you can see from some of the photos, every room has a panoramic view of the Hakone mountains and green nature, and the hotel is known for its particularly beautiful morning and ...

The Hakone Museum of Art, located in Gora, Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, is renowned as Japan’s oldest museum dedicated to ceramics.  In autumn, however, it also enjoys great popularity as a scenic destination for viewing vibrant autumn foliage. Particularly captivating is the museum’s garden, known as “Shinsenkyo,” where a magical landscape unfolds as moss and maple trees blend harmoniously, enchanting all who visit. The peak season for autumn colors typically spans from early to late November, with the most breathtaking views often occurring around mid-November. Within the garden, approximately 130 varieties of moss cover the ground, while over 200 maple trees display their vivid hues above.  The striking contrast between the lush green moss and the fiery red leaves creates a scene reminiscent of a painting—one that is both rare and uniquely beautiful. This picturesque setting makes the garden a highly sought-after spot for photography enthusiasts.     Olympus ...

As autumn draws to a close in Hakone, the ground begins to fill with fallen leaves, gently reminding us that winter is just around the corner. Since I began taking photography more seriously, I’ve come to appreciate not only the vivid colors of the season, but also the quiet beauty of the leaves after they’ve fallen. Freshly fallen leaves still hold a kind of grace — a fleeting elegance that continues to move the heart. Even in their final moments, they offer inspiration and emotion to those who take the time to notice. I often find myself hoping that my own life can be like that — to remain meaningful and beautiful, even toward the end. With that thought in mind, I’ll keep doing my best, wholeheartedly, from this moment forward.     Olympus E-5 ／ Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD ／ 1/25s ／ F3.4 ／ ISO100 ／ + 0.3     Olympus E-5 ／ Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD ／ 1/60s ／ F3.5 ／ ISO100 ／ + 0.3     Olympus E-5 ／ Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD ／ 1/25s ／ F...