Although the calendar indicates that spring has arrived with the beginning of spring, the harsh cold continues these days.
At Tanematsuyama, located between the urban area of Kurashiki City and Mizushima, the yellow flowers of the wintersweet (ロウバイ) are in full bloom, signaling the arrival of spring.
I will introduce my experience of strolling around on January 31, 2025 (Friday).
Tanematsuyama Park West Area
Tanematsuyama is a first-class triangulation point mountain with an elevation of 258m, spanning the Kurashiki and Mizushima regions.
At the summit, there is Tanematsuyama Summit Park, and about 1km southwest from the summit is the Tanematsuyama Park West Area, which was established in 1990. In the West Area, visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers such as plum, cherry, and roses.
The park features a children's playground and an adventure forest with athletic equipment, making it a comprehensive park that can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages, from adults to children. There are also restrooms located near each parking lot, which is convenient during the cold winter.
Wintersweet at Tanematsuyama Park
The wintersweet blooms near the first parking lot of Tanematsuyama Park West Area.
Although there are about 100 plants, which is not a large scale, the dense planting envelops the area in the sweet scent of wintersweet.
There is also a restroom right in front of the parking lot, making it possible to stay for a long time, such as for a picnic.
Additionally, there are chairs in the wintersweet area, making it easy for those who find it difficult to stand or for families with children to stroll around comfortably.
On January 31, 2025 (Friday), many buds were also discovered
During my stroll around noon on January 31, 2025 (Friday), the yellow wintersweet was in full bloom, and it seemed to be at its best from a distance.
However, upon closer inspection, many buds were still visible.
It seems that we can enjoy wintersweet for a while longer.
The sweet scent of wintersweet is irresistible
One of the characteristics of wintersweet is its sweet scent. The area around the wintersweet at Tanematsuyama Park West Area was also enveloped in this sweet aroma.
However, it has a different scent from plum blossoms.
This is because wintersweet belongs to the Lauraceae family, while plum trees are deciduous trees in the Rosaceae family, resulting in different flowers.
The name "wintersweet" is derived from the following two reasons.
- It produces translucent, glossy flowers that resemble plums, similar to waxwork
- It enters its flowering season around the old lunar calendar's twelfth month, known as "rogetsu" (臘月)
The scent contains the same components as eucalyptus and lavender, resulting in a sweet and transparent fragrance.
I couldn't help but sniff the wintersweet's scent repeatedly.
The wintersweet at Tanematsuyama Park West Area blooms like a tunnel, making it photogenic
One of the features of the wintersweet area at Tanematsuyama is that wintersweet is planted on both sides of the walkway, creating a tunnel of wintersweet.
Although there are only about 100 plants, which is not a large number, the straight path gives a sense of depth, creating an illusion that the wintersweet continues endlessly.
By utilizing the depth for photography, you can capture photogenic photos surrounded by wintersweet.
Since wintersweet is about 3m tall, even shorter individuals, such as children, can get close to the flowers, which is a great aspect.
Why not enjoy the arrival of spring while capturing a special photo?
Conclusion
Wintersweet is said to be called winter sweet in English due to its warm colors and fragrance that light up the cold winter season.
As the leaves of street trees have fallen and cold days continue, the sweet scent of wintersweet makes one feel the arrival of spring.
Continuing with plum blossoms, Kawazu cherry blossoms, and Somei Yoshino... the arrival of the warm season is eagerly awaited.
Since there are still some tight buds, it seems that the best viewing period will continue for a while longer.
Data of Tanematsuyama Park West Area
| Name | Tanematsuyama Park West Area |
|---|---|
| Address | 426 Fukuda-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Homepage | Tanematsuyama Park West Area |
