June has arrived, and the season of hydrangeas is here.
Driving south from the city center of Kurashiki, you will find Tanematsu-yama at an elevation of 258m in Fukuda.
I saw the news that hydrangeas have started to bloom at Tanematsu-yama, where you can enjoy flowers throughout the seasons, and I went to admire the hydrangeas.
I will introduce the stroll I took at the Tanematsu-yama Park West Area on June 17, 2024.
Tanematsu-yama Park West Area
Tanematsu-yama is a first-class triangulation point mountain with an elevation of 258m, spanning the Kurashiki and Mizushima areas.
At the summit, there is Tanematsu-yama Summit Park, and about 1km southwest from the summit is the Tanematsu-yama Park West Area, which opened in 1990, where you can enjoy seasonal flowers such as plums, cherry blossoms, and roses.
Additionally, the park features a children's playground and an adventure forest with athletic facilities, making it a comprehensive park that can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages from adults to children.
On the day I went to admire the hydrangeas, I could hear the cheerful voices of children playing in the athletic area, and I encountered wheelchair users who had driven close to the hydrangeas, showing that various people were enjoying their time in the park in their own ways.
Hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area
The hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area are among the largest hydrangea fields in Kurashiki City.
They typically reach their peak in June, and it is a spot where you can enjoy about 13,000 hydrangea plants.
On June 17, 2024, it was a bit early for the peak, so it seems that the hydrangeas will be enjoyable for a while longer.
Hydrangeas turn pink in alkaline soil and blue in acidic soil.
The hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area are not wild but are managed by humans, so you can see a variety of colors and types of hydrangeas.
Hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area can be enjoyed alongside roses
You can drive to Tanematsu-yama West Area. Please be careful as the road has many curves.
When I parked my car in the parking lot near the hydrangea area, I was immediately welcomed by the hydrangeas.
In May, roses adorned the scenery at Tanematsu-yama West Area.
On this day, although it was past the peak for roses, in some places, I could enjoy hydrangeas and roses together.
The path of hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area is paved and easy to walk
From the parking lot, I walked up a gentle slope towards the hydrangea field in front of the tennis courts.
The walkway is paved, making it easy to walk.
Light blue, blue-purple, deep pink, light pink... as I walked, new colors of hydrangeas appeared, causing me to stop and admire them each time.
Hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area are large and fluffy
The hydrangeas, carefully maintained by human hands, have flowers that are large and robust.
This is the Hon-azisai, characterized by its shape resembling a temari (Japanese handball).
As the name "Azusa-ai" suggests, which means "gathering true indigo," it is adorable to see many flowers clustered together.
Hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area have a wide variety
The hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area are not just Hon-azisai.
I will introduce some of the varieties of hydrangeas I found on June 17, 2024.
First, I discovered the Yama-azisai, which is slightly smaller than Hon-azisai and is characterized by its shape with bead-like clusters in the center.
The modest shape of Yama-azisai is a variety that is cherished in Japanese gardens and tea ceremonies.
This hydrangea, which has a flower shape resembling a shell, is called Uzu-azisai. It is also known as Otafuku-azisai (Otafuku hydrangea) because it resembles the shape of Otafuku beans and has been cherished since the Edo period.
From a distance, the hydrangea appears round, but as you get closer, you can see that it faces in various directions, making it captivating to look at.
This hydrangea has large flowers that frame the small flowers clustered in the center, and it is called Gaku-azisai.
While the large and fluffy Hon-azisai seem to be the mainstream, all hydrangeas actually derive from Gaku-azisai. It is the mother of hydrangeas around the world.
With so many varieties of hydrangeas blooming, it is also fun to compare them with each other.
On June 17, 2024, there were still some varieties of hydrangeas that had not yet bloomed, so it seems there will be even more to enjoy in the future.
Hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area are mostly tall
Since hydrangeas are often seen as short flowers in florists, they may give the impression of being low, but they are actually deciduous shrubs like lilacs and forsythias, reaching a height of 1m to 2m.
Since the hydrangeas at Tanematsu-yama West Area grow on the slope of the mountain, even I, who am 155cm tall, was completely hidden by the height of the hydrangeas.
When taking a side view of the hydrangea, you can see that the branches have grown long.
Since the hydrangea is at a height level with my line of sight without having to bend down, it is perfect for portrait photography.
Although it is a mountain path, it is paved, and the hydrangeas are carefully pruned, so I was able to walk safely.
After about an hour and a half of walking, I returned to the parking lot, sweating more than expected due to the humid June day. When visiting Tanematsuyama West Park, be sure to stay hydrated.
Conclusion
The drizzling rain of the rainy season can often bring a gloomy mood, but the sight of raindrops falling on the moist hydrangeas is always beautiful.
It was my first time visiting Tanematsuyama West Park, and I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of hydrangeas.
As of June 17, 2024, it was just before the peak bloom, so it seems we can enjoy the hydrangeas for a little while longer.
Why not take a trip to find your favorite hydrangea among approximately 13,000 plants?
Data on Tanematsuyama West Park
| Name | Tanematsuyama West Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 426 Fukuda-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Homepage | Kurashiki City Office Tanematsuyama West Park |
