Lakbayer – Page 13

Autumn 2014: A walk around Showa Kinen Park

Visit Date: 11/17/2014 (Best viewing Time: early November to early December)

Showakinen Park (officially known as Showa Commemorative National Government Park 国営昭和記念公園) is located in Tachikawa, which is only a little over 30 minutes by train from Shinjuku station. With its about 163 hectares land area, the park includes sport fields, barbecue pits, a boating pond, pools, and different magnificent gardens that blooms at various time throughout the year.

Visitors to the park can choose to get off from several stations and we chose the Nishi-Tachikawa station as it is only less than five minutes walk to the entrance gate.

The koyo season around the park usually tends to begin earlier than most of the Tokyo parks, which starts around late October and peak either mid or late November. The colors in this entrance however is still very green, only few trees have changed color.

Maple tree with orange, green, and red leaves along the path to the park’s open field.

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Autumn 2014: Kawaguchiko

Visit Date: 11/01/2014 (Best viewing Time: late October to mid November)

The Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖, Fujigoko) which consist of Yamada Lake, Saiko Lake, Motosu Lake, Motosu Lake, Shoji Lake, and Kawaguchi Lake is an arc region that lies at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji. The area provides a good spot to view Mt. Fuji from a close distance and it is also one of the best places to enjoy the autumn colors.

During our visit, the autumn colors at Lake Kawaguchiko, which is the most popular and most accessible lake, were at their peak, although still at the early stage. Red, yellow and orange trees surround the lake creating a gorgeous canvas of colors.

The colorful trees matches the colorful boats on the coast of Lake Kawaguchiko.

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Autumn 2014: Cosmos & Kochia at Hitachi Seaside Park

Visit Date: 10/19/2014 (Best viewing Time: mid September to mid October)

Hitachi Seaside Park (国営ひたち海浜公園 Kokuei Hitachi Kaihinkouen) located in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan is a 190-hectare national park and is one of the best places to visit during the autumn season. The colorful cosmoses and blazing red kochia bushes or commonly known as burning bush, ragweed, summer cypress, or Mexican fireweed covering the Miharashi hill (みはらしの丘), located at the northwestern garden, allow the visitors to experience a unique fall colors.

The Miharashi no Oka hill with the colorful kochia bushes.

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花火 Hanabi 2014 – Summer Fireworks Festival

Summer in Japan means it is the season of fireworks. Firework festivals are held all over Japan during the summer season as the wind is gentler and the sky is clearer. Attending a hanabi event had been a fundamental part in Japanese culture. Visitors come in their traditional yukata or jinbei and enjoy the fireworks display while having a picnic or buying from the food stalls and participating in the game booths.

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Fuji Shibazakura Festival 2014

The Shibazakura Matsuri or moss phlox festival at Lake Motosuko is one of the most popular event in Japan. About 800,000 five-petaled moss phlox of more than six varieties bloom in the vast field creating a beautiful bright floral carpet under the foot of Mt.Fuji. These shibazakuras grow in white, fluorescent pink, red, rose pink, deep mauve, and pink-and-white candy stripe.

Along the flowers, there are food stalls, Japanese tea, foot bath, and photo souvenir areas available for visitors. Fuji Shibazakura Festival special frame post stamps, post cards and stamps are also sold in the post office.

Video Clip:

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