Beautiful Rain

When June comes around, we in Japan, equipped ourselves with umbrellas, raincoats and perhaps even consider buying a pair of rain boots. Why? Because June is the start of the rainy season known as tsuyu (梅雨) in Japan and it is a one and half month of rainy days that is the reason why we prepare all our rain gear. But we also associate this rainy season with a flower that looks absolutely beautiful when wet. It is the hydrangea or also is called Ajisai, 紫陽花, in Japanese which happen to bloom around the same time.

I believe you already know that the colours of the petals can be manipulated by a change in the chemical make-up of the soil (Anyone inspiring to be a chemist + botanist?) and the colour of the flowers grows more vibrant as they get more rain water that falls on them through this rainy season. Although Ajisai is thought to symbolize heartfelt feelings, however, in Japanese art and poetry, Ajisai was chosen to represent fickleness and changing heart due to their ability to change colours.

One of the commonest plants in Japan, the Ajisai can be found anywhere as you look around in Tokyo. During this time too, the famous Ajisai temples such as the Meigetsu Temple, Hasedera and many others in Kamakura becomes unusually busy and crowded. You may have to wait in line and take a number to get in. Yes, it is THAT crowded. You can read it here.

But today, I am going to introduce to you a relatively secluded Ajisai garden in the mountains. If you go at the right time, you can even capture the flowers enshrouded in mist as featured. I was hoping to capture this mood, but I didn’t have that luck so far (yes, this is the only time I wished it would rain!).

Flowers in the misty Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama.
From http://www.earth-garden.jp/community/12457/

Ajisai enshrouded in the mist.  (I am sorry I cannot find the source for this photo).

The secluded Ajisai garden in the mountains is known as the Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama (南沢あじさい山) and it is located in the Arukino city (あきる野市), Tokyo.

Empty walkways

Completely surrounded by flowers

Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama is a 30-years labourized private garden by Mr Minami-zawa. He tended the garden and planted 10,000 Ajisai plant on this piece of land in the mountains.

A small donation of 300yen

You are able to find two different types of this flower at the Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama. The first and most common type, the mop head Ajisai has large round flower heads resembling a pom-pom or the head of a mop. I like this type the most as they reminded me of the make-up powder puffs. The other is called a lace cap and has round, flat flower heads with a centre core of young flowers surrounded by outer rings of individual bloomed flowers.

Love the little creatures on the flower

I so envy you, little fella. Can I stay with you?

To get to Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama by train, you have to take the JR Itsukaichi Line  (ＪＲ五日市線) to Musashi Itsukaichi station (武蔵五日市駅). My trip starts from Shinjuku station. I took the JR Chuo Line on a rapid train service with two changes of trains. One is at the Tachikawa station (立川駅) to the local train on the JR Ome Line (JR青梅線) heading towards the Musashi Itsukaichi station (武蔵五日市駅). The next train change is at Hajima station (拝島駅) for the JR Itsukaichi Line (JR五日市線). Musashi Itsukaichi station (武蔵五日市駅) is the last stop for JR Itsukaichi Line (JR五日市線). The whole journey takes about 70mins and the train ride from Shinjuku to Itsukaichi station costs about ¥800 per way.

From the Musashi Itsukaichi station, the walk is about 40mins and it is well marked with a cute man signpost. Please note that there is no service bus to get there.

The cute man signpost

As I could't get my map to work, I am going to refer you to this map by a blog maintained by the Itsukaichi city which I also put it up in this post.

From http://itsukaichi.seesaa.net/article/4591138.html

The best time to go to this garden is between mid-June till mid-July.  When I was there on 27^th June 2014, the flowers have blossomed into vibrant and plump rounded bunches of different colours as white, pink, purple and blue. I believe you are still able to view these beautiful blooms within this week.

One word of caution: Do not attempt to wear your nice shoes (read: heels) when you visit this place. Wear proper boots as it can be pretty muddy, especially after a shower of rain!

Ajisai by the river

Ajisai swaying in the mountain breeze