Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands
2014/11/13
Traveling from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, the redness of leaves became deeper and deeper, I became so exciting when reaching the top area. I was raised in Chongqing, a large city with mountainous landscape in China. It is a beautiful city where trees and plants remain green throughout the year except for few Ginkgo trees turned yellow during Autumn. This is the first time I saw red leaves in such a large scale. Leaves here are half reddened, trees mixed with red and green leaves were such a visual feast to my eye.
There were red, green and yellow leaves mixed up at the area in front of the main gate of Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands, together forming an extraordinary magical landscape created by the nature.
Red leaves was caused by chlorophylls in the leaf being destructed by the lower temperature of Autumn. There are many species of trees which leaves turned red in Autumn, and most leaves can only exit for few months. Red leaves in Hakone was simply obeying the rule of the nature world, using its marvelous red to celebrate the life.
Compare to red leaves, our human are always afraid of death, constantly trying to avoid it. I think we should learn something from the red leaf, live with full enthusiasm and high spirits whenever in bad or good situations of our life. We should remain beautiful mind and strong spirits even when facing the death.
Sorry I was talking about some heavy topics. But Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is not in a heavy mood at all, it is so beautiful.
Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is composed of several areas: deciduous forest, meadow, marsh, fen, alpine garden, bog, Sengokuhara moor and swamp forest. The fen zone is my favorite, large patch of golden fen sway as the wind blows, just like golden waves. There were fewer tourists in the garden, it was a tranquil place to visit. I stood in the garden, feel human is so small comparing to the nature. At the far end of the view, mountains covered with yellow and green plants looked like a giant Christmas tree.
I assume the garden will be more beautiful when Spring comes!
Information
Name | Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands |
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Address | 817, Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa |
Open season | March 20th to November 30th |
Business hours | 9:00 to 17:00 |
Admission ticket | For solo tourist: 700 yen for adult, 400 yen for child, for group tourists: 500 yen for adult, 350 yen for high school student, 300 yen for middle and elementary school student, 200 yen for toddler. |
Getting there | By car: from Miyanoshita, drive from Route 1 to Route 138 for approx. 15 minutes. Turn left at Sengokuhara crossroad, and turn right at the Y-shape crossroad with a flower shop on the roadside, drive for another 1 minute to reach the garden. By train: From the east exit of Odawara Station, take a bus at No. 4 bus platform, or take a express train of Odakyu line for Hakone-Yumoto and get off at Hakone-Yumoto Station. |
Parking lot | Free, 100 spaces available |
Toilet | Available |
Contact | 0460-84-7293 |
Website | http://www.kyokai.hakone.or.jp/hakoneshissei/ |
* Please refer to the latest info before visiting place.