"Colors of Spring"

Hello everyone, I'm Murai Sachi, a laid-back photographer.

Following on from last time, I would like to show you some photos I took at Serakogen Farm and explain why I am so fascinated by this place.

Last time we talked about weeping cherry blossoms, but Serakogen Farm is very lively in spring.

From this season until autumn, various flowers continue to bloom, delighting us.

I wish I could live in Sera Highlands. I wish I could spend a whole year leisurely chasing flowers.

This time, I would like to introduce "Kamu no Sato" where you can see beautiful nemophila and moss pinks, and "Sera Kogen Farm" which is known for its tulips.

"Hanayume no Sato"

In spring, Hanayume no Sato is overflowing with color, with hills of nemophila melting into the blue sky and colorful, patchwork-like moss phlox. 450,000 moss phlox and 1 million nemophila flowers bloom across one of the largest hills in western Japan, welcoming the arrival of spring.

(*Photographed with a drone with special permission)

The beauty of the moss phlox is even more apparent when viewed from the sky. It's truly a patchwork hill. It's fun to see the designs change every year. When viewed up close, they are very cute flowers that look like cherry blossoms, just as their name suggests. You'll likely be captivated by the overall beauty, but be sure to take a closer look.

Also on the same premises is a hill of 1 million nemophila flowers. Kamu no Sato is located on a mountain with a great view, so I think one of its charms is that the sky is the background. And just looking at the Sera Highlands mountain range is soothing.

I've always loved blue, so I tend to focus on the nemophila (lol), but I was able to take such a pleasant photo of the sky. I want to express the emotions I feel through my photos. I hope you can feel that through the photos.

The charm of nemophila is that it is very cute even when photographed up close.

In addition to the blue nemophila, white nemophila and yellow limnanthes are also in bloom in the park, so just taking pictures of them is a very enjoyable and happy experience.

I could probably stay here all day (laughs). The "Kamu no Sato" is full of fluffy flowers, and the planting method changes every year, so it's great to be able to feel the evolution.

In June, you can see the "Hill of Hydrangeas and Hollyhocks," and in August, the hills change into "Heavenly Blue Hills" of morning glories and kochia , so you can enjoy a variety of flowers throughout the year.

First, try being surrounded by blue and pink.

"Tulips at Serakogen Farm"

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the founding of the Flower Tourist Farm, and the 30th anniversary of its founding. The start of this tradition was tulips. 750,000 tulips of 200 varieties are planted on the vast grounds.

The vast expanse of tulips stretches out as far as the eye can see, making you wonder how they managed to count them all (lol). I've been going to this place for over 10 years, and every year they put on a new and interesting display, so I never get bored and always find myself wanting to go again.

Serakogen Farm seen from the sky. Even this photo didn't fit everything in...

(*Photographed with a drone with special permission)

To be honest, I have so many tulip photos that I want to show you.

The defining feature of the tulips at Serakogen Farm is their vastness. I try to keep this in mind when I take photographs. Close-up photos are beautiful, but you don't have to be in Sera to take those, so I try to capture the unique features of this farm.

And the most distinctive feature of this place is that it's in the mountains, so there are no man-made objects in the background. So I used a wide-angle lens to capture a nice place.

Even looking at the photos makes me feel relaxed (lol). It must be hard to plant so many bulbs... They apparently plant them by hand in the fall . We are being shown the most beautiful moment, but we don't want to forget that behind the scenes there is the hard work of everyone at the farm, and when I think about that, the tulips blooming before my eyes seem even more adorable♪

I'm a photographer, so I always take photos hoping to be able to return those feelings through them.

Whenever I take a break from filming, I always enjoy the Sera Burger. This burger, like the flowers, evolves every year and gets more delicious. After the meal, I go to the flower cafe and drink tea while looking at the tulips in full bloom, which is the most pleasant feeling.

Of course, tulips are beautiful even when photographed up close. The fields are so vast that I always have trouble deciding where to photograph them... (laughs).

The hours just before the park opens and closes are dramatic times when the light is blocked. Try to aim for those times. There will be fewer people around, so you can take photos with a different atmosphere than usual.

I will visit Sera again in 2024 to see this view, and of course next year too...

Even though we visit every year, the way the flowers are planted, the locations, the flower paintings, etc. are all carefully thought out to never bore us, so every year when we pass through the farm gates, I'm filled with excitement.

I would like to capture the honest emotions I felt at that time in photographs. Please do visit "Kamu no Sato" and "Sera Kogen Farm."

The beauty of it can be fully conveyed by looking at the photos.

Serakogen Farm's catchphrase is "Flowers make everyone happy," and it's exactly that. I think the staff are the ones who make the customers happy.

Thank you for reading this time as well.

Next time, I will write about Serafuji Garden.

Easygoing photographer Murai Sachi

After working as a diving guide in Zamami Village, Okinawa Prefecture, he entered the world of photography.

After working as a photographer for a diving magazine, he went independent.

Currently, he works across the globe, focusing on underwater photography, landscapes, flowers, and more.

He continues to produce works in his unique, bright, gentle, and "soft and fluffy" style.

In 2024, the underwater photography exhibition "FantaSea" will be held in Tokyo, Sapporo, and Osaka.

Tokyo: May 17th - 23rd (FUJIFILM SQUARE), Sapporo: July 12th - 17th, Osaka: August 30th - September 5th, both at FUJIFILM Photo Salon.

At the same time, he also released an underwater photo book titled "FantaSea" to commemorate his 20th anniversary as a photographer.

Tourism Ambassador for Zamami Village, Okinawa Prefecture.

She is the owner of Murai Sachi's Fluffy Photo Salon.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murai_sachi/

Official Web: http://murasiachi.com

Fluffy Photo Salon: Photographer Murai Sachi's Fluffy Photo Salon CAMPFIRE Community ( camp-fire.jp )