"Flowers of Light" bloom even in winter
- 橋本 拡史（ひろふみ）
- May 1
- 4 min read
This time, I will write about the winter event "Sera Highlands Candle Night" and the charm of the night at Sera Highlands.
Before the event began, I spoke to the farm's representative, Seiya Yoshimune. He spoke with an excited look on his face, saying, "We're starting a new experiment in the winter, and at night." At that moment, I realized that flowers would now bloom in Serakogen in all seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. You might be wondering, "Flowers that bloom in winter?", but the winter flowers are "flowers of light."
Sera Town is an area with large temperature differences. This allows flowers to maintain their vibrant colors for a long time, providing a long-lasting delight to the eye. It is a great place to enjoy seasonal flowers in spring, summer, and autumn, but in winter, temperatures are low, and the area can snow and freeze over, making it a bit of a disadvantage.
So I thought the idea of "Sera Highlands Candle Night" was wonderful, incorporating candlelight as a place to enjoy winter.
There are certain times that are best for taking photos.
First, there's the "magic hour" just before and after sunset. As the sky darkens, the soft glow of candles fills the sky. The sky changes color dramatically from blue to orange or purple. It's a romantic time, woven together by nature and candlelight.
Please try taking photos during this time.
And when the sun goes down, a starry sky appears. Countless jewels called stars can be seen through the candlelight. We also recommend visiting at this time when the stars combine with the warm lights on the ground.
I have also experienced a candlelight night on a snowy day only once.
It was a scene I had always wanted to capture in a photograph, and I vividly remember taking the photo in excitement as the snow suddenly began to fall.
The lonely winter scenery transforms into a world of silvery white.
The candlelight reflects off the snow, creating an indescribably magical sight.
If you come across it at such a time, you are very lucky!
As a photographer, I have had many opportunities to take photos of couples and families here.
It's a perfect location for bridal photography in particular. I've photographed many people here since it opened, and the photos I've taken are truly beautiful. The colorful flowers are great, but the candlelit night photography, with its more sophisticated atmosphere, is also wonderful.
Every year, the staff creates an elaborate area.
I've seen a lot of the hard work involved in setting up and tearing down.
However, they always greet you with a smile, which I really appreciate.
Candlelight Night, available only in winter, welcomes you with warm lights.
This year, the event will be held from November 2nd to December 24th. For more information on the dates, please see the website ( https://sera-candle.com/ ).
Why not come to Candlelight Night and spend some precious time with your loved ones? It's a fantastical space that will heal your body and mind!
Now, I would like to talk about the nights at Sera Highlands.
Some group facilities are open at night on special days. I get excited as I snap pictures of the enchanting flowers that I couldn't see during the day. Perhaps because my vision is limited at night, my sense of smell becomes more acute, and I can smell the fragrance of Fuji apples and English roses even more.
The naturally rich Serakogen Farm also has a beautiful night view.
If you're coming from the city, you'll be amazed at the number of stars.
The park is characterized by a lack of light pollution due to the lack of residential areas. If the weather is good, you can see many stars. If you time it right, the sky is so clear that you can even see the Milky Way. It's also great to take photos of the flowers blooming in the park and the silhouettes of the metasequoia trees, which have a distinctive triangular shape.
A plateau close to the sky. A plateau under the stars.
It's a place that makes you feel that way.
These photos were taken at night with special permission to enter the park, and I hope to have more opportunities like this in the future. Please enjoy taking photos at Sera Highlands.
~ Hirofumi Hashimoto Profile ~
Graduated from Tokyo Polytechnic University, Department of Photography
After working at Fujiwara Photo Studio in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo, he started working at his family's Hashimoto Photo Studio. He has won various competitions, including the bronze medal in the Fujifilm Commercial Photography Contest. He also represented Hiroshima Prefecture in the Photography category of the National Skills Grand Prix.
He has been selected for the Nikakai Photography Club Exhibition for five consecutive years.
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/h.photo175/
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