It's like a paradise
- 橋本 拡史（ひろふみ）
- May 1
- 4 min read
"It's like a paradise."
Many people probably think this when they see the vast flower fields.
The Sera Kogen Farm Group, which has four farms, is located in Sera Town, Hiroshima Prefecture. The town is famous as a "relay race town" thanks to the success of the Sera High School relay team, which has won the most national championships.
In recent years, it has also become known by many as a "flower town."
When we asked people from inside and outside the prefecture about their impressions of Sera Town,
"It's a beautiful town."
"It's a lively town."
Hearing this makes me happy to live in this town.
I believe this is the result of many years of hard work by Serakogen Farm.
Visitors are amazed not only by the vastness of the grounds, but also by the vivid colors of the flowers.
This is probably because high-quality seeds and bulbs are used, and efforts are made to create fertile soil.
The four farms are located at an altitude of 400 to 500 meters, and one of their characteristics is that they are located in an area where the temperature difference throughout the day is extreme. While temperature differences are not pleasant for people, they are apparently beneficial for crops such as rice and flowers. The temperature difference helps the flowers to develop their color well and last longer.
This means that there are many beautiful flowers and you can enjoy them for a long time.
But the biggest attraction is that these flowers are lovingly cultivated and cared for by the staff.
No one feels bad when they see beautiful flowers.
It is a "sanctuary of healing" where you can forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life and fully experience the power of flowers.
It is a moving place for us photographers as well.
The design changes every year, including the floral patterns and the flow of people, so even a heavy user like me will want to visit again and again.
The sunlight shining in from a slanting angle creates a particularly beautiful view, especially in the mornings just after the gardens open and in the evenings just before they close. It's a photogenic spot that excites not only visitors who enjoy the flowers, but also photographers.
Also, from a photography perspective, the surrounding area is favorable because there are few man-made objects or obstacles, and there are many places with open views into the sky.
Being a plateau, the area is hilly, and by taking advantage of the differences in elevation, you can change the camera angle and enjoy taking photos from a variety of perspectives.
There are many variations, such as looking down from a high position or taking photos from close to the ground.
In some places, the flowers are planted in curved lines, giving them a gentleness that straight lines don't have.
If you have the opportunity to talk to visitors while taking photos,
"This farm doesn't bring in ready-made flowers, they grow them here. Also, these tulips aren't planted by machine, they're all planted by hand."
When I say this, everyone is surprised and says, "Such a vast piece of land, all by human hands..."
It seems that they are constantly exploring ways to make the most of the vast land and characteristics of the farm, and creating spots that will make it stand out.
We don't have a chance to see the staff at work when the park is closed, but we can imagine they are putting in as much effort as possible to make the flowers bloom beautifully and to make visitors smile.
I have been judging the photo contest held at this farm for many years. There are always many entries, and judging is a fun and exciting experience.
Even while judging, there are many new discoveries, such as ``There are places like this...'' or ``From this angle...''
There are many photography enthusiasts from outside the prefecture, and some even go so far as to sleep in their cars and take plenty of photos from morning until closing time on both days if they can get two days off.
That's how much it attracts photographers.
For tourists and for us photographers
This place is a "paradise" that shows and captivates.
We hope for your continued success.
~ 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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