"To the paradise of weeping cherry blossoms"

by Yurufuwa Photographer Murai Sachi

I board a plane from Tokyo and land at Hiroshima Airport. After a 40-minute drive, the familiar scenery of rural woodlands comes into view. Seeing this scenery brings with it the usual sense of relief. I get out of the car and take a deep breath. The smell of the forest, the smell of the soil, the smell of flowers—it reminds me of the place where I lived as a child, a place surrounded by rice fields that has now been erased by houses and buildings—and my heart is filled.

I have been coming to Sera Town for over 10 years. Except for the time when I couldn't go due to COVID-19, I have returned here every year. Now, Sera Town has become my "spiritual home."

Located at an altitude of 500m, it's still cold in early spring at Serakogen Farm. This photo was taken in April 2021. The Serakogen Farm Weeping Cherry Blossoms opened in 2019. I'd heard about this place for several years and had been wanting to visit it since it opened. This year (2024), the Sakura Festival will be held from March 23rd to April 7th, so be sure to check it out.

The moment you enter this garden, you will be greeted by a world of such beauty that you will want to scream out loud.

The weeping cherry blossom corridor is called "Sakura Noren" and, as the name suggests, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms from your own perspective. In addition to cherry blossoms, there are also spiraea and daffodils planted, creating a gorgeous sight that will make you gasp in delight.

On sunny days, you can see the shadows of the cherry blossoms below, and when the cherry blossoms start to fall, they cover the road below, painting everything pink. Personally, I recommend going in the morning when the park opens, so the fallen cherry blossoms below are still beautiful.

If you go in the morning or evening, you can take fantastic photos with slanting light.

Once you pass through this cherry blossom curtain, a wide view will unfold before your eyes.

At "Harukoi no Oka," there is a heart-shaped flower object that will make you want to take a photo.

The park is simply colorful. There are so many vitamin-colored trees that just walking around gives you energy. Sera Highlands is also the watershed between the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan, and I've heard rumors that it's a power spot (lol). I'm actually drawn to it and it gives me energy.

And this is also my favorite place, "Miharu no Oka."

This path is very pleasant. On a sunny day, you can enjoy the blue sky, rape blossoms at your feet, and pink cherry blossoms. For someone like me who likes soft, bright, and "soft and fluffy" photos, this is the perfect place. It's truly a cherry blossom paradise. There are also photo spots along the path, such as swings, so it would be fun to ask a friend to be your model.

In addition to the weeping cherry trees, the Jindai Akebono cherry tree is also in bloom in the park. This cherry tree is more vibrant in color than the Somei Yoshino cherry tree, and stands out beautifully against the sky. If you take a photo from a spot a little down the hill, you can take a photo of the sky and rape blossoms together.

There are cherry blossoms in the foreground, so it would be nice to take a photo of them together.

This is a view that goes beyond paradise, it's like heaven. I felt so happy taking the photos. I'm sure they had this image in mind when they were creating this place.

What I like about Serakogen Farm is that it's not just a flower field, but has been carefully designed to create picturesque scenery when photographed. The scenery changes every year, so you'll never get bored, no matter how many times you come.

In the gaps between the rapeseed flowers, there are areas where wildflowers such as shepherd's purse and henbits grow. This photo, taken there, is one of my favorites and was also exhibited at a previous photo exhibition.

I've only shown a small part of it, but it was a place that truly healed me and made me happy while filming. I always think, "If only this place was closer to home..." If it were, I'd probably go there every week.

The weeping cherry blossoms of Serakogen Farm signal the start of the flower season. After this, other attractions will open, including Hana Yume no Sato (nemophila and moss phlox), Serakogen Farm (tulips), Serafuji Garden (wisteria), and Sora no Hanabatake Serakogen Hana no Mori (Sora Flower Garden, Serakogen Flower Forest) (English roses).

Finally, the weeping cherry trees at Serakogen Farm are still young. I believe that the trees will continue to grow and change in appearance. One of the joys is watching the cherry blossoms change every year. It would be wonderful to take photos of your children in the same place every year. I would like to visit as often as possible and watch the cherry blossoms grow. If you see me wandering around Serakogen Farm with my camera, please feel free to say hello.

There are still many more photos I would like to show you, but I would like to end by showing you one of my favorites.

Thank you very much. See you at Serakogen!

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 to 23rd (FUJIFILM SQUARE), Sapporo: July 12th to 17th, Osaka: August 30th to 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 )