「The sparkle of summer, with sunflower fields stretching endlessly 」
- むらいさち
- May 1
- 4 min read
Hello everyone! I’m Sachi Murai, a photographer.
This is the fourth installment of my contribution for the 45th anniversary of Sera Kogen Farm, and this time, I’d like to introduce the sunflower fields.
Sunflowers: A Summer Symbol of Sera Kogen Farm
Nowadays, the Sera Kogen Farm Group has flowers blooming in their gardens in every season except winter. But the originals are still spring tulips and summer sunflowers.
Even as the variety of flowers has increased, these blooms remain the true symbols of Sera Kogen Farm.
Vast Sunflower Fields
One of the most remarkable features of Sera Kogen Farm’s sunflower fields is their sheer vastness.
They cover a massive area of 65,000 square meters! That might not mean much at first glance (laughs). To put it into perspective, it’s about 1.5 times the size of Tokyo Dome (laughs).
Seeing that enormous space dyed entirely in yellow is truly a spectacular sight.
Such a vast sunflower field is rare to see anywhere in Japan. Just witnessing this scenery alone makes the visit well worth it.
By the way, one of Sera Kogen Farm’s symbols is the observation deck modeled after a windmill (first photo). Ten years ago, it was a cute white deck (second photo).
Even for someone who visits regularly, it never gets boring. That’s because the flowers and the park itself are improved every year, keeping the experience fresh each time.
The photo of the white observation deck was taken in 2013—it feels nostalgic. I myself have many fun memories at Sera Kogen Farm.
"White Sunflower Fields"
I’d like to share some photos I’ve taken over the past few years of the ever-evolving sunflower fields. While the vast sunflower fields themselves are a major attraction, what has captivated me the most in recent years is the fields of white sunflowers, which have gradually increased in number.
I had seen white sunflowers before, but I had never encountered a place with so many of them.
As a photographer who often shoots soft and gentle-style photos, I really appreciate how these delicate colors perfectly match my artistic style.
"The Joys of Sunflower Season"
Of course, the sunflowers are the main attraction, but there are also seasonal delights unique to this time of year. First, there’s the floating flower display right at the entrance. Every year, they creatively arrange flowers to float on water, making it one of the highlights of the visit. No matter how you photograph it, it always looks stunning (laughs).
And when it comes to gourmet treats, don’t miss the popular Sera Burger. The drinks and parfaits at the Flower Café are also adorable, so be sure to stop by and enjoy them.
"Sunflowers at Night"
Finally, I’d like to share photos of Sera Kogen Farm at night, which are not usually open to the public. The fields are already so beautiful during the day, and I wanted to photograph the flowers together with the starry night sky, so I received special permission to shoot.
When I actually did the photography, I discovered a world that was even more peaceful and beautiful than I had imagined.
"Finally..."
This will be my final post in this series.
Originally, I was asked to write just two articles, but it quickly became clear that it was impossible to condense more than ten years of my feelings into only two pieces. As a result, the series became four installments. Even so, there are still many photos I wanted to share… It’s not enough to fully express my love for Sera, but I hope it has conveyed at least a little of the charm of Sera Kogen Farm to everyone.
For those who haven’t visited yet, I highly recommend going at least once. Some of my friends even travel from the Kanto region by plane or Shinkansen just to come here. That’s how captivating this place truly is.
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank Seiya Yoshimune, Isuzu Yoshimune, and all the staff who always welcome visitors with smiles for guiding me to this wonderful place.
No exaggeration—I can honestly say that my encounter with Sera Kogen Farm has made my life even more vibrant.
I look forward to many more moments of wonder and inspiration here in the future.
As the catchphrase says, “Flowers make everyone happy.”
Sachi Murai – “Soft & Gentle” Photographer
After working as a diving guide in Zamami Village, Okinawa, Sachi Murai entered the world of photography.
He worked as a photographer for diving magazines before becoming independent.
Currently, he works across the globe, capturing subjects ranging from underwater scenes to landscapes and flowers.
He continues to present his work in his unique, bright, and gentle “soft & gentle” (yurufuwa) style.
In 2024, he will hold an underwater photography exhibition, “FantaSea,” in Tokyo, Sapporo, and Osaka:
Tokyo: May 17–23 (FUJIFILM SQUARE)
Sapporo: July 12–17
Osaka: August 30–September 5 (both at FUJIFILM Photo Salon)
At the same time, he will release an underwater photo book “FantaSea” to celebrate his 20th anniversary as a photographer.
He serves as a Tourism Ambassador for Zamami Village, Okinawa, and hosts the Sachi Murai Soft & Gentle Photo Salon.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murai_sachi/
Official Web：http://murasiachi.com
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