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The beginning of spring flowers is the weeping plum. Next, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, roses... Akatsuka Botanical Garden is in full bloom all year round!

掲載日:2020.02.22

I can hear the footsteps of spring.
Suzuka Forest Garden, famous for its weeping plums, opened on Saturday, February 22, 2020. Furthermore, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, roses...the best time to see flowers continues one after another. Akatsuka Botanical Garden, headquartered in TsuCity, grows seasonal flowers and entertains in a variety of ways. Here we will report on the facilities of Akatsuka Botanical Garden, which is full of beautiful flowers. The sight of the pretty flowers will soothe your heart.

I can hear the footsteps of spring.
Suzuka Forest Garden, famous for its weeping plums, opened on Saturday, February 22, 2020. Furthermore, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, roses...the best time to see flowers continues one after another.
Akatsuka Botanical Garden Co., Ltd., headquartered in TsuCity, grows seasonal flowers and entertains in a variety of ways.
Here we will report on the facilities of Akatsuka Botanical Garden, which is full of beautiful flowers.
The sight of the pretty flowers will soothe your heart.

Suzuka Forest Garden

At Suzuka Forest Garden, a research farm near Suzuka Interchange, we grow about 200 plum trees of about 40 different varieties, with the main variety being ``Kureha Shidare.''
Two of the most spectacular are the ``Heavenly Dragon'' and ``Earth Dragon.'' It is said that the founder and chairman of Akatsuka Botanical Garden, Mitsuyoshi Akatsuka, fell in love with this tree, which is said to be Japan's oldest kimono weeping tree, and acquired it.
Other varieties cultivated include Kagoshima Beni, Yae Kanbai, and ``Omotomamoma'', which has red and white flowers blooming on a single tree. From the viewing platform, you can overlook the garden with the Suzuka Mountains, including Mt.Gozaisho and Mt. Shakagadake, as a backdrop.

One of the roles of the garden, which acts as a research cultivation facility, is to pass on and popularize Japan's traditional horticultural technique, ``tailoring techniques,'' for growing beautiful plums.
Daily maintenance is essential to make the tree look equally beautiful from any angle.
Therefore, we are passing on our traditional tailoring techniques to a wide range of landscaping companies and others.

In 2019, they demonstrated their amazing pruning skills in front of cherry blossom viewing visitors.

Fantastic night illuminations are also held during the peak flower viewing season.
The plums at Suzuka Forest Garden, where old and famous trees are collected from all over the country, exhibit a majestic beauty in terms of their thickness, size, and the shape of their trunks created with advanced tailoring techniques. Please feel the unique beauty of Japan.

*The public opening of Suzuka Forest Garden in 2020 ended on March 15th.

Akatsuka Rhododendron Garden

When the weeping plum season ends, rhododendrons, the ``queen of flowering trees,'' will soon be at their best.
Akatsuka Rhododendron Garden, a cultivation sample farm located near Geino IC and Akatsuka Botanical Garden's headquarters, holds a Rhododendron Festival during the flowering season and opens the garden to the public.
Over 3,000 rhododendrons of over 200 varieties bloom.

The original species of rhododendron grows wild in the high mountains, so it was vulnerable to the heat of Japan, but Akatsuka Botanical Garden has spent many years improving the species and has developed a durable, gorgeous variety that blooms all over the rhododendron tree.
It is resistant to heat and can be grown in lowlands.
There are flat walking paths in the park, so we recommend taking a leisurely walk while viewing the scenery.

There are over 200 varieties of rhododendrons, and the park is colorful, including red, pink, purple, white, and yellow.
The blooming period differs depending on the variety, so you can enjoy the best time to see the flowers for a long period of time (the public opening in 2020 is scheduled for April 3rd (Friday) to May 6th (Wednesday)).
The park also has cherry blossoms, Japanese peaches, Japanese daisies, and Japanese daisies, so it's a must-see to see how they work together with the rhododendrons.

Blueberry garden

Latest information here.
In early June, ``Blueberry Garden'' will open next to Akatsuka Rhododendron Garden.
Over 1,150 blueberry trees of over 30 varieties are grown here.
For cultivation, we use "FFC Water," a plant-friendly water developed by the Akatsuka Group, to grow blueberries that are resistant to disease and have a good taste.

[Added on May 28, 2020]
*Akatsuka Blueberry Garden has decided to postpone its opening in 2020 due to the influence of the new coronavirus.

You can also try picking ripe blueberries until mid-August. You will be surprised by the deliciousness of freshly picked sweet and sour blueberries!
Look forward to the appearance of a new specialty garden.

RedHilForestofHisa

RedHilForestofHisa is a satoyama garden near Geino IC where you can enjoy plants in all seasons throughout the year.
The Satoyama area near the Akatsuka Botanical Garden's head office has been maintained for over 25 years and used as a rhododendron cultivation sample farm, and has been open to the public since 2016.
More than 10,000 flowers and trees of approximately 1,000 types are grown on the vast 6 hectares of land.
From March to April, cherry blossoms, kobushi, and other flowering trees bloom one after another, and fresh greenery sprouts on the trees, allowing you to feel the arrival of spring with your whole body.

The waterside promenade centered around the water lily pond is also a must-visit place.

In late April, wisteria flowers are in full bloom on the wisteria trellis built on the bridge over the pond.
Currently, efforts are being made to manage the famous wisteria trees in RedHilForestofHisa, and it is said that a famous wisteria spot will be created in the future.
Behind the pond is a flower garden with brightly colored flowers, mainly annual plants.

From mid-May, the roses in the rose garden bloom all at once.
The rose garden, surrounded by trees and filled with the scent of roses, is home to 1,500 roses of 400 varieties.
You can also see Akatsuka's original variety ``Colline Rouge'' here.

Large water lilies bloom in the water lily pond from July to October.
The cool water lilies blooming on the surface of the water will make you forget the hot summer.

As you walk through the park, you'll notice tall top trees.
This is Semper Sequoia (also known as redwood), which is the origin of the name "Red Hill".
Semper sequoia is a tree that grows on the west coast of the United States and is known for being the tallest tree in the world.
By the way, the name ``Heather Forest'' comes from the name of Chairman Akatsuka's wife, Mrs. Hisako, who has nurtured this satoyama for many years.

The Miharashidai is recommended as a viewing point.
It is on a hill overlooking the water lily pond area, and you can feel the changing seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, rhododendrons in early summer, and autumn leaves in autumn. Please sit on the bench and enjoy the scenery slowly.

`` RedHilForestofHisa'' is filled with Chairman Akatsuka's desire to ``create the world's best garden center.''
Many events are held here, including concerts, guided tours, and craft making, so you're sure to have fun every time you visit.

■Koyaohana Kaido Asatsumi (Aatsumi)

At the foot of RedHilForestofHisa is Takano Obana Kaido Asatsumi, one of the largest direct sales stores in Mie Prefecture.
As the name of the store suggests, the store sells fresh vegetables picked in the morning by farmers mainly from the local TsuCity.
When you can get seasonal produce that you can see from the producers, many customers come from far away.

It is operated by Future Farm Community Mie Co., Ltd. Chairman Akatsuka, who hopes to revitalize the local area, will serve as the representative.

Freshly made gelato made with not only agricultural products but also local ingredients is very popular.

In addition, the restaurant and cafe "Terroir", where you can casually enjoy authentic cuisine with the theme of "Taste Satoyama", is scheduled to be renovated to a buffet style from March 12, 2020 (Thursday).

AkatsukaFFCpavilion (Akatsuka Botanical Garden)

In front of Akatsuka Botanical Garden's head office is AkatsukaFFCpavilion, one of the largest gardening specialty stores in Mie Prefecture.
It is affectionately known as the "Akatsuka Botanical Garden" by locals.

The spacious facility is stocked with gardening goods such as potted flowers, ornamental plants, cut flowers, flower and vegetable seedlings and seeds, as well as fertilizer, flowerpots, soil, and more.
We have staff with specialized knowledge, so please feel free to ask us anything.

We also hold classes and workshops on topics such as flower planting and soil preparation from time to time. Professionals active in various fields, such as growers, arborists, and garden designers, will give you detailed instructions.
There are also seminars that are free of charge, so please check the website for details.

At the FFC Museum, located across the street, the history of Akatsuka Botanical Garden since its founding in 1960 is explained in an easy-to-understand manner through panels.

The adjacent giant greenhouse "FFC Utopia Farm" cultivates rare plants that are rarely seen elsewhere, including the symbolic tree, Tokkurikiweed, as well as baobabs, jade vines, and Vietnamese camellias.
Be sure to check the Akatsuka Botanical Garden's SNS, etc. for notifications when rare flowers bloom!

Admission to both facilities is free.

About Chairman Mitsuyoshi Akatsuka

The person who founded Akatsuka Botanical Garden in 1963 is Mitsuru Akatsuka (86 years old), who is currently the chairman.
He has continued to play an active role in the Japanese horticulture industry for many years, making Mie Prefecture a major producer of Satsuki and establishing cultivation techniques for orchids, which were considered difficult to mass produce.

In addition, he introduced rare ornamental plants one after another from overseas, leading to the ornamental plant boom in the 1970s.
He is a top runner in the horticulture world, having won the Emperor's Cup in the horticulture division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and has been recognized for his achievements in horticulture both domestically and overseas, as well as receiving the Medal with Yellow Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun.

In recent years, the Suzuka Forest Garden, Akatsuka Rhododendron Garden, and RedHilForestofHisa have been opened one after another in order to help revitalize local agriculture and tourism.
Together with his beloved wife, Mrs. Hisako, he has worked to create a safe, secure and prosperous society.

At Akatsuka Botanical Garden, we offer a variety of places and ways for people to get acquainted with plants so that they can see, touch, and grow them to make their daily lives more enjoyable and energetic.
On the other hand, I also learned that behind the scenes of growing beautiful plants, they are making steady efforts to improve varieties and pass on cultivation techniques.

In the upcoming season, why not start by admiring the plum blossoms at Suzuka Forest Garden and then visit other facilities?
A wonderful encounter with plants awaits you.
[Suzuka Forest Garden]
Address: 151-2 SuzukaCity
Phone: 059-371-1777
https://www.akatsuka.gr.jp/group/suzuka/
Business period: February 22, 2020 to late March
Business hours: 9:00-16:00 (last entry 30 minutes before closing time)
*Until 21:00 during the night illumination period
Closed days: None during the period
Admission fee: 700-1,700 yen for adults, half price for elementary school students, free for preschoolers
*Admission fee varies depending on flowering status
Access by car: Approximately 3 km from Higashi-Meishin Expressway Suzuka IC, approximately 3 km from Shin-Meishin Expressway Suzuka PA Smart IC (ETC only), both approximately 5 minutes by car.
Access by public transportation: Take SuzukaCity C-BUS and get off at Tsubaki/Hirata Line "Kanno Shrine", then walk for about 20 minutes
Parking lot: 200 spaces (free)


[Akatsuka Rhododendron Garden]
Address: 1902-1 Nishitoyokuno takanocho cho, TsuCity
Phone: 059-230-1234 (Akatsuka Botanical Garden Co., Ltd. Representative)
https://www.jp-akatsuka.co.jp/production/farm03/
Business period: April 3, 2020 to May 6, 2020 (varies depending on flowering status and weather conditions)
Business hours: 9:00-16:30 (last entry 16:00)
Closed days: None during the period
Admission fee: 700 yen for adults (includes 100 yen discount coupon for plant sales), 350 yen for junior high and high school students, free for elementary school students and younger
Access by car: 300m from Ise Expressway Geino IC, about 1 minute by car
Access by public transportation: From Tsu Station, take the Mie Kotsu bus bound for Mukumoto, get off at Shinde, and walk for about 1 minute.
Parking lot: 120 spaces (free)


[Blueberry Garden]
Address: 1902-1 Nishitoyokuno takanocho cho, TsuCity
Phone: 059-230-1234 (Akatsuka Botanical Garden Co., Ltd. Representative)
Business period: Early June to mid-August (tentative)
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (tentative)
Closed: Mondays, Thursdays (tentative)
Admission fee: Adults 1,800 yen to 2,000 yen, Elementary school students 1,200 yen to 1,500 yen, Infants (4 years old and older) 500 yen, 3 years old and under free
Access by car: 300m from Ise Expressway Geino IC, about 1 minute by car
Access by public transportation: From Tsu Station, take the Mie Kotsu bus bound for Mukumoto, get off at Shinde, and walk for about 1 minute.
Parking lot: 120 spaces (free)


[RedHilForestofHisa]
Address: 2877 takanocho TsuCity
Phone: 059-230-7789
http://www.redhill.co.jp/
Business hours: 9:30-17:00 (until 16:00 in winter)
Closed: Thursdays (temporary closures may apply)
Admission fee: General 800 yen from November to March and July to September, 1,200 yen from April to June and October, half price for junior high and high school students, free for elementary school students and younger
Access by car: Approximately 2 km from Ise Expressway Geino IC, 5 minutes by car
Access by public transportation: From Tsu Station, take the Mie Kotsu Bus bound for "Toyogaoka", get off at "F Kitayama", and walk for about 5 minutes; from Tsu Station, take the Mie Kotsu Bus bound for "Mukumoto", get off at "Takanoo Club-mae", and walk about 8 minutes minutes
Parking: Use Asatsumi parking lot (free)


[Takano Obana Kaido Asatsumi]
Address: 5680 takanocho TsuCity
Phone: 059-230-8701
https://takanoo-hanakaido.jp/
Business hours: 9:30-17:00
Lunch time 11:00-14:00 (until 15:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
*After 3/12 Lunch time 11:00-14:30 (order stop 13:30)
Snack corner 10:00-14:00
Gelato Cafe 10:00-17:00 (order stop 16:30)
Closed: 3rd Thursday of the month
Access by car: Approximately 2 km from Ise Expressway Geino IC, 5 minutes by car
Access by public transportation: From Tsu Station, take the Mie Kotsu Bus bound for "Toyogaoka", get off at "F Kitayama", and walk for about 5 minutes; from Tsu Station, take the Mie Kotsu Bus bound for "Mukumoto", get off at "Takanoo Club-mae", and walk about 8 minutes minutes
Parking lot: 323 spaces (free)


[AkatsukaFFCpavilion]
Address: 1868-3 takanocho TsuCity
Phone: 059-230-2121
https://www.jp-akatsuka.co.jp/pavilion/index.html
Business hours: 10:00-18:00 (until 17:00 from January to February)
Closed: Tuesday
Access by car: Approximately 2 km from Ise Expressway Geino IC, approximately 3 minutes by car
Access by public transportation: From Tsu Station, take the Mie Kotsu bus bound for "Mukumoto" or "Toyogaoka" and get off at "Takano-o", then walk for about 1 minute


[FFC Museum/FFC Utopia Farm]
Address: 1868-3 takanocho TsuCity
Phone: 059-230-1234 (Akatsuka Botanical Garden Co., Ltd. Representative)
Business hours: FFC Museum 11:00-15:30
Business days: FFC Museum Friday, Saturday, Sunday
*Please contact us for FFC Utopia Farm's business days and hours.
Admission fee: Free
Access by car: Approximately 2 km from Ise Expressway Geino IC, approximately 3 minutes by car
Access by public transportation: From Tsu Station, take the Mie Kotsu bus bound for "Mukumoto" or "Toyogaoka"
Get on the bus and get off at "Takano-o", then walk for about 1 minute

Related spots

Red Hill Heather Forest (Akatsuka Botanical Garden)

Red Hill Heather Forest (Akatsuka Botanical Garden)

Chunan group

TsuCity

It is a satoyama garden where you can enjoy over 1,000 varieties of rhododendrons and over 10,000 flowering trees and seasonal flowers. The approximately 70,000㎡ park has a ``Forest Area'' that takes advantage of the undulating topography of Satoyama, and a ``Flower Area'' where flowers of the four seasons are in full bloom. The symbol tree is Semper Sequoia (also known as redwood), which is called "the world's tallest tree," and the forest area is lined with large redwood trees that give it an exotic and refreshing feel. Various flowers bloom throughout the year in various parts of the park, mainly in the flower area. From early spring to summer, you can enjoy a relay of flowers, including plums, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, wisteria, roses, hydrangeas, and water lilies. Please feel the changing seasons and the blessings of nature at Red Hill, such as roses, Japanese azaleas, and autumn leaves on the trees in autumn, and daffodils and Christmas roses in winter. (Seasonal Flowers) Spring: Plums, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, wisteria, roses Summer: Hydrangeas, water lilies, Titambicas Autumn: Roses, Fujibakama, Asiatic flowers, autumn leaves Winter: Christmas roses, daffodils ★Flowers The flowering status is also posted on Akatsuka Botanical Garden's official Twitter and official Instagram. ◇ ◇ ◇ “Red Hill Heather Forest” is a cultivation sample farm operated by Akatsuka Botanical Garden Co., Ltd., and was opened to the public in September 2016. It has been developed over many years to revitalize the Satoyama area where people and nature can coexist, and to transform it into a place where people can foster a love for flowers and greenery. Maintenance and management is being carried out with the aim of continuing to protect the Satoyama for many years to come. ◇ ◇ ◇Click here for the detailed report on RedHilForestofHisa https://www.kankomie.or.jp/report/160.html Click here for the 2023 fall rose flowering status Mie Flower Calendar Mie Prefecture Click here for rose viewing spots in Mie.

Takano Obana Kaido Asatsumi

Chunan group

TsuCity

5 minutes by car from Geino IC. One of the largest farmers' markets in Mie Prefecture, adjacent to RedHilForestofHisa. You can enjoy shopping in a spacious space. In addition to fresh vegetables and fruits delivered from over 400 local farmers, local specialties, and souvenirs, the shop's homemade Japanese sweets, tofu, and side dishes made with local ingredients are also popular. Event information updated regularly! Check out the official website! *Updated daily! *We are now distributing Asatsumi daily arrival information! ★Instagram ★Facebook

AkatsukaFFCpavilion (Akatsuka Botanical Garden)

Chunan group

TsuCity

We are a gardening specialty store directly managed by Akatsuka Botanical Garden, which has been operating in Tsu City, TsuCity Prefecture since 1961. The sales floor is not only inside the store, but also outside and in the greenhouse, making it very spacious. We carry a wide variety of products, including seasonal potted flowers, ornamental plants, flowers for gardening, flowering trees, vegetable seedlings, and seeds. We also carry popular air plants, seasonal gifts, and cute goods. Even beginners can start gardening with confidence, as the staff will be happy to advise you on how to grow the plants according to their characteristics. Various gardening seminars such as group planting classes are also held regularly. Nearby are the satoyama garden ``Red Hill Heather Forest'' and the farm produce store ``Takano Obana Kaido Asatsumi''. (Approximately 3 minutes by car) For the latest information such as flower recommendations, please visit FFC Pavilion's official Facebook and official Instagram!

Suzuka Forest Garden

Research cultivation farm Suzuka Forest Garden (Akatsuka Botanical Garden)

Northern forces

SuzukaCity

This is a weeping plum research farm run by Akatsuka Botanical Garden, and is open to the public from late February to late March every year. Over the years, approximately 200 famous plum trees have been collected from all over Japan, mainly for ``Kureha Shidare'', with the aim of continuing and popularizing the technique of making weeping plums. The magnificent plum trees, such as the weeping kimono tree ``Ten no Ryu,'' which is estimated to be over 100 years old and is thought to be the oldest in Japan, are worth seeing. In addition to kofuku weeping, you can also enjoy many varieties of weeping in the park, including Yae Kanbai, Wisteria peony weeping, Kagoshima beni, and the red and white-flowered ``Omimamama''. The sight of famous trees lined up against the backdrop of the Suzuka Mountains is a sight to behold, and the trees are illuminated at night during the blooming period. Please see the official website for details such as opening period and fees. ↓↓ [Suzuka Forest Garden Official Homepage] --------------- ★The blooming status of the flowers is also posted on Akatsuka Botanical Garden's official Twitter and official Instagram.

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