[Miyagi Prefecture] Vibrant spectacular scenery during the rainy season! 4 famous hydrangea spots

When wet during the rainy season, hydrangeas become even more vivid, emitting colors reminiscent of a painter's palette. In this article, we will introduce four wonderful hydrangea spots in Miyagi.

Shifukuji Temple

Shifukuji Temple dates back to the Kamakura period, and was built near Yonezawa by Tokihide Nagai during the Koan era.

As a center of learning, it is a famous temple that is sometimes listed as one of the ten temples of Kanto.

After the Nagai clan was destroyed by the Date clan during the Nanbokucho period, it was protected by the Date clan, and during the Sengoku period, Date Terumune invited Sootsu Toraya to become his chief priest and entrusted him with the education of his son Masamune. But it is also known.

Following the transfer of the Date clan, it moved to Iwadeyama in 1591, Sendai Yachikoji (Higashi Rokuban-cho, Sendai City) in 1600, and to its current location in 1638.

What is Kitayama Gozan?

Kitayama Gozan refers to five temples (Buddhist temples) located on the Kitayama hills that lie east-west to the north of the former Sendai castle town (currently the central part of Sendai city) in Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.

These temples had the meaning of protecting the Demon Gate of Sendai Castle, and also served as a barrier to the Oshu Kaido and Neshiroishi Kaido, protecting the northern part of Sendai Castle Town.

Kitayama Gozan is based on five Rinzai sect temples that were founded in the Kamakura period in present-day Date District, Fukushima Prefecture by the fourth generation Date Masayoshi, who was a deep believer in Buddhism. These temples were also called ``Date Gozan'', following the example of ``Kyoto Gozan'' and ``Kamakura Gozan''.

Hydrangea at Shifukuji Temple

Approximately 1,200 colorful hydrangeas bloom from mid-June to mid-July, and are popular with many tourists.

Shifukuji Temple is open all year round and can be visited at any time during daylight hours. Admission is free and there is free parking.

However, please note that there are no toilets inside the temple.

Shifukuji <Information>

• Name: Shifukuji Temple
• Address: 1-13-1 Kitayama, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture 981-0931
• Opening hours: None, you can enter anytime during daylight hours
• Admission fee: Free

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Sendai City Wildflower Garden

The Sendai City Wildflower Garden is a botanical garden that takes advantage of the varied ups and downs of the north side of Mt. Dainenji, where a variety of plants are planted in conditions close to the wild, and you can enjoy seasonal flowers such as irises, hydrangeas, and Japanese clover. You can.

There is an area named ``Hydrangea Ward'' where 13 types of hydrangea are planted, and you can enjoy a variety of hydrangeas for a long time, from early summer little hydrangea to red hydrangea that decorates the end of the season. Masu.

Sendai City Wildflower Garden＜Information＞

• Name: Sendai City Wildflower Garden
• Address: 2-1-1 Mogasaki, Taihaku Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 982-0843
• Gate opening hours: 9:00 to 16:45, open from March 20th to November 30th (Wildflower Museum is open all year round except December 28th to January 4th)
• Admission fee: 240 yen for adults, 60 yen for elementary and junior high school students. For groups of 30 or more, the fee is 190 yen for adults and 40 yen for elementary and junior high school students. *Admission to the Wildflower Museum is free.
• Official URL: Sendai City Wildflower Garden Official Site

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Dainenjiyama Park “Hydrangea Path”

The ``Hydrangea Path'' in Dainenjiyama Park, located just outside the wildflower garden, is a hidden spot for hydrangeas. Surrounded by a bamboo forest on one side and a cedar forest on the other, this path is surrounded by hydrangeas in full bloom. The contrast creates a unique and beautiful atmosphere.

We highly recommend visiting the wildflower garden and the Hydrangea Path as a set.

Dainenjiyama Park＜Information＞

• Name: Dainenjiyama Park
• Address: Mogasaki, Taihaku Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 982-0843
• Opening hours: None in particular
• Admission fee: Free

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National Michinoku-Mori Lakeside Park

At Michinoku Lakeside Park, approximately 2,200 hydrangea plants of 16 varieties are planted on the ``Hydrangea Path'' adjacent to ``Aya no Hiroba''. Here, you can enjoy a wide variety of hydrangeas such as ``Annabelle'', ``Maiko'', ``Safari'', ``Western hydrangea'', and ``Shichidanka''.

Furthermore, approximately 1,800 hydrangeas are planted in the ``Flower Garden'' and ``Furusato Village'' within the park, and since the blooming period varies depending on the variety, the best time to see them can be enjoyed over a long period until mid-July.

National Michinoku-Mori Lakeside Park <Information>

• Name: National Michinoku-Mori Lakeside Park
• Address: 53-9 Ono Nihonmatsu, Kawasaki-cho, Shibata-gun, Miyagi Prefecture, 989-1505
• Opening hours: 9:30-17:00
• Admission fee: Required (see official website)
• Official URL: https://michinoku-park.info/

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Mini knowledge about hydrangea colors

Hydrangea is a general term for plants in the genus Hydrangea of ​​the Saxifrage family, and there are about 70 to 75 species in the world, of which about 25 species grow naturally in Japan, and they are the flowers that represent the rainy season. .

The name hydrangea comes from the fact that it has purple flowers, as can be seen from the kanji ``hydrangea,'' but depending on the type, it can bloom in a variety of colors, including white, pink, and blue.

Although it may not be surprising, the difference in flower color does not depend on the species, but rather on the pH value of the soil.

It turns blue in acidic soils, where it absorbs aluminum easily, and pink in alkaline soils, where it is difficult to absorb aluminum.