Seibu Ikebukuro Line train station entrance at Ikebukuro, Tokyo. It takes about 90 min. from Ikebukuro to Yokoze Station via Tokkyu express train. Cheaper trains take 2 hours.
Seibu Ikebukuro Line train with shibazakura design.
Seibu Ikebukuro Line Yokoze Station. Get off here for an easy walk to Hitsujiyama Park where the Shibazakura moss pink hill is. A tourist info office is on the left. 西武池袋線横瀬駅
You can buy a park entry ticket (300 yen) at a booth in front of Yokoze Station. Maps also available. Underpass at Yokoze Station.
Entrance to Hitsujiyama Park. Show your ticket or buy it at the booth nearby.
If you go early in the morning, there are fewer people.
Quite spectacular when the flowers are in full bloom.
These photos were taken in late April 2007. (Copyright year in the images are mistaken.)
It is not yet full bloom. A few patches of green.
On sunny days, great for taking pictures.
Eight varieties of moss pink are planted. This is Autumn Rose. オータムローズ
Autumn Rose. Moss pink flowers have five petals with notches, looking like miniature cherry blossoms. The flowers are small. オータムローズ
Moss pink is therefore commonly called "shiba-zakura" which can be translated as "grassy cherry blossoms" or "lawn cherry blossoms."
Little Dot. リットルドット
Little Dot are white flowers with a yellow dot at the center. リットルドット
Little Dot
McDaniel's Cushion マックダニエルクッション
McDaniel's Cushion are dark pink flowers. マックダニエルクッション
McDaniel's Cushion
Oakington Blue オーキントンブルー
Oakington Blue are bluish flowers. オーキントンブルー
Oakington Blue
Scarlet Flame スカーレットフレーム
Scarlet Flame are red. スカーレットフレーム
Scarlet Flame
Tama-no-Nagare. Means "Flow of Tama." Tama is a river. 多摩の流れ
Tama-no-Nagare have a pink stripe on each petal. 多摩の流れ
Tama-no-Nagare look light pink from afar.
The top of one slope provides a grand view of the flower carpet and Mt. Bukosan, one symbol of Chichibu. 武甲山
Mt. Bukosan is being slowly eaten away by cement companies. 武甲山
武甲山
武甲山
Benches offer visitors a rest.
I found an almost infinite number of image combinations of the flowers and mountain.
Mt. Bukosan and moss pink. 武甲山
The combination of Mt. Bukosan and the flowers are almost unlimited. Chichibu, Saitama. 武甲山
Are your eyes getting tired of seeing this mountain and flowers?
Tulip and moss pink
Tricot
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The flower patterns don't look like anything.
The park allows dogs, but they bark and ruin the peace. They should ban dogs from the park.
Corner work
The shadowy areas bloom much later.
Scarlet Flame before full bloom.
Yae-zakura cherry blossoms combine well with moss pink.
Yae-zakura cherry blossoms and moss pink.
Outside the main entrance is this area full of food and souvenir stalls.