If you are following me on Instagram (please, follow me if you aren’t, I’m so close to 10K!), you have probably noticed a wave of flowery photos in my feed. June marks rainy season in Japan and with that come the colorful blooms of ajisai (hydrangea in Japan). I coupled with my friend and traveled to two beautiful spots for annual flower viewing (because every flower in Japan has a dedicated festival, with posters notifying you of the best viewing location, dates and even what food will be served!) – Kamakura and Mobara. I’ve written about Kamakura before. It is a small town with rich historic and cultural heritage outside Tokyo. It has a beautiful coastline (you can even see Mt. Fuji from there!) and is dotted with numerous ancient shrines whose meticulously manicured gardens are a perfect respite from summer heat. Two of my favorite shrines are Hase-dera and Meigetsu-in Temple (a.k.a. Hydrangea Temple).
Although I haven’t yet been impressed with any garden as much as I was during our trip to in Chiba. A little unassuming and dormant Mobara city is home to one of the most stunning hydrangea gardens I have ever seen. A small family runs Hattori Farm – also called Hydrangea Mansion (for a good reason) – located on an edge of a pine-tree forest and takes care of the spacious garden filled with nothing but candy-colored hydrangeas – total of 10,000 bushes planted on site of 18,000 square meters. There is not a lot I can tell you about the place except that I felt I was transported into a fairytale far, far away from the clamor of the city and hustle of everyday life. Imagine perfectly symmetrical pine-trees, lush forest filled with beautiful plants, and rolling hills filled with endless bushes of colorful hydrangea. We spent over four hours frolicking this maze of pastel blooms and it still didn’t seem enough. I guess, in this particular instance, I should let the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy!
Details of Hattori Farm (Hydrangea Mansion) in Mobara City:
- Location: 719, Sangaya, Mobara-shi, Chiba
- The farm is located approximately 4 km from JR Mobara Station. You can catch one of the few buses going to the direction of the farm (ask at the station), or catch a cab. A one-way ride will cost 1,500 yen
- The garden is open from the beginning of June to the beginning of July
- Opening hours: 8:00 to 18:00
- Cost: 500 yen for adults, 200 yen for children, group 400 yen (more than ten people)
- Inquiry: 0475-24-8511
All photos were taken with Nikon D750 and my delicious new lens – 85 mm f1.8.
Linking up with my lovely bloggers at Wanderful Wednesday, Faraway Files.
xoxo, nano
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Hydrangeas brought me here. It’ such a stunning view. I’m going to Japan this June especially for these lovely flowers. I plan to go to Kamakura, but this place seems worth a visit. Can’t decide right now. Do you have any suggestion?
I’m so glad you found my blog :) It’s really a tough call. This garden is stunning and one of a kind, but there is nothing else happening here. Unless you decide to explore Chiba that day. Meanwhile, Kamakura has ancient temples and other things to explore. If you can pick only one spot, I’d probably go to Kamakura. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your comment! So I’ll go for Kamakura and save this place for the next time :D
Congrats on your Instagram follow! Close to 10K! Well done!!! Your beautiful photography is totally paying off! The hydrangea are stunning! Love those shots of you in the “bush” :D
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can’t believe myself! And yes, hydrangeas are so beautiful, it was impossible to get a bad photo!
What a spectacular garden!! I need this dress in my life too!
Thank you lovely! You won’t believe it, it’s from Abercrombie & Fitch 😁
Gosh such beautiful beautiful pictures of these stunning flowers, they are my favourite and when I visit Japan I will be bookmarking this for sure. #Farawayfiles
Thank you so much, it truly was an amazing place.
Especially love all the pics with the house in them… something about that countryside charm that comes across. x
Thank you for being such a wonderful travel partner and photographer, Celia! 💕
What an incredible place and what stunning photos, so full of joy!
Thank you Angie! It was definitely a flower wonderland ☺️
Oh my gosh Nano, I think this must be my favourite garden you have shown us so far. What a beautiful spot to wander around for a few hours. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles
Katy, I must confess I might have loved it a bit more than cherry blossoms! Thank you for reading and sharing 💕
WOW! Those colors are so impressive. I LOVE gardens and this looks absolutely unreal. Beautiful pictures. #farawayfiles
I know, colors were so vibrant! 💕 Thank you Danielle for reading!
This garden is absolutely stunning – I hope we can visit while we’re in Japan next year! I adore hydrangeas and always thought it was an underrated flower – every time I see them now, I’m reminded of my parents’ garden in NZ!
Connie, how exciting! I hope you’ll get to explore Japan well. Let me know if you need help or tips to plan your trip.
What wonderful flowers, Nano! I think it’s magical that there’s a festival for every flower in Japan – I never knew that. I love your Instagram account. I think I mentioned on Insta that we have those bluey purply hydrangeas in the front of our house at the moment. There are lots of them and they look just fabulous. Your photos are always so special. Thanks for sharing them on #FarawayFiles
Clare, couldn’t thank you enough for showing so much love for my posts. This garden was truly amazing. I hope to grow hydrangeas in my own garden one day. :)
Wow!! What an amazing place and you look so beautiful and happy! Thanks for sharing this marvellous pictures Nano! Have a great weekend! :)
Thank you so so much! It was a magical place!
First off, I love your dress! Super cute! Hydrangeas are so pretty! I love when they are in bouquets. They are super hard to grow here in Houston so this is definitely a beautiful sight!
Thank you Christine! Garden was a wonderful backdrop for photos. Hope to visit Texas some time soon, will bug you for tips!
Your photos are stunning, as always, Nano, and you tell such a beautiful story with them in each post! Hydrangea are some of my favorite flowers – this looks like a magical place, and you look magnificent amongst it!
xo Jaime
Angloyankophile
Jaime, thank you so much, it means a lot.
I love Hydrangeas and used to grow them in my garden as a little girl! I haven’t had a garden in a while but when I go again, I’ll have these! Until then, I’ll save this for a trip to Japan! #WanderfulWednesday
I think I’ll do the same – when I have a garden, I’ll definitely plant hydrangeas. They are so pretty!
Gorgeous photos Nano. Followed on Instagram too :) I know you may have been nominated a million times before, but I have just tagged you in on my first blue sky tag :) Have a great day
Thank you for the nomination and welcome to the blogging journey! 💕
You’re very welcome. Thanks. X
Wow, you really do always find the most beautiful gardens! Your nature photos are always particularly stunning.
Thank you so much Marcella! Japan makes it easy to scout out beautiful gardens. 💕