Kochias of the Hitachi Seaside Park
It's that time of the year again!
The Hitachi Seaside Park of Ibaraki prefecture, famous for its breath-taking view of blue flowers in the golden week season is embracing a new look. Aside from that iconic view, in late summer, the Miharashi hills in the park are covered with these little fluffy trees. They are called Kochia trees and are a native herb to Eurasia, also known as "Burning bush" because the plant turns into a burning red colour as it matures.
Taken Sept. 7th 2018
Taken Oct. 12th 2018
During this season, the park also hosts a light-up event at night, where the light dances with the rhythm of the music playing in prominent speakers. All the light shows are named "Kochia's Dreams." This dream-like view creates various atmospheres as the light shines at different colours and combinations.
Taken Sept. 7th 2018
It is truly a work of art to see the Kokia's slowly turning red as autumn approaches, covering the entire area with a red colour.
My personal favourite view is, actually, the sunflowers that rests on the other side of the hills, especially at night. Usually, when you think of sunflowers, the scenery that comes to mind is almost always associated with clear blue sky and blinding sunshine. But the night view of the sunflowers gives it a different texture, a quiet mood. As if the summer spirit, which is never to be contained, is kept waiting under the night sky. The sunflowers wait quietly yet impatiently, whispering in the night breeze, as they long for the sun to rise and shine again.
Taken Aug. 28th 2018
But enough about the flowers, today I wish to write about how this park itself came into being, who led the path of turning this land into a flower park filled with different seasonal sceneries.
During the wartime, this area was once the training ground of the Japanese Air Force, and later became a bombing range for the US Air Force. After years of protesting by the residents, the land was finally returned to the Japanese government in the year 1973. The locals wanted to turn this area into a symbol of peace and brings joy back to this place that was deeply affected by the war. Repair the beautiful shores where many bombs and bullets were fired into a flowery garden, filled with touches of laughter of children again.
The plan progressed slowly but steadily. It took about 25 years to reshape the landscape, clear out the leftover debris of wartime equipment, and restore the land with fertile soil. With the help of volunteers and local workers, a human-made hill now sits on top of what once was the main target of the bombing. The Miharashi hill, now standing 58m at its highest ground, looking over the stunning Pacific shore as the sea breeze gently brushes over the trees.
One of the very first flowers planted there was cosmos, the most representative flower of autumn.
Taken Sept. 7th 2018
Later, the idea of adding Kochia to the scene was proposed. As the park is located next to the Pacific coast, there are very few plants in the area that turns into autumn colour. Therefore, the managers of the park decided to plant Kochia trees, the plants that offer both autumn colour and an eye-catching shape. After two years of experimenting, the Kochia finally became a regular flower member of the Hitachi Seaside Park, and ever since, the most beautiful view of the summer season.
Taken Sept. 7th 2018
You can click the following link for more tourist information on the Hitachi Seaside Park.
https://hitachikaihin.jp/en.html