Hello everyone. Today, I came to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival in my hometown, Fujikawaguchiko-machi. Today is Sunday, April 28, 2024, the first half of GW, 7:30 am. Despite the early morning, this is already a lot of people 😅 From tomorrow until May 4, you can enter the park from 6:00 am. We strongly recommend that you come here to enter the park at 6:00. Two reasons. One is to avoid heavy traffic and the other is because in the afternoon there will be clouds over Mt.Fuji. This place is 22 km from the nearest station, Fuji-Kawaguchiko Station, and cannot be reached on foot. Around noon in the latter half of GW, there is a huge traffic jam called " Shibazakura Traffic jam". You get stuck in a huge traffic jam for 3 hours to get there, wait another hour to buy tickets, and wait in a huge line for photo spots in the park as well. And by that time, clouds begin to form over Mt.Fuji. If you are thinking of coming to the Fuji Shibazakura Festival in the second half of GW, please plan to enter the park by 7:00 at the latest. That's the only way to avoid heavy traffic and see Mt.Fuji without cloud cover😅 Mini Shibazakura Mt.Fuji. Today, we will go around the park in a clockwise direction. Now in its 17th year, 500,000 shibazakura, one of the largest in the Tokyo metropolitan area, are in full bloom on the vast grounds at the foot of Mt.Fuji. The first year they bloomed beautifully, but after that there were many disappointing years. But this year, they are blooming quite nicely! But there are no ups and downs here and it's monotonous, so if you can find a high spot, I recommend you keep climbing up. If you don't come early in the morning, you will have to wait a long time to get up to this viewing platform😅 This year's theme is "Breathtaking, Pink." In the past, each area had one type of shibazakura, but this year they have created a colorful area with multiple types of shibazakura planted in the mix. Shibazakura are perennials, so they bloom every year. But here, to make it more beautiful, they replant the seedlings every year. After the festival is over, all the shibazakura are dug up. Actually, there is a service for the general public called the shibazakura digging experience, which I am looking forward to as well. "A Little Boat Traveling on a Sea of Pink." There are three such free photo spots in the park. The next person is taking pictures of the person in front of them, but I feel like they should have a dedicated photographer. The Yellow Door of Happiness. Nice colorful shibazakura in the mix for the first time this year. Here is the photo spot for a fee (1,500 yen). Even during peak hours, I don't think you have to wait that long. Let's go for that little hill. Peter Rabbit English Garden. Very few flowers are in bloom this time of year. In September, zinnias, not shibazakura, bloom and the "Rainbow Flower Festival" is held. At that time, this Peter Rabbit English Garden will be gorgeously blooming with various flowers. But the number of visitors to the garden must be less than one-tenth that of the "Fuji Shibazakura Festival. Personally, I prefer the "Rainbow Blossom Festival" where the zinnias and English Garden flowers are in full bloom to the "Fuji Shibazakura Festival" which is very crowded. Admission is also 1,300 yen today, but 800 yen in September😃 Next, let's climb the observation tower. You can see Peter Rabbit everywhere in this park. The picture book Peter Rabbit is based on a picture letter written by Beatrix Potter of England to the son of a friend. I think everyone has seen this at least once. Peter is a mischievous rabbit. The first tale is about a rabbit who breaks his mother's word, sneaks into Mr. McGregor's field, eats vegetables, and is discovered by Mr. McGregor. We finally arrive at the top of the tower. But we can't stay long because the next person is waiting for us. The downstairs stairway is empty. It is a one-way street, so we have to keep going. Sign for "Shop & Gallery." In the Peter Rabbit English Garden, of course, you can find Peter. 'Don't go to Mr. McGregor's field. Peter breaks his mother's rule and is found by Mr. McGregor, who turns his clothes into a scarecrow. Peter escapes from under the fence. The garden was designed and supervised by English garden designer Mark Chapman. Piglin Brandt and his brother Alexander. Cousin Benjamin Bunny. Duck Jimaima. Mr. Jeremy Fisher. Huh? Pomeranian😃 Ryujin (dragon god) pond. If you are lucky, you can see the first sunrise with Diamond Fuji reflected on Ryujin Pond, making for a double Diamond Fuji. This year, it was too windy to see. Double Diamond Fuji has become a New Year's tradition, with national TV coverage every year. I look forward to its relay every year. Every year, on the other side of the river, a lot of photographers come, but I probably won't be there😅 Waiting for hours in sub-zero temperatures is something I can never, ever do. I would be happy because I would see it in a warm room 😊 This is the area of the heart mark 🧡 Not many people come this far, so it is empty. Shibazakura (grass cherry) is so called because its flowers resemble cherry blossoms and cover the ground like grass. If well rooted, it spreads rapidly. Wild cherry blossoms are still blooming here because of the high elevation. Even in April, there can be snow and frost. So one can easily imagine that growing shibazakura here would be very difficult. There have been some disappointing years, but for the past several years, they have bloomed beautifully. Park management is already thinking about next year, looking at this situation now. I guess they are getting better little by little by repeating trial and error. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of shibazakura I can see next year. A little bit of clouds. Now we see a patchwork of shibazakura. Nice 😊 I once climbed up to see shibazakura from that Ryugatake trail, but I could only see them faintly 😅 I'm like Peter, I'm very curious 😱 This area is called the "Story Trail" and is where phrases and scenes from Peter Rabbit's picture books are recreated. Third photo spot. The World of Pop-up Picture Books. New this year, it was created by students of Tokyo University of the Arts. As expected, even the back side is beautifully drawn. Once again, "The Yellow Door of Happiness. Once again, "Little Boat Traveling on the Sea of Pink." Paid photo spot. A nice family from Taiwan agreed to let us take video. It is a miracle to come from Taiwan and see Mt.Fuji and shibazakura like this! Back on the "Story Trail." Mr. McGregor is waving his mulberry around, When he saw Peter, he jumped up, yelling and chasing after him. "Wait you thieving rabbit!" Now that we have circled the park, I would like to end this video. In the second half of GW, please try to enter the park by 7:00 at the latest. Every year, around noon, I see many tourists who can't give up and walk miles away from here to get there. It's nice to have a slight incline instead of flat 😊 How was Mt.Fuji and shibazakura? Thank you again for watching the video to the end. Next video is undecided...I'll stay home and watch YouTube to avoid traffic jams in the second half of GW😅 This year's theme is "Breathtaking, Pink."
