Let’s take pictures of flowers at Kanagawa Prefectural Ofuna Botanical Garden
I have resided in Kanagawa for more than four decades but I visited Ofuna botanical garden for the first time. The lotuses were in full bloom. The garden opens from 7:00am on weekends and national holidays in July for visitors who like to see most beautiful lotuses which open early in the morning. The botanical garden in the morning was so pleasant and refreshing . I took lots of pictures of lotuses and other flowers!
The profile of Ofuna botanical garden
Ofuna botanical garden has more than 50 years of history. It is easy to access either by train or by car. Hibiya kadan, nation wide flower shop chain is involved to the operation.
| Ofuna botanical garden | |
| Opening year | 1967 |
| Area | 63,900 square meters |
| Tripod use | Refrain from using when crowded and indoors |
| Access | 16 minute walk from Ofuna station |
| Car Parking | 130 normal car lots |
| Designated administrator | AMENIS Ofuna botanical garden group (Hibiya Kadan, Kamakura-shi Koen kyokai, Sotetsu） |
How to access Ofuna botanical garden, by train or by car?
The parking is just in front of the garden. I visited on a sunny Sunday in July, however it never got full all day. There is a Lawson convenient store facing the parking, so you can enter the garden after grabbing sandwiches.
If you go by train, you can enjoy “Kamakura beer” offered at the cafe in the garden and on the way back, you can buy souvenirs at Ofuna station for example mackerel sushi of local speciality (Aji-no-oshi-zushi), sweets from famous Hikage-chaya. By car and by train, both are good!
Ofuna botanical garden is enjoyable through out four seasons
There are blocks allocated to each seasonal flowers such as roses, irises, sweet calamus, peonies, plums, and cherry blossoms. You can see most beautiful flowers of the season whenever you go.
There are many benches and shading spots under the trees where you can relax avoiding heat in the summer. In the winter, you can warm up in the large donut-shaped greenhouse. It is enjoyable in any seasons of the year.
Ofuna Botanical Garden in July
Here is a photo report to introduce Ofuna Botanical Garden in July!
Potted lotuses lining at the square
About 190 pieces of louts are planted in pots filled with water. If planted in a pond, you can’t get closer to flowers, but planted in pots, you can see large lotus flowers just in front of you.
What I was interested in, was actually lotus leaves. Raindrops were shining on large leaves which were like umbrellas.
I took also pictures of lotus flowers! Flowers look so beautiful from any angles, that’s the power of beauty they have. For a photographer, it was not a difficult job to just capture the beauty.
Take a walk in the garden
There are many tropical plants in the greenhouse. Banana trees with whole bunch of bananas, water lily pond and a corner of carnivorous plants etc.
In this year 2020, Ofuna botanical garden was closed from April to June. The best season for roses (May) was passed, but still some roses were in full bloom in July.
There are several walking paths in the garden. Climbing a little hills and crossing small bridges.. The garden is not too large, but I was interesting while walking, “what is ahead of the path?”
In a corner of the turfy open space, staff members take care of plants. Where there are beautiful flowers, there should be a gardener who cares.
Entered the garden in the morning, it is still before noon. But I enjoyed a glass of Kamakura beer on the terrace of the cafe. That’s the special thing we can do on holiday!
On the way back to Ofuna station. Goddess of mercy sends gentle smile to people come and go.
