Sengokuhara Susuki Sogen
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Sengokuhara Village: Home to a Silver Grass Haven Beneath Mt. Hakone
金時山の麓に広がるススキ草原の町、仙石原
Sengokuhara Silver Grass Fields, nestled at the base of Mt. Hakone’s northern slope in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, offer a sweeping view of Mt. Ashigara to the north, quietly overlooking the peaceful resort town of Sengokuhara.
I arrived just before sunrise, just in time to catch the first rays of light spilling over the ridge of Mt. Hakone despite the forecast of heavy clouds.
The history of Sengokuhara stretches back to the early Edo period (1603–1700). Back then, plains of silver grass blanketed the landscape as far as the eye could see, sparking hopes that the land could support grain crops.
However, the volcanic ash soil and high humidity made farming unviable. Instead, the village turned to cultivating Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis), essential for thatching traditional roofs.
While once vital to daily life, today Sengokuhara is cherished for its scenic beauty and proximity to Hakone’s popular resorts and tourist sites.
Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 06:46・2024/10/15
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
53 mm ISO 400 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/8.0
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