Suisha-no-Sato Koen
If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseCherry Blossoms and a Traditional Rest House in Hokuto’s Countryside
春空の下、桜に包まれた茅葺きの休憩所
Springtime at Suisha-no-Sato Koen (Waterwheel Village Park) in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, where vibrant pink and white cherry blossoms frame a traditional thatched-roof gazebo. In the distance, snow-capped Mt. Kaikoma rises majestically in the Southern Japanese Alps, creating a serene rural landscape that celebrates the charm of historic Japanese architecture and the enduring beauty of cherry blossoms.
Since its opening in 1994, this park has been visited by many locals and visitors from outside of the prefecture as a great spot for sketching, water painting, and photography thanks to its scenic beauty.
Resting beneath the blossoms with my border collie and the mountains rising beyond, I felt a quiet appreciation for how nature and tradition blend so harmoniously in the rural corners of Japan.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/04/08・07:59
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
34 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/10
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If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseDale-chan Enjoying Spring at Hokuto Waterwheel Village Park
水車の里公園で楽しむデールちゃん
My Border Collie, Dale-chan, truly seemed to enjoy soaking up the warm spring sunshine beneath the blooming cherry blossoms at Suisha-no-Sato Park in Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan.
We were lucky to arrive early in the morning at this rural and somewhat secluded park, which was completely empty of other visitors. It felt especially nice to explore the grounds and set up my shots and tripod without worrying about getting in anyone’s way or causing a disturbance.
Dale-chan doesn’t handle Japan’s hot, humid summers very well, so I’m hoping to return to this park with her in the autumn to enjoy the cooler weather and the beautiful fall foliage!
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/04/08・08:03
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
95 mm ISO 200 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/5.6
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If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses・Explore gifts and merchandiseSakura in Yamanashi’s Hokuto Countryside – A Palette of Pinks and Whites
山梨県北杜市の里山に咲く桜「淡紅と白の春色パレット」
Springtime at Suisha-no-Sato Koen (Waterwheel Village Park) in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is a serene experience where vibrant pink and white cherry blossoms frame a gentle mountain stream that powers the park’s traditional waterwheel. This peaceful rural landscape captures the timeless beauty of sakura and the enduring charm of the Japanese countryside.
Arriving early in the morning, before other visitors appeared, gave me the rare opportunity to slow down and fully take in the scene: the vivid colors of the blossoms, the subtle floral aromas, birds chirping in the trees, the whisper of a soft breeze, the creaking of the waterwheel behind me, and the gentle murmur of the stream as it powered the wheel.
This kind of setting restores my spirit and recharges my motivation, thus giving me the strength to endure another week in the daily grind of life in the Tokyo metropolis before I can escape again to explore another quiet corner of Japan’s countryside with my border collie.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/04/08・08:12
Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
34 mm ISO 100 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/10
Sources:
Visiting Hokuto Waterwheel Village Park in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan・水車の里公園のフォトウォーク（山梨県北杜市）
