Odakyu Resorts Co., Ltd. “Azalea / Rhododendron Fair 2023” will be held at the “Mountain Hotel”, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary in May.

Odakyu Resorts Co., Ltd.
“Azalea / Rhododendron Fair 2023” will be held at “Yama no Hotel”, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary in May
-Following the azaleas in the garden, this year the rhododendrons are also certified as the “Japan Botanical Gardens Association National Collection”-

In May, colorful azaleas and rhododendrons begin to bloom in the expansive garden of the Odakyu Yamano Hotel, which stands on the shores of Lake Ashinoko in Hakone and celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. In 2022, the azaleas in this garden were certified as “Japan Botanical Garden Association National Collection No. 10”, and on March 17, 2023, the rhododendron was also certified as “Japan Botanical Garden Association National Collection No. 15”. Certified. The hotel will hold the “Azalea and Rhododendron Fair 2023” from late April, and the garden, which has been certified as a “botanical heritage that should be preserved for future generations,” is open to the general public. Approximately 3,000 azaleas of 84 types, including 30 old varieties, and 300 rhododendrons of 42 types are in full bloom. In addition, events such as photo exhibitions and lectures
commemorating the hotel’s 75th anniversary will be held this year. [Image 1
Azalea Garden and Lake Ashinoko at Odakyu Yamano Hotel
◆◆◆ Overview of “Azalea and Rhododendron Fair 2023” ◆◆◆
-Holding period- Late April to late May (The opening period may change depending on the blooming conditions of the azaleas.)
-Garden viewing time-9:00~17:00
-Garden tour fee- 1,000 yen (only when the azaleas are in bloom) *free for elementary school students and younger
-Best time to see the flowers- Azalea: early to mid-May Rhododendron: early to late May
-Special shop- Selling saplings such as azaleas and rhododendrons -URL- https://www.hakone-hoteldeyama.jp/tsutsuji_shakunage/
Following the azaleas in the garden, “Odakyu Yamano Hotel Garden Rhododendron” is certified as a national collection.
The “National Collection Certification System” is a system established in 2017 by the Japan Botanical Garden Association (*1), whose president is Prince Akishino. This is a system for certifying and preserving botanical collections with the aim of protecting and handing down precious plants as cultural assets and genetic resources cultivated in Japan to future generations.
(*1) Japan Botanical Garden Association: http://www.syokubutsuen-kyokai.jp/ [Image 2
(Left) Japan Botanical Gardens Association National Collection certificate and certification shield at the time of azalea
certification
(Right) Mountain Hotel’s “Rhododendron Garden”
In the first place, “Odakyu Yama Hotel” is located in a historical place where Baron Koyata Iwasaki, the fourth president of Mitsubishi Zaibatsu, built a villa in 1911 (Meiji 44). The baron built an azalea garden and a rhododendron garden in his villa, and even after the opening of the Odakyu Yama Hotel in 1948 (Showa 23), it has been passed down to the present day.
In 2022, “Odakyu Yamano Hotel Garden Azalea” will have 84 types of azaleas, including 30 old varieties that are rarely seen elsewhere, created in the Edo period. As a collection, it was the first in Kanagawa Prefecture to be certified as the “Japan Botanical Garden Association National Collection No. 10” (* 2).
And this year, on March 17, 2023, following the azaleas, the “Odakyu Mountain Hotel Garden Rhododendron” was certified as the “Japan Botanical Gardens Association National Collection No. 15” (* 3). In the rhododendron garden, there are nine rare varieties produced overseas from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period, including the original strain of Gomer Waterler, the first Western rhododendron introduced to Japan, and endangered species designated by the Ministry of the Environment. Approximately 300 strains of 42 species are preserved, including the wild species Kyomaru Rhododendron and Rhododendron dilatatum, which have been selected as species. It was the first rhododendron garden in Japan built between the Meiji and Taisho eras, and the reasons for its accreditation were its variety and its high value as a garden.
(*2) “Japan Botanical Garden Association National Collection No. 10”
release: http://www.syokubutsuen-kyokai.jp/nc/dl_files/nc_press_release_220401.pdf (*3) “Japan Botanical Garden Association National Collection No. 15” release: https://odakyu-hotel.co.jp/pdf/20230401release_jabg-nc.pdf Rare species found in garden projects and hotel gardens
After the heavy snowfall in 2014, the hotel decided that it would not be possible to maintain this landscape for the next 100 years with only annual maintenance by five full-time staff. Therefore, in 2015, we started the garden project “Baron’s 100-Year Azalea Challenge 100 Years Ahead” with the aim of maintaining and regenerating azaleas and rhododendrons. From 2016, Yuji Kurashige, a researcher of azaleas and rhododendrons, conducted a cultivar survey for six years and worked to compile data. In addition, we propagate precious varieties by cuttings and grafting, and improve the soil for the trees that are currently planted.
[Image 3
■ Valuable species of azalea
(Left) Asuka River A pale pink flower with a crimson iris, whose name is already mentioned in gardening books from the Edo period. (Right) Manyo azalea blooming in white Manyo flower
■ Rare species of rhododendron
(Left) Gomer Waterer It is said that Baron Koyata Iwasaki was the first Western rhododendron to be imported into Japan.
(Right) Kyomaru Rhododendron A Japanese endemic species that has been designated as an endangered species by the Ministry of the
Environment.
At a dessert restaurant on the shores of Lake Ashinoko, enjoy the pretty azalea dessert that blooms on your plate
At the dessert restaurant “Premium Shop & Salon de The Rosage” directly managed by the hotel, located on the shores of Lake Ashi in front of the hotel, a limited-time dessert “Hokorobi ~HOKOROBI~” will appear in conjunction with the blooming of the azaleas.
It is a gorgeous dessert with the image of the azaleas in the garden starting to bloom, and the cuteness and deliciousness of the azalea dessert that will make you smile. The transparent berry tuile is likened to an azalea flower and beautifully arranged on top of the mousse using Rosage’s original “Azalea Tea”. You can enjoy an elegant tea time as a recommended spot after walking around the azalea and rhododendron gardens.
[Image 4
Break ~HOKOROBI~
◆◆◆ Unraveling ～HOKOROBI～ ◆◆◆
-Period- May 1, 2023 (Monday) to May 31 (Wednesday)
-Provided- Salon de The Rosage (dessert restaurant directly managed by Yamano Hotel)
-Price- Single item 1,700 yen Tea set 2,500 yen (pot service) *The above prices include consumption tax and service charge. ▼ “Premium Shop & Salon de The Rosage” official website
https://www.hakone-hoteldeyama.jp/restaurant/rosage/
Yama no Hotel 75th Anniversary Event Information
“Odakyu Yama Hotel” will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Monday, May 15, 2023, and will hold an event to commemorate this.
1. “Hotel Opening 75th Anniversary Katsura Endo Photo Exhibition ~ Everlasting Mt. Hakone ~”
A photo exhibition of Mr. Katsura Endo, the director and photographer of the Hakone Museum of Photography. There is an exhibition of the fantastic Mt. Fuji that Mr. Katsura Endo has been photographing for over 30 years, a video exhibition of “Flavours of Hakone”, and old photographs taken by Endo’s grandfather, Osui Yamada (1880-1964). Also exhibited. This is a photo exhibition where you can feel the eternity of Hakone and mountain hotels. In addition, in front of the hotel main building shop, we will also sell some exhibition photos, photo books, and goods.
[Image 5
(Left) Katsura Endo “Akebono” (Right) Osui Yamada “Lakeside Azalea Garden and Mt.Fuji” (around 1955)
-Period-April 26th (Wednesday) to May 18th (Thursday), 2023 9:00-20:00 -Venue-Mountain Hotel “Kintoki”
-Admission Fee- Free
2. Held a seminar on how to take photographs by Director Katsura Endo of the Hakone Museum of Photography
[Image 6
A seminar on how to take photographs will be held by Director Katsura Endo of the Hakone Museum of Photography. After receiving a lecture on how to take good pictures of flowers and landscapes, you will actually enter the garden of the mountain hotel and take pictures, and after taking the pictures, you will receive advice from Director Endo. – Date and time – May 9, 2023 (Tuesday) 10: 00-12: 00
-Venue-Mountain Hotel “Kintoki”
-Participation fee- 4,000 yen per person (first come, first served, capacity 15 people)
-How to apply-Telephone reservation Odakyu Yama Hotel TEL:
0460-83-6321 (9:30-20:00)
3. “Special Lecture Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Hotel’s Opening Azaleas and rhododendrons in the garden certified as a botanical heritage that should be preserved for future generations
Yuji Kurashige, an azalea and rhododendron researcher and executive director of the Japan Botanical Gardens Association, will be invited to give a lecture on the profound charm of azaleas and rhododendrons in the mountain hotel gardens that have been certified as part of the National Collection.
[Image 7
(Left) Mr. Yuji Kurashige (Azalea and Rhododendron Researcher, Managing Director, Japan Botanical Garden Association) (Right) Lecture (image)
– Lecturer – Mr. Yuji Kurashige (Azalea and Rhododendron Researcher, Managing Director, Japan Botanical Garden Association)
[Image 8
– Date and time – May 8, 2023 (Monday) 11: 00-12: 00
-Venue-Mountain Hotel “Kintoki”
-Admission fee- Free (first come, first served, capacity 40 people) -How to apply-Telephone reservation Odakyu Hotel TEL: 0460-83-6321 (9:30-20:00) Inquiries regarding the Azalea and Rhododendron Fair
Odakyu Yamano Hotel
tel: 0460-83-6321 (reception hours 9:30-20:00)
HP: https://www.hakone-hoteldeyama.jp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odakyuhotel.yama/