The rich red fall color of summer cypress, or kochia, shines at Hirugano Picnic Garden in the city of Gujo, Gifu Prefecture, on Oct. 4, 2021. As the COVID-19 state of emergency has been lifted across Japan, many tourists are visiting the park to see the plants native to Asia. Around 10,000 summer cypresses are planted on "kochia hill" spanning 5,000 square meters, which is built on top of a slope at an altitude of around 1,000 meters at the Hirugano Kogen Ski Resort. A 49-year-old man from Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture, who was on a family trip for the first time in a while, said, "Kochia, which turned the hill red, made me feel relaxed and refreshed." His 9-year-old daughter smiled and said, "There are lots of pretty flowers and it's fun." Admission is 500 yen (roughly $4) and 300 yen (approx. $3) for children aged 4 through elementary school age. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is planning to operate until Oct. 17.

       (Japanese original by Tadayuki Otake, Takayama Local Bureau)

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