Totsukawa Village is a half-hour drive away from where I live. This village is said to be Japan’s largest village with an area over 67,000 ha!

The village’s symbolic flower is the shakunage (alpine rose).

Shakunage grow naturally in the mountains around Totsukawa Village but to get the full impact of an ocean of pink and red, I visited the 21st Century Forest. It is located in the deep mountains not far from Tamaki Shrine.

There are 10,000 plants arranged in a park-like area. The plants were collected from around the world.

There are so many beautiful blossoms in many colorful shades.