[Manabe Garden in Obihiro] The Largest Conifer Garden in Japan

Obihiro Zoo

Obihiro Zoo (帯広動物園) is a zoo in Midorigaoka Park (緑ヶ丘公園) located in the center of Obihiro city, and is the 2nd oldest zoo after Maruyama Zoo (円山動物園) in Hokkaido, and has opened a business since 1963. It is well-known as a zoo that established a method to breed tropical animals in the cold Hokkaido for the first time in Japan. About 73 kinds of 400 animals are bred at the Obihiro Zoo. In addition, there is an amusement park at the zoo, and Mini Steam Locomotion Benkeigo (弁慶号) goes around the amusement park. Strollers and wheelchairs are provided, too, and those are free rental. Read More

OBIHIRO

Obihiro (帯広) that about 170,000 people live is the 6th largest commercial city in Hokkaido, and is one of regional hub cities of the Eastern Hokkaido area. It has flourished as the center of the Tokachi district. The Obihiro is also a stockyard for agricultural products in whole Tokachi district, and Potato, Beet, Wheat and Chinese Yam are famous as a local product. As for a climate, it is hot that temperature rises to nearly 30 degrees in a summer, and it is cold that temperature falls to nearly -20 degrees in a winter. It has a large temperature gap, but it has less snow relatively in the Hokkaido. Therefore skating is popular in the winter. Mr. Hiroyasu Shimizu, an olympic gold medalist, come from the Obihiro, and there is much competition population of the skating. Read More

Japanese-style Garden

The Japanese-style Garden that is one of the 3 best gardens in the Manabe Garden is the first garden to visit. Carp Pond (鯉の池), Shinshokaku (真正閣), Suishoan (翆松庵), an artificial hill, a stone tower and so on are built at the site. Groundwater that gushes up from about 350 m below flows to the Carp Pond, and around the pond is worth seeing. As its name suggests, a lot of carps swim in the pond, and it engenders a typical atmosphere of the Japanese-style Garden. A Japanese umbrella around the pond is accent color in the view, so a lot of visitors from overseas take a picture here.

The Shinshokaku built in 1911 is a rest station for Emperor Taisho, and has been moved to here since 1969. Unfortunately, common tourists are not allow to enter. The Suishoan, a tea room, is beside the Shinshokaku, and tourists can take a rest at the Suishoan now.

European-style Garden

The European-style Garden that is one of the 3 best gardens in the Manabe Garden is a garden to be the most worth seeing in my opinion. A House with Red Roof (赤屋根の家), KIDS Garden, Rosa Rugosa Path (はまなすの小道), an observation deck (展望デッキ), Lawn Open Space (芝生広場), a smoking area, resting places, a restroom and so on are built at the site. Various tall and short conifers are planted, and shading of green color differs a little, so a non-typical view in the Japan can be enjoyed.

The house with a red roof that is a symbol of the European-style Garden is a wooden building built in 1977, and uses a tyrol house in Austria as a motif. It emphasizes an European atmosphere. Unfortunately, common tourists are not allow to enter it. A bench for a good palce to take a picture is provided, too, so a lot of tourists take a photo there.

The observation deck is built near Olivine Waterfal (オリビンの滝), and its height is about 8 m. A good view like overseas garden can be seen.

The Lawn Open Space is amazing. A lot of tall trees grow, and the height of a white willow is about 20 m. Weeping branches catch people's eyes. The blue sky and different green trees create a good scenery.

Landscape-style Garden

The Landscape-style Garden with difference of elevation and much water is one of the 3 best gardens in the Manabe Garden. The Olivine Waterfall, Rhododendron Colony (シャクナゲ群落), Forest of Eastern White Pine (ストローブ松の森), Rosa Rugosa Hill (はまなすの丘), Rainbow Trout Pond (ニジマスの池), S-shaped Waterfall (S字の滝), resting places, a hut for bird-watching and so on are built at the site. Visitors can enjoy a conbination of water and trees, and I feel that here looks like a park rather than a garden.

The Olivine Waterfall is a man-made falls of about 8 m height. Olivine mined in Mt. Apoi (アポイ岳), Hidaka District is piled up.

At the Forest of Eastern White Pine, art works made by Mr. Nobuo Mitsunashi (三梨伸展) were displayed when I visited here.

Reverse Border Garden

The Reverse Border Garden is a coined word, and means "A formal garden". It is a symmetrical garden, and Squirrel Church (リスの教会) is built at the site. The church has a bell, so I wonder that a wedding ceremony may be held.

Dwarf Garden

The Dwarf Garden with an exit is at the end of the paid zone, and contains the Monster Garden built in 2016. Slow-growing plants are collected here, and small people like the dwarf appears in a fairy tale or a fantasy world, so it means "small". In addition, moster-shaped trees are planted at the Monster Garden.