At Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden in Kobe, the Koajisai (Small-leaf Hydrangea) is currently in full bloom, adding a gentle fragrance to the rainy season landscape.
The Koajisai is a wild hydrangea that grows naturally on Mt. Rokko. Unlike the Ajisai and Gakunajisai varieties, it bears no large decorative florets. Instead, clusters of small bisexual flowers release a sweet scent, drawing in pollinators and delighting visitors with both their appearance and aroma.
About Koajisai (Hydrangeaceae)
Also known as Shiba-ajisai, the Koajisai grows wild across western Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. This deciduous shrub reaches 1 to 1.5 meters in height. Its flowers consist entirely of small, five-petaled bisexual blooms with no showy ray flowers. The long stamens extend beyond the petals, softening the pale blue-purple color and lending the plant a quietly elegant character. At the garden, Koajisai blooms are expected to continue through late June.
Event: Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden × Koyomi Life・Hanabiyori
A special collaboration event is currently underway, featuring an exhibition pairing the 72-season Japanese calendar (shichijūni-kō) with flower colors, as well as a flower-collecting stamp rally. It offers visitors a chance to appreciate the seasons among alpine plants from the Alps, the Himalayas, and Japan's highlands.
Period: Through July 12 (Sunday)
Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:30 PM)
Admission: Free (separate garden admission fee required)
Garden Information
Open through: November 29 (Sunday) ※ Some closure days apply; check the official website.
Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:30 PM)
Admission: Adults (middle school and above) ¥900 / Children (ages 4 to elementary school) ¥450
Parking: ¥1,000
Official website: https://www.rokkosan.com/
※ Events and operations may be changed or canceled in the event of inclement weather.
