Yakurai Garden for Great Fall Family Photos and Fun

    If you're a parent in Miyagi looking for a good place to get a couple of cute shots of the kids as we finally welcome this autumn, Yakurai Garden was just the place to go in early October. Not only were the roses, which apparently are so notable that this is what the park is known for, in bloom, but also the fields of color that are also famous at this location were picture-postcard ready. In addition, the paths between the entrance and the rainbow striped field were lined with hay bales wrapped in orange plastic which are made up to look like a massive jack-o'-lanterns. Around each of these unique jack-o-lantern replicas sat a collection of smaller plastic pumpkins to complete the look.

    The entry fee is modest though the bathrooms are cramped so going before you go, especially if there are small children in your group, is advisable. Since so much of the fun stuff is outside in the open air, it was a much less scary autumn photographic opportunity comparing to so other options, even when the event itself draws a fairly big crowd as it did on the weekend when we attended. Sadly, I later found out that that had been the last weekend of this event, but it is something to keep an eye out for next year if you're in the area.

    In one area before the colorful hills, a small field was decked out not just in another assortment of the giant hay-filled jack-o-lanterns but also with hammocks. While my family chose not to put our whole bodies into these suspended sack-like structures that other people had been using all day, it would be hard not to admit that the experience looked like fun. More fun without a pandemic, though.

    Toward the top of the path, near the flower-striped hill, there are a number of trees with little placards like this, commemorating weddings held at the location in the chapel on the premises. One tree had a QR code instead. My husband insisted that it was part of some scavenger hunt. On the way back, I checked it with my phone. The code linked to a Japanese riddle, which my husband solved but it led us to no other interesting clues.

    The striped field was gorgeous and had many great photo opportunities, many of which were being utilized by other families as we walked by. We waited in line so that my kid could have a turn ringing the bell that sits atop a platform in the middle of the flowering fields.



    All in all, it was a great time. We loved it, even with all the people about.