Hokoen (Minamiboso) is highly recommended for those who wish to photograph early-blooming cherry blossoms and white-faced bunting together. Due to the mild climate of Minami-Boso, the cherry blossoms in Hokoen begin to bloom relatively early in the Kanto region, allowing visitors to feel the first hints of spring. The early blooming cherry blossoms, which are still in the cold season, are an attractive subject in themselves, and the light colors of the blossoms give a gentle impression to the entire picture. When the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, white-eyes frequently appear in search of nectar. In Hohoko-en, many of the cherry trees have low branches, making it possible to get a close-up shot of white-tailed godwits perching or pecking at the blossoms. The chance of encountering expressive scenes, such as a white-winged teal perching on a branch or moving from one flower to the next, is high, making it an easy challenge even for first-time bird photographers.
Key points for photography
The key to taking photographs is to take advantage of the environment of Hokoen (Minami-Boso) and the movement of the subjects. The soft light just after sunrise gives a natural three-dimensional effect to the petals of early-blooming cherry blossoms and the feathers of white-eyes. Shooting backlit subjects will help you capture the transparency of the flowers and the clear morning air. The basic approach to photographing white-eyes is to wait and take advantage of their habit of moving back and forth between the same branches and flowers, and composing your shot by finding a branch with good flowers. Use of the continuous shooting setting is also effective because of the fast-moving nature of the flowers. For the background, choose a position where the branches and leaves do not overlap too much and organize them by slightly changing your standing position to make the subject stand out. By slightly opening the aperture and blurring the background, you can make the cherry blossoms and white-eye stand out as the main subjects. Composing the shot with the white-eye slightly off-center and the cherry blossoms around it gives the photo a sense of movement and seasonality, while the vertical composition makes it easier to show the flow of the branches and the spread of the flowers. The vertical composition also helps to show the flow of the branches and the expanse of the flowers.
Best viewing and photography timing
Best Season
冬
Recommended times
Morning, noon
Access & Basic Information (Check Before Shooting)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Hanazono, Wada-cho, Minami-Boso-shi, Chiba |
| subject | Early blooming cherry blossoms, whitebait |
| Admission fee | None |
| Admission Time | None |
| Parking lot | None |
| Restroom | None |
