Cherry Blossoms of Mekari Park 和布刈公園の桜
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Mekari Park is located on the eastern side of a small mountain that overlooks the Kanmon Strait at the northern tip of Kyushu. From the observation point at its peak, you can see the far shores of Shimonoseki, or watch the morning sun rise from the Suô Sea and set in the Hibiki Sea.
When the cherry blossoms bloom in Spring, the park turns a lovely hue and is all abuzz with throngs of families and couples enjoying hanami. Popular blossom viewing spots include an open area toward the top or the hanami area overlooking the pool. Open up a lunch box in the warm sunshine, gaze out at the blossoms with the Kanmon bridge in the distance—there’s no one way to appreciate the park’s beauty. On the way down from the park, there is another area that features an earthenware mural, 3 meters tall by 44 meters long. It depicts the famous historical battle at Dannoura (now Shimonoseki) that ended the Genpei War when the once-prosperous Taira clan were all destroyed while on the run from the Minamoto clan. As the largest outdoor mural of its kind in Japan, it is a source of much local pride. It takes as its reference a section of picture scrolls now in the possession of Akama Shrine. But fired in the Arita kilns of Saga, this beautiful wall is certainly a work of art in and of itself. Mekari Park |
九州の北端であり、関門海峡東側の小高い山に位置する和布刈公園。高台の展望台からは周防灘（すおうなだ）から昇る朝日や響灘に沈む夕日、対岸の下関など素晴らしい景観を望むことができます。
春になって桜が咲く頃になると園内は綺麗なピンク色に染まり、家族連れやカップルなど大勢の花見客で賑わいます。中でも頂上の広場と塩水プールの上のお花見広場は人気で、暖かな日差しの中お弁当を広げたり、関門橋を背景にした桜を眺めたりといろいろな楽しみ方ができます。 また、山頂の公園から下る途中にある展望所には高さ3メートル、長さ44メートルの「源平壇ノ浦合戦絵巻」の壁画があり、屋外陶板壁画としては日本最大級の規模を誇っています。平安時代末期に起こった壇ノ浦（現在の山口県下関市）での合戦は、栄華を誇った平家が滅亡に至った最後の戦いです。原画は赤間神宮所蔵の絵巻の一部を参考にして制作されたもので、有田陶器板でつくられたこの美しい壁画は一つの芸術作品と言ってもいいでしょう。 和布刈公園 |
Cultural Information Center
アクロス福岡文化観光情報ひろばでは、福岡県の文化・観光に関する様々な情報を取り揃えています。お電話でのお問い合わせも可能ですので、お気軽にご利用ください。
At the ACROS Fukuoka Building’s Cultural Information Center, there is a vast array of pamphlets and other literature on Fukuoka culture and site seeing. You can also make inquiries by phone (between 11am and 5pm, the Fukuoka SGG club, a group of volunteer interpreters, can take your calls in English).
ACROS Fukuoka Bldg 2F
1-1-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku
092-725-9100
10am to 6pm (closed 12/29-1/3)
Check out ACROS Fukuoka’s new homepage in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean for classical music, culture events and facility information!
www.acros.or.jp
