There are two popular tourist spots in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. One is Monet’s Pond, a beautiful pond reminiscent of the French painter Monet’s series of paintings ″Water Lilies.” The other is ″21st Century Forest Park,” which is home to clusters of cedar forests that create a mystical atmosphere.
Both are said to be attractive tourist spots that you should visit at least once. This time, we will introduce in detail the 21st Century Forest Park, which has Monet’s Pond filled with blooming water lilies and a mysterious cedar forest.
①What kind of place is Monet’s pond?
Monet’s Pond is a pond located beside the approach to Nemichi Shrine in Itadori, Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. The water in the pond is always clear and clean. It is commonly called Monet’s Pond, but it is not its official name. In addition to Monet’s pond, it is also called ″Nameless Pond” and ″Nedo Shrine Pond.” It was originally constructed as a reservoir for irrigation, and spring water flows into it, and the water temperature is constant at 14℃.
It is said that Monet’s pond started to become a hot topic around June 2015. The reason for this was that Monet’s Pond was spread on social media such as blogs, Twitter, and Instagram as a pond that looked exactly like the “Water Lilies” by French Impressionist painter Claude Monet. The reason why the water in Monet’s Pond is so clear and clean is because the underground water flowing from Mt. Takaga is filtered through rhyolite, so there are no nutrients and no microorganisms can grow in the pond.
By the way, the water is the cleanest in early spring when snowmelt comes out. The recommended time is from late June to July, when the water lilies bloom in early summer. Even in winter, the water temperature in the pond is between 10 and 14 degrees Celsius, so the water in the pond never freezes, but when it’s cold, the carp hide under the bridge and don’t come out.
▲In winter, the water’s clarity decreases and the cold weather causes the carp to flock to the edges, so we recommend visiting in early spring.
Nemichi Shrine, a shrine located directly above Monet’s pond！！
Nemichi Shrine is a shrine with a Monet pond next to the approach. Nemichi Shrine can be reached by climbing the stairs from Monet’s Pond. It is unknown when it was built. The main deity enshrined is Nemichi Okami, and the other deities enshrined are Izanami no Mikoto, Oyamazumi no Kami, and Kanayamabiko no Kami. I am. The annual festival at this shrine is held twice every year, once in the spring and once in the fall. When you come to Monet’s Pond, please come and worship with us.
②What is 21st Century Mori Park?
21st Century Forest Park is a park located in Itadori, Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. The 21st Century Forest Park has a variety of facilities, including a forest learning exhibition hall, a forest experience and training building, a nature observation trail, a children’s park with play equipment, a cedar forest, and a hydrangea garden.
Also, next to 21st Century Forest Park, there is a general ground, a bike trial theme hall, a BMX course, etc.At 21st Century Forest Park, you can experience both a natural environment walk and outdoor sports at the same time.At 21st Century Forest Park, approximately 30,000 hydrangeas bloom from late June.
A mysteriously shaped cedar forest‼︎
The recommended feature of 21st Century Forest Park is the mysteriously shaped cedar forest.
Cedar Forest is located at the foot of the promenade to Mt. Kaburayama, 1,069 meters above sea level, in 21st Century Forest Park. Enter from 21st Century Forest Park and aim for the Cedar Forest. In the cedar forest, there are more than 70 cedar trees that are estimated to be 400 to 500 years old.
The trees in this forest are based on old trees or cut-down trunks, and the branches that have grown back have grown back over many years, giving them these strange shapes. In most cases, 10 or more new buds will sprout.
At Sugi no Mori, you can enjoy a fantastic space that will make you feel like you have wandered into the world of a Ghibli movie or a magical movie. This mysterious cedar forest is full of life, and the cedar trees have such unusual shapes that they are so impressive that you can feel fear.
③Nearby tourist attractions.
Here we will introduce tourist spots around Monet’s Pond and 21st Century Forest.
❶Mt. Koga
Mt. Takaga is a mountain located in the eastern part of the Etsumi Mountains, which straddles Gujo City and Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. Mt. Takaga is 4.1 km from Monet’s Pond. At the foot of the mountain is Takaga Shrine, which was built during the Nara period. By the way, the groundwater flowing into Monet’s pond comes from Mt. Takaga.
❷Kawaura Valley
Kawaura Valley is a 7km long valley located in Itadori, Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. It is located 3.6 km from 21st Century Forest Park. The recommended seasons are spring and autumn. In spring, rock azaleas bloom beautifully. In autumn, the leaves change color and the entire valley is dyed bright red.
④Access information to Monet’s Pond.
Here you will find detailed information on how to access Monet’s Pond. The address of Monet’s pond is ″Itatori Nemichi Shrine, Seki City, Gifu Prefecture.”
❶Route from Nagoya City to Monet’s Pond by car.
| Nagoya City ⇒ General Road ⇒ Ichinomiya IC ⇒ Meishin Expressway ⇒ Ichinomiya JCT ⇒Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway ⇒ Mino IC ⇒ General road ⇒ Nemichi Shrine approach to Monet Pond |
④Access information to 21st Century Forest Park.
Here you will find detailed information about access to 21st Century Forest Park. The address of 21st Century Forest Park is 2340 Itadori, Seki City, Gifu Prefecture.
❶Route from Mino IC to 21st Century Forest Park by car
| Mino IC ⇒ National Route 156 ⇒ Prefectural Route 81 ⇒ National Route 256 Horado, Seki City ⇒ 21st Century Forest Park |
Summary
This time we introduced a 21st century forest park with Monet’s pond full of blooming water lilies and a mysterious cedar forest. Monet’s Pond is a photogenic tourist spot that is sure to look great on social media. Sugi no Mori, a 21st century forest park with a mystical and magical atmosphere, is a great photo spot and tourist spot. Both have a charm that can’t be beat. When visiting Gifu Prefecture, we recommend visiting Monet’s Pond or 21st Century Forest Park.
▲Monet’s pond
▲Official site
▲21st Century Forest Park
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