Mission 2
Making a wonderful view with HAMANASU
It is said that, in the past, the fragrance and vivid pink color of the HAMANASU growing along the Ishikari Coast could even be enjoyed from as far away as boats off the coast. In recent years, however, the landscape has been gradually changing due to transformations in topography, transitions in the natural environment, and a range of other reasons.
Our aim is to bring back the original landscape of the Ishikari Coast.
We are testing HAMANASU restoration methods and working to restore a sight that used to be taken for granted here–a landscape of sandy dunes covered in beautiful HAMANASU.
HAMANASU Restoration Garden
Restoration Activities at HAMANASU Restoration Garden
The HAMANASU Restoration Garden, adjoining the Ishikari-hama Coastal Plants Conservation Center, was established in 2013 as a test site for restoring the landscape of sandy dunes covered in beautiful HAMANASU. The pampas grass and shrubs that had covered the area for years were removed using heavy machinery, and a portion of the densely populated HAMANASU habitat was left untouched in anticipation of the roses once again proliferating from this area. After a while, just as expected, the area densely covered by the remaining HAMANASU began to expand in size as the roses extended their underground stems, and after about three years, colonies of HAMANASU had grown to cover a quarter of the space cleared of other vegetation.
City residents also participated by planting seeds to grow HAMANASU seedlings, which they would then transplant here. Since 2017, participants have been working to improve methods of seedling cultivation and other aspects of the process, and even now, city residents continue to cultivate, replant, and transplant seedlings. Local kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools also participate in seedling cultivation and transplanting, as the entire community works together to restore the original landscape of sandy dunes covered in beautiful HAMANASU.
Although there are variations in the density of the coloration, blooming HAMAMASU currently cover roughly 80% of the available space. In the future, in addition to restoration methods, we also intend to test methods for how to maintain the landscape once it is restored with beautiful HAMANASU.
The Location of the HAMANASU Restoration Garden
The garden is located next to the Ishikari-hama Coastal Plants Conservation Center, a roughly 40-minute drive from the center of Sapporo.
address: Ishikari-hama Coastal Plants Conservation Center 48-1 Bentencho, Ishikari, Hokkaido 061-3372