PRESS RELEASEA Beautiful Garden Certified by the National Plant
Collection Has Remained Unchanged for Over 100 Years!
Azalea and Rhododendron Fair 2024 Held at Odakyu Hotel de Yama
—Beautiful flowers preserved from a baron’s villa, which once stood on the site of
Odakyu Hotel de Yama and are certified as plant heritage—

Odakyu Hotel de Yama on the shores of Lake Ashi in Hakone will host Azalea and Rhododendron Fair
2024 from late April. The garden’s approx. 3,000 azalea bushes in 84 varieties, including 30 heirloomvarieties, and approx.300 rhododendron bushes in 42 varieties, will be in full bloom. Against themagnificent backdrop of majestic Mt. Fuji and beautiful Lake Ashi, visitors are treated to a wonderful viewof colorful azaleas in this gorgeous garden. The garden’s azaleas were the 10th to be registered with theNational Plant Collection of the Japan Association of Botanical Gardens (JABG) in 2022 as plant heritage
being passed down to future generations. In March 2023, the garden’s rhododendrons were the 15th to beregistered with the JABG National Plant Collection. In 2024, in commemoration of the registration of theazaleas and rhododendrons in the list of the JABG National Plant Collection and the 75th anniversary of thehotel, Azaleas and Rhododendrons at the Garden of Odakyu Hotel de Yama will be released. This booklet
also includes the history of the garden.

Azalea garden in Odakyu Hotel de Yama andLake Ashi

Azaleas in full bloom against the backdrop ofMt. Fuji1

Azaleas and Rhododendrons at the Garden of Odakyu Hotel de Yama
Odakyu Hotel de Yama is located at the historic site of the former villa built in 1911 by Baron KoyataIwasaki, the fourth president of the Mitsubishi Group. The azalea and rhododendron gardens planted by
Koyata Iwasaki have been nurtured with loving care since Odakyu Hotel de Yama opened in 1948. Edokirishima, a variety of azaleas representative of the Edo period (1603–1867) that is now quite rare, andnative Japanese rhododendrons classified as an endangered species have been growing in the garden forover 100 years. Visitors can see extremely valuable, rare varieties of these flowers. The rounded azaleas,called Tama-jitate, have remained unchanged for over 100 years.

◆◆◆ Azalea and Rhododendron Fair 2024 overview ◆◆◆<Period> Late April–Middle of May (Period may change depending on the state of the blossoms.)<Open> 9:00 am–4:30 pm (last entry)<Admission> 1,000 yen (only during the period when the azaleas are blooming) *Elementary school-aged
and younger children are free.
<Best Time> Azaleas: Late April–Middle of May Rhododendrons: Early to Late May<URL> https://www.hakone-hoteldeyama.jp/tsutsuji_shakunage/ (Japanese only)*Free shuttle buses run from Moto-Hakone Port to the hotel.
*Dogs are allowed. (Must be kept within the pet cart.) Eating with your dog is allowed on the Lounge
Terrace in the main building and on the second floor of the Salon de thé Rosage in the annex building.

◆◆◆ Booklet on azaleas and rhododendrons ◆◆◆<Title> Azaleas and Rhododendrons at the Garden of Odakyu Hotel de Yama
<Release Date> Early April, 2024
<Specifications> B5 size/32 pages/Full-colored<Price> 800 yen (tax included)<Language> Written in both Japanese and English<Content> Describing the history of the garden, details of the azaleas andrhododendrons in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the hotel in 2023
and the registration of the azaleas and rhododendrons in the list of the JABG
National Plant Collection.

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Azaleas and Rhododendrons at the Hotel Garden Are Certified as the JABG National Plant Collection
The National Plant Collection Certification System was established in 2017by the JABG, for which His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino serves asgovernor. It is designed to certify and conserve precious plants cultivated inJapan, and pass them on to future generations as cultural assets and genetic

JABG National Plant Collection

resources, regardless of whether they are wild or cultivated.
Azaleas in the garden at Odakyu Hotel de Yama represent 84 varieties,including 30 heirloom varieties newly bred in the Edo period that are now
quite rare. Along with the surrounding landscape, they were registered in thelist of the JABG National Plant Collection (No.10) as a valuable collection
being passed down to future generations in 2022 as the first site in
Kanagawa Prefecture. On March 17, 2023, rhododendrons in the garden atThe JABG National Plant Collection
Certification and plaque for AzaleaGardenOdakyu Hotel de Yama were registered in the same list (No.15) following azaleas. The rhododendron
garden has 300 bushes in 42 varieties, including the original variety of Gomer Waterer, the first Westernrhododendrons imported to Japan, nine rare varieties newly bred overseas from the end of the Edo period
through the Meiji era, and Kyomaru-shakunage (R. japonoheptamerum var. kyomaruense) and Hosobashakunage (R. makinoi), two wild species designated as endangered species by the Ministry of theEnvironment. The reasons for certification are that this was the first rhododendron garden in Japan built
between the Meiji (1868–1912) and Taisho eras (1912–1926) with such a large number of varieties and its
great value as a garden.

A Garden Project, A 100-year Challenge—Taking the Baron’s 100-year-old Azaleas to 200 Years, andRare Varieties Grown at the Hotel Garden
During a heavy snow in February 2014, the hotel garden was covered with up to a meter of snow in someplaces and suffered significant damage. Some azalea branches were broken. Although a full-time staff wason site to care for the large garden throughout the year, this was insufficient to maintain the beautiful
landscape for another 100 years. Therefore, we launched a garden project in 2015 called the 100-year
Challenge—Taking the Baron’s 100-year-old Azaleas to 200 Years aiming to maintain and regenerate thegardens. Through this project, surveys on the different varieties have been conducted to create a databaseover the past nine years by Yuji Kurashige, an expert on azaleas and rhododendrons. The project has
increased rare varieties under the direction of Mr. Kurashige, and improved soil conditions for the plants inthe gardens with a vision for the next 100 years.

3■ Rare varieties of azaleas(Left) Yaegera: It has double-petaled vermillion blossoms with petaled calyxes. The largest bush of Yaegera
in the garden measures more than three meters in height and diameter.
(Right) Wakasagi: When it blooms, it is a light pinkish-purple. It gradually fades to white. This variety is
the only one in the garden that blooms twice a year, in spring and autumn. They have propagated throughthe garden project (At the side of the slope near the entrance of the garden).

■ Rare varieties of rhododendrons(Left) Stella Waterer (Hanagisoi in Japanese): It has a medium-size flower in purplish pink.
(Right) Halopeanum (Suio in Japanese): The bud is a deep reddish-pink that fades into a pale pink after it blooms.
Both are heirloom varieties newly bred overseas from the end of the Edo period through the Meiji era. They
became so popular in Japan that they were given Japanese names. Grown in extremely small numbers and notcommercially available, these are quite rare. The existence of the nine heirloom varieties of rhododendrons atOdakyu Hotel de Yama is one of the reasons for certification by the JABG National Plant Collection.

4Enjoy Dessert Made on the Motif of Pretty Azaleas at the Dessert Restaurant at the Shore of Lake Ashi
The hotel’s Premium Shop & Salon de thé Rosage is a dessert restaurant located in front of the hotel on theshores of Lake Ashi. The restaurant offers a delicious mousse dessert, Fleurir, available only during theazalea season. French for “blooming flower,” Fleurir was inspired by the beautiful azaleas blooming in thegarden. This luxurious dessert features a wonderful harmony of flavors created through a blend of freshstrawberries and black tea. Made with an original blend of tea that evokes the fragrance of azaleas, Fleurir
is offered with a macaron and strawberry ice cream, treating guests to an aroma and flavor that are a perfectmatch with the spring atmosphere. The delicious strawberry sauce accompanying this wonderful dessert ispoured over the dome-shaped meringue for an unforgettable experience.
Visitors are welcome to enjoy an elegant tea time at Premium Shop & Salon de thé Rosage after strollingaround the azalea and rhododendron gardens.

◆◆◆ Limited-offer dessert ◆◆<Period> Tuesday, April 16–Friday, May 31, 2024
<Dessert> Fleurir<Location> Salon de thé Rosage (A dessert restaurant operated by Odakyu Hotel de Yama)<Price> 1,800 yen for Fleurir, 2,600 yen for a set with tea (served in a pot)
*Prices above include consumption and service taxes.

Terrace seats at Salon de thé RosageFleurir

5Event Information
Odakyu Hodel de Yama holds a wide variety of events during Azalea and Rhododendron Fair 2024.

1. Lecture on azaleas and rhododendrons by Yuji Kurashige scheduled
Azaleas and rhododendrons in the garden—Plant heritage being passed down to future
generations; a certified National Plant Collection—
Yuji Kurashige, an expert on azaleas and rhododendrons, will provide a lecture on the garden at Hotel deYama, which is registered with the National Plant Collection, to highlight the deep attraction of thesebeautiful blossoms. During a conversation with general manager Kunieda, Mr. Kurashige will also
introduce the history of the garden and the projects.
<Title> Azaleas and rhododendrons in the garden—Plant heritage being passed down to future generations;a certified National Plant Collection—<Lecturer> Yuji Kurashige (Expert on azaleas and rhododendrons, Senior Managing Director at the Japan
Association of Botanical Gardens)<Date> Tuesday, May 7, 2024, From 11:00 am<Location> Hotel de Yama Conference Room Kintoki<Admission> Free (Capacity: 40)<Reservations> Make reservations by telephone.
Odakyu Hotel de Yama TEL: 0460-83-6321 (9:30 am–7:30 pm)

Yuji Kurashige (Expert on azaleas and rhododendrons,Senior Managing Director at JABG)

Image for upcoming presentations6

2. Concert at the chapel <First time in four years>
A concert will be held in the chapel at the garden at Hotel de Yama, a wonderful site with magnificent
views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi in Hakone.
<Date 1> Saturday, May 11, 2024 From 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm *30 min. per performance<Performers> Takako Fujieda (Arpa), Runa Matsuura (Violin)<Date 2>Sunday, May 12, 2024 From 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm *30 min. per performance<Performers> Eimy Martin (Vocal), Yuki Nishiura (Piano)

Location: A chapel at Odakyu Hotel de Yama Garden

Contact information for general publicOdakyu Hotel de Yama
Address: 80 Moto-Hakone, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 250-0522
Mail: press@odakyu-hotel.co.jp
Website: https://www.hakone-hoteldeyama.jp/en/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odakyuhotel.yama/

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