Into the Forest: A Hidden Fairytale World in Hanno
Stepping into the depths of the forest, there lies a hidden fairytale world in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, known as Akebono Children's Forest Park. Unlike the bustling and vibrant maple season, this park is a place that might easily be overlooked, yet once you step inside, it quietly captivates travelers. It doesn't boast dazzling autumn leaves or luxurious facilities typical of tourist attractions. Instead, it gently climbs into your heart with its 'fairytale-like charm'—a realization that dawns upon you when you see the whimsical architecture, making you think: Japan has such a world too.
Walking along the forest trail, what first catches your eye is not the season but the atmosphere. Towering bald cypress trees slice the sky into soft lines, with sunlight filtering through the branches and casting a warm hue over the slopes, as if the forest itself is breathing. The trees here don't flaunt the seasons but quietly frame the entrance to a fairytale world.
What truly makes you pause, however, are the 'mushroom houses' that suddenly appear in the forest. With their curved roofs, flowing walls, and small windows glowing warmly, they seem like characters straight out of a Nordic picture book. Both adults and children unconsciously slow their steps here, touching the walls and peeking at the details—these buildings don't feel constructed but rather as if they 'grew in the forest.'
Further ahead, by the lakeside, stands the iconic blue spire house. Its reflection on the water tells a story more compelling than any autumn leaves. Some sit by the shore lost in thought, children run across the wooden bridge, and as the setting sun turns the bald cypress trees amber, the entire forest feels as if a magic button has been pressed.
Finally, as night quietly falls, a moon-like glowing orb under the trees lights up, transforming the park into another kind of gentle dreamscape. The beauty here is neither ostentatious nor exaggerated; it subtly pulls travelers away from their daily lives and into a long-lost fairytale corner.
In Hanno, you don't need to chase autumn leaves or seasons;
because this forest itself is the best story.