Late May 2026
A Hot Day Begins with Halohalo
In late May 2026, a post appeared on my social media feed announcing that the roses at Jindai Botanical Gardens were in full bloom, so my partner and I decided to pay a visit.
It was an exceptionally hot day. Before we even reached the gardens, we stopped at a MINISTOP convenience store and had some Halohalo. On a day that hot, being able to cool off with a cold dessert in a convenience store with an eat-in space made me appreciate just how comfortable modern life can be.
We shared a Halohalo called “Pachi-Pachi Cola.” I enjoyed the sensation of the popping candy bursting in my mouth, but my partner said, “I don’t really like it. The popping feels kind of painful.” It reminded me that people experience things differently. At the same time, I couldn’t help thinking that my partner sounded a bit like a child who doesn’t like carbonated drinks.
Roses in Full Bloom
We bought our admission tickets from a ticket vending machine near the entrance. Admission was 500 yen per adult, and the machine accepted cash only.
When we visited, an exhibition called the “Satsuki Exhibition – Flower Season Display and Competition” was being held. Before we even reached the rose garden, we were greeted by rows of magnificent satsuki azaleas.
The flowers were blooming so profusely that they seemed ready to spill off the branches. What fascinated me was the variation within a single plant: some blossoms displayed different shades of color, while others had delicate streaks of red or pink running through otherwise white petals. It felt almost mysterious, and it was undeniably beautiful.
The roses we had come to see were at their peak. Against the deep blue sky, they looked spectacular, making it a perfect day for viewing them.
Or at least it would have been, if it hadn’t been so incredibly hot.
I wanted to take my time admiring every rose, but walking around under the direct sunlight was surprisingly exhausting.
Roses come in an astonishing variety of colors, sizes, and shapes thanks to extensive cultivation and breeding. There was plenty to enjoy, but my personal favorites were the climbing roses trained into three-dimensional displays.
The Greenhouse and My New Carnivorous Plants
After finishing the rose garden, we explored the greenhouse as well. There I saw a pitcher plant that I found absolutely adorable, and I immediately started thinking that I wanted one at home.
With summer approaching and fruit flies beginning to appear in the kitchen, my partner and I amused ourselves by imagining a pitcher plant happily catching them for us.
The greenhouse also featured jade vines, whose vivid emerald-green flowers looked almost too vibrant to be real, as if someone had painted them.
There were dedicated rooms for orchids and begonias as well, and every flower on display was stunning.
I really liked Jindai Botanical Gardens.
After leaving the greenhouse, we spent some time looking at a pond where water lilies had begun to bloom and walking through a forested area that still retains the atmosphere of old Musashino. Eventually we made our way back toward the entrance.
Near the entrance, there was a plant vendor.
And there it was.
A pitcher plant.
I bought it immediately.
Then I spotted a Venus flytrap.
I bought that immediately too.
My partner and I had wanted carnivorous plants for quite some time.
Dinner at COCKTAIL HAMBURGERS
On the way home from Jindai Botanical Gardens, we stopped at COCKTAIL HAMBURGERS, a restaurant near Musashi-Sakai Station, for dinner.
The burgers were substantial and satisfying, but what impressed me most was the side dish I chose: sweet potato fries. They were exceptionally good and turned out to be the perfect ending to the day.
