At the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, operated by Rokko Tourism Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nada Ward, Kobe City; President: Akitaka Seno), clusters of Hime-ajisai hydrangeas painted in vivid 'Rokko Blue' are now in full bloom and will remain at their peak until around late July. Hime-ajisai is a variety named in 1929 by the botanist Jintaro Makino, who chose the name due to the flower's delicate, feminine elegance. The Rokko mountain area, with its acidic soil characteristic of granite, causes hydrangeas to bloom in exceptionally vivid blue hues. This distinctive color, known as 'Rokko Blue,' has been designated as Kobe City's official flower and is widely cherished. According to Murakami Sadahiro's book 'Rokko Aregari: Stories of Mount Rokko,' the planting of hydrangeas on Rokko Mountain originated when Ichizo Kobayashi, founder of Hankyu Railway, concerned about the mountain's decline during and after the war, proposed donating seedlings with the vision of turning Rokko into 'a mountain of hydrangeas.' He consulted Hayashi Nakamoto, then a teacher at Rokko Mountain Elementary School, initiating the planting effort. ■ Event Information: 'Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden × Koyomi Seikatsu: Hanabiyori' An exhibition featuring the 72 micro-seasons of the traditional Japanese calendar and floral colors, along with a flower-collecting stamp rally, is currently underway. Enjoy a precious moment celebrating the beauty of the four seasons among alpine flowers from the Alps, the Himalayas, and Japan's highlands. 【Dates】Now through July 12 (Sun) 【Time】10:00–17:00 (Ticket sales end at 16:30) 【Admission】Free (garden entry fee required separately) ◆ Operating Information 【Garden Period】Now through November 29 (Sun) ※ Closed on certain days. Please check the official website for details. 【Hours】10:00–17:00 (Ticket sales end at 16:30) 【Admission Fee】Adults (middle school students and above) 900 yen / Children (ages 4–elementary school) 450 yen 【Parking Fee】1,000 yen ※ Operations and e