I won’t tell you exactly where the entrance to off-limits part of Sengokubara 仙石原 is. In the end, it’s to a restricted National Treasure. Anyway, we went to the controlled wetland from Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands 箱根湿生花園, donning our rubber boots. The entry point had a small stream coming from the National Treasure area pouring to the ponds of Botanical Garden. Mr. Katsuyama said, “Please wash your boots here before moving into the protected area.” So far people have not found a Sengokubara-only endemic species. Though, the place has many endangered Japanese indigenous creatures. On the other hand, researchers found invasive species in the restricted area. “You see? Birds and animals may bring non-endemic types. Winds can carry seeds of Taraxacum officinale. We cannot control such things completely. At least we homo sapience can be careful not contributing to such disturbance for our wetland.” Mr. Katsuyama said. Indeed. Sengokubara is not so special as a Japanese wetland, but it is the only marshland in Kanagawa Prefecture. Maybe it would be difficult for Sengokubara to be a Ramsar site. But if we can preserve the swamp surrounded by resort facilities, it would tell something for cohabitation of nature and us, wouldn’t it?
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| The stream is man-made to control the water in the area. |
So, we all washed our boots, then started to walk. For a while we walked along the stream that runs through forest of large Japanese Alder (Alunus Japonica). They are pioneer species for wetland naturally transiting to more dry and fertile land. The outer layer of National Treasure is at the final stage for the lifecycle of marshland. Even though, the forest floor is still swampy. The rim of this forest is next to a busy commuter road and the other side of the road is resort housing areas … It’s like alders protecting the way to the least disturbed fairly land of natural wetland. Soon, we encounter the field of Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) and Common reed (Phragmites australis). The scenery became suddenly bright. Blue sky is high above us, but we are surrounded very high greensward.
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| Alders in Sengokubara |
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| We’ve
found Japanese gentians (Gentiana Scabra Bunge var. buergeri (Miq.) Maxim) along the stream. |
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| Here we are! |
I simply wondered how Mr. Katsuyama could find the way where our sight is completely blocked by well-grown grasses. Interestingly, the road had many small ups and downs. “It’s the remnants of rice paddies cultivated some 80 years ago.” Mr. Katsuyama said. Water from Mt. Daigatake 台ヶ岳 manages to pass through such artificial structure. Unless we’re careful, a sudden water hole can appear unexpectedly on our way. “Please be careful.” Silver grass and Common reed looked like competing each other. For the transition of wetland, the field of silver grass is one step before the forest of alders. In Sengokubara the vegetation hesitates to dominate the place. Actually, people intervene to stop the wetland changing to the dry land. Volunteers from Hakone Town set controlled fire every early spring on grasses and reeds. Those tall vegetations turns ash to be nutrients for the wetland, and more flora for marshland can receive sunshine in spring. At the same time, Silver grass and Common reed cannot establish strong holds for the burned area. The swamp stops its transition to dryland. The section that received the recent fire has shorter grasses and reeds. We could identify irises with seed pods. They could find sunshine to flower!
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| Sometimes, our way had rudimentary wood “decks.” |
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| Researchers
enter this area in order to study fauna, flora, and underground water. This is the point they measure the water level. |
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| Grass and reed are competing each other. |
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| Thistles in Sengokubara are Cirsium sieboldii. |
Mr. Katsuyama said if we could combine fire and weeding, the management of wetland would be better. But for these 2 years COVID prevented volunteers from gathering to do the task. Not only that. “You see? Weeding always have problem of how-to carry out the cleared grass. If we left the cut reeds on the ground, it’s the same as naturally dead vegetation decaying on the ground and drying the marsh. We really have to take out the cut grass after weeding. We could weed only very small area in Sengokubara where this garbage collection problem is solved. How to do it in the entire Sengokubara where the trekking passes are limited?”
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| Could
you see the difference in grass height between the front and the back? The lower part was burnt 2 years ago. |
Hmmmmm. the sky was blue, the wind was sweet in early October. The place was only for us at that time. We took deep breath that was often difficult when places were congested and COVID-19 was just around the corner … The feeling of liberation was enormous in Sengokubara. To enjoy such things more, we have to solve the problem to protect the environment. Difficult … I personally recited the Bible. Water stream is Jesus, and we were just mere mortals …
John 13: 5
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands
817 Sengokubara, Hakone Town, Kanagawa, 250-0631
Phone: 0460-84-7293
https://hakone-shisseikaen.com/
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