Monument Valley is a Navajo reservation and a vast park managed and operated by the Navajo. Pay $ 20 (up to 4 people per car) at the entrance gate. Valet drive fees are included in this admission fee and are not collected at the start of the drive.
After passing through the entrance gate and going straight, there is the View Hotel and Visitor Center with a view of Monument Valley.
The course of Valley Drive is written in the pamphlet received at the entrance gate. It is not possible to get it at the visitor center. At the visitor center, check road conditions and weather. From June to August, there is a risk of flash floods, so depending on the weather, you should give up your own volleyball drive. Even if it is sunny, if it rains heavily on the previous day and the road is muddy, it will be slippery and dangerous.
Valley Drive is an unpaved road with a total length of about 27km. On the other hand, there are roads with extremely uneven surfaces, so if you have a low car, you may hit a low car. However, it is not so nervous. If you find the flat part as much as possible and run, you can run even with a compact car without any problems.
The entrance to Valley Drive is on the lodge side of View Hotel. The signboard of Monument Valley Loop Drive in front of the lodge is a landmark. There is no admission check, so let’s enter. The most difficult part of the valley drive course is near the entrance. Since it is uneven, slopes and loops, do not slow down and drive carefully.
We will turn around 11 points in the Valley Drive in order. First, head to Mittens and Merrick Butte, the first butterfly group seen from the visitor center.
When you go to the sunset time, the butte dyed in red stands out in front of you!
Each point has a little parking space. If possible, park next to the parked car for the next car.
The highlight of the first half of Valley Drive is the fourth point, John Ford’s Point! It is a famous place for the scenery that Director John Ford fell in love with.
What I want to shoot here is a horseback riding photo just like a western play! You can ride a horse at the tip of the point for $ 5 per person. Even when you’re not on the cliff, you feel like you’re just passing the cliff as soon as you ride a horse! You can taste a little thrill. If you don’t pull the reins, the horse will stay still while you shoot, so don’t worry.
ormer Hori Garden is a series of gardens developed by Mr. Hori, who made a fortune in the management of the copper mine, from the Edo period to the Taisho period.
Mr. Hori was a family indigenous to Tsuwano during the Kamakura period and has been developing mines since the Sengoku period. Later, during the Edo period, it became a direct control of the shogunate, and discovered the veins one after another and made a prosperity.
Later, from the Meiji to Taisho eras, the company managed several dozen mines, so it was called “China’s Copper San King”.
The oldest building in the Former Hori Garden is the main house built in 1785.
The interior is also decorated with excellent designs everywhere, for example, the appearance of a fox flying in the sky in the high-class room. It is a space that makes you feel the glory of Mr. Hori, who flourished in the management of the copper mine.
To the south of the main building is a small but dry garden garden. This main garden is located in front of the main house, and was widely used in the Edo period. The surrounding area is surrounded by plastered earthenware, and stone frames and laying stones are placed in it.
Behind the main building is Rakuzanso, built in 1900. It is a two-storied roof tile and has a distinctive open structure. There is also a tea room inside, which serves as a sophisticated and extraordinary space.
The Rakusanso Garden has an impressive contrast between the rocky mountain behind and vivid planting. Plants such as maples, azaleas, and satsuki are planted in the park, giving them calmness and moisture. In addition, 17 large and small lanterns and lanterns, such as the Jumie stone pagoda and the large snowy lanterns in front of the shade, are placed to add accents to the garden.
The Rakuzanso Garden is a “pond spring garden” where you can enjoy the garden around the pond. You can find your favorite scenery from various angles.
In addition, water drawn from the copper mine entrance is used as a two-tiered waterfall to take advantage of topographical differences. The sound of the waterfall is pleasant, and it is a mechanism that allows you to feel the atmosphere of the garden not only from the sight but also from the hearing.
