Terraced Paddy Field (Tanada)

There is a small flatland in Japan, so our ancestors put their efforts into the expansion of the field. It is “tanada,” terraced paddy field, that they made it possible. Very, very hard work! There were a lot of terraced paddy fields throughout Japan, but it has become difficult to keep rice growing there, because of the decrease of agricultural population and the aging problem.

On the other hand, the beautiful scenery of tanada gives us healing and reminds us of “Japanese spirit.” In recent years some people started to help the rice planting work on terrace voluntarily. I think tanada is one of cultural assets in Japan.

Yesterday I visited terraced paddy fields at Hayama in Miura Peninsula. They are small paddy fields. Five farmers are engaged in those fields.
This is a panoramic view.

This is a picture seen from the bottom.

Three farmers were working in grass cutting before rice planting.

These three farmers were classmates.

The picture below is tanada at Asuka in Nara which I visited in April.

Shonan Beach Walking

“Shonan” is a name of area from Hayama to Ninomiya facing the Sea of Sagami. Shonan is a brand name. Its characteristics are:

• Ocean view
• Warm climate
• Marine sports spots
• Nice view of Mt. Fuji
• Some celebrities live and used to live there.
  

Last month I walked along the shonan beaches. It took five days to finish this Shonan Beach Walking Project. I thought winter is the best season for walking. Differently from summer, they were not crowded and rather quiet; deeply you can feel the ocean wind.

The following was my schedule:
1st day: Chigasaki to Enoshima
2nd day: Enoshima to Kamakura
3rd day: Yuigahama to Hayama
4th day: Chigasaki to Oiso
5th day: Oiso to Mt. Azuma, Ninomiya

(Enoshima Viewing from Inamuragasaki)

(Mt. Fuji Floating in the Sky)

(Rest at Beach, Chigasaki)

(Praying in the Sunset)

For more photos, access to my Web site:

http://www.realjapan.org/photo/ShonanW1/index.html

http://www.realjapan.org/photo/ShonanW2/index.html

The shonan map is shown below.

Legend:

1 Isshiki Beach
2 Morito Beach
3 Zushi Beach
4 Zaimokuza Beach
5 Yuigahama Beach
6 Shichirigahama
7 Katase Beach
8 Tsujido Beach
9 Chigasaki Beach
10 Oiso Beach
11 River Nameri
12 River Sagami

13 Mt. Azuma

Happy 2007!

A Happy New Year!

Jan. 1, 2007

(at Biei, Hokkaido)

Autumn Colors in Kyoto

I have received an unexpected X'mas present from my friend, Yu-kun. At the end of last month he visited Kyoto and taken pictures of autumn colors. He visited Shozan Garden in the north and Komyoji Temple in the west of Kyoto.

More photos can be seen in my Web site. Please access:
http://www.realjapan.org/photo/Kyoto2006Autumn/index.html

(Shozan Garden)

(Shozan Garden)

(Komyoji Temple)

(Komyoji Temple)

Autumn Colors at Kamakura

Samurai Governor, Yoritomo Minamoto, established Bakufu (feudal government) at Kamakura, which was a place easy to defense and difficult to offense. There is a sea at the front and a mountain at the back. There are many temples and shrines remained. So, it can be said that Kamakura is the harmonious town of landscape and history.

Kamakura is now the season of autumn colors of leaves.

(Maple Trees at Shishimaigayatsu)

(Ginkgo Leaves at Shishimaigayatsu)

(Kakuonji Temple)

(Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine)

Autumn Colors at Shinjuku Gyoen National Park

We can enjoy autumn colors also at gardens and parks. There is the metropolitan government building at Shinjuku, which is changing itself without stopping. In front of the Shinjuku station some construction is progressing. But Shinjuku Gyoen National Park always receives us with quietness and beautiful flowers and trees.

Autumn Colors in Korankei

Korankei is located in Aichi prefecture, famous for autumn colors.
It is said that during Edo period a resident priest of the Kojakuji temple for the first time planted a maple tree around the temple and continued to plant a tree every time he read a volume of sutra. After that people added maple trees. Now 4,000 maple trees produce beautiful autumn sceneries.

[Tips]
Three Major Autumn Color Sites in Japan:

• Nikko, Tochigi pref.
• Arashiyama, Kyoto pref.
• Yabakei, Oita pref.

Holiday in Autumn

Many families go viewing autumn color on holidays in this season. The following pictures were taken in Showa Kinen Park yesterday. The Park was built after the U.S. military base in Tachikawa.

It Is Already Snowy in Hokkaido.

As Japanese archipelago extends north and south, it is already snowy in Hokkaido, when the foliage season has just started in Yokohama.

There are various winter sports, but it is fantastic just to view the snowy sceneries. All are on Biei Hills.

Kamakura, the Ancient Capital Built by Samurais

Today I visited Kamakura to see how the leaves are changing the color, especially at Shishimai Trough, my best spot for autumn viewing in Kamakura. It’s early. This year it has been warm and sometimes it was raining heavily and the wind was blowing hard. Many gingko leaves at Shishimai Trough have fallen down before turning yellow. Maple leaves are still green; I am looking forward viewing the maple leaves turning red.

I strongly recommend the foreign tourists visit Kamakura. The reasons are:
1) Near from Metropolitan Area (One-hour train)
2) Atmosphere of Ancient Capital (There are many temples, shrines, and historical sites.)
3) Variety of Places; Hills, Island, and Sea (There are several hiking courses with beautiful sceneries.)

Do you know who is the first Samurai Governor of Japan? Answer is:
>>>> Yoritomo Minamoto

I will briefly explain why samurais come out.
In 10th century it became clear that the ancient governance by the Emperor was imploding. Local ruling families were developing and increasing their land. They armed for protecting their land. There were disputes between them and the local government. Some of the noble families who were appointed as a local officer continued to live at their post after their term expired. They were gradually growing to make a samurai group. Understand?

(Today's Gingko at Hachimangu Shrine)

(Gingko at Shishimai Trough)

(Maple Tree at Shishimai Trough)

(Face)

Miyajima (or Itsukushima)

Miyajima is one of Japan’s three most beautiful spots. Itsukushima Shrine and the surrounding sea and primeval forest were designated as a World Cultural Heritage in 1996.

About ten-minute boat from Miyajimaguchi takes us to the island. A red-painted shrine gate standing in the sea surprises us and makes us feel like coming to another world.
Within Itsukushima Shrine, we have to take one-way route, but we can tour at a leisurely pace. Also you can realize that the shrine is built in the sea. When I visited there, I got up early in the next morning and went to the shrine gate. I could reach the gate on foot. Do not forget to check the time of greater ebb.

There are a lot of deer in Miyajima. People take good care of deer, because deer has been considered a divine messenger. How friendly! You will be surprised to see them here and there. On the top of Misen there are a lot of monkeys. They are not friendly; be careful.
If you visit in autumn, you can further enjoy autumn colors. I recommend a walk around Momijidani Park.

If you are going to stay in Miyajima, you should know that there are no convenience stores there. Most stores are closed around 6 p.m. I had reserved only accommodation. As the owner introduced me a couple of restaurants, I was able to have a dinner. My breakfast was momiji-manju. I bought it at a souvenir shop that was open early in the morning for tourists. Momiji-manju is maple-shaped bun with bean-jam filling and specialty of Miyajima. Another specialty is oyster. You can see the oyster bed from the boat. Try to eat various oyster dishes. I can never forget kaki-no-dotenabe (oyster-in-pan dish dressed with miso sauce) and Suishin (Hiroshima’s sake) that I had at Hiroshima Station.

(Red-painted Shrine Gate)

(Shrine Gate at Greater Ebb)

(Dear Deer Couple)

(Oyster Bed)

Hokkaido Was Cold!

Last weekend I was in Hokkaido because I had something to do. Hokkaido was cold as might be expected. At Orofure-toge (pass) of 930 meters high, the temperature was 2 degrees; we saw a little snow dancing in the wind.

I have enjoyed a hot spring at Noboribetsu. The place name “Noboribebetsu” derives from the language of the Ainu people who are indigenous to Hokkaido. It means a dark (nupuru) river(=pet); the river is clouding because the hot spring water is coming into it. There are eleven kinds of spring quality; Noboribetsu ranks in the top three of hot spring spots in Japan. I also enjoyed outdoor hot spring baths. When I got out of the bath tub, my body and towel became cold immediately. I was happy to find quite nice wash places. They were separated one by one and have a plastic stool higher than usual. It seems to me this improvement was made especially for foreign tourists. I was very much satisfied to feel my smooth skin.

(Noboribetsu River from Noboribetsu Shin-Ohashi(=new big bridge))

(Upper Side from Noboribetsu Shin-Ohashi)

(Jigokudani (=Hell Valley)

Tanigawadake

At the middle of October, I went to Tanigawadake Tenjindaira in Gunma prefecture to view the autumn colors. Mt. Tanigawadake is famous for rock climbing. Unfortunately the autumn colors were not so beautiful. I had to wait 45 minutes for getting on a ropeway. It was no use visiting on weekdays. Everybody thinks alike, doesn’t it? (Though I found it on my way back, this ropeway station had been constructed to respond to a long queue. Long, long winding corridors lead us to an entrance to a platform.) From Tenjindaira, the destination of a ropeway, I headed for Tenjintoge (=pass) by ski lift. Here was a 360ﾟ panoramic view. You have to come to this point, when you visit Tanigawadake. You can take time to enjoy a nice view also at the rooftop observation deck of the lift station. On the day, it was a beautiful day and there were a lot of people to climb Mt. Tanigawadake. There were some clouds at the top of the mountain; its peak would not show up till the last moment. Unlucky!

Actually this was the third time to visit Tenjindaira. More than ten years ago I ventured to climb Mt. Tanigawadage with my friends. We stayed at a minshuku (=private home providing room and board) and enjoyed a hot spring managed by a town. The next day we started climbing. We were so tired after walking tiresomely long paths along the river and the route of the climb was muddy because of the previous day’s rain. Courageous retreat was unanimously decided before the summit. We arrived at Tenjindaira in a little distress and got on a ropeway. How beautiful the autumn colors of leaves were! How wonderful yellow leaves and red leaves, though not many, looked best in bright sunshine. We did not feel in the least that the ropeway fare of 950 yen was expensive.

That impression was so intense that I visited again five years ago to take pictures. This time the weather turned bad, there were some rain and wind. When I was taking pictures at Tenjindaira, I dropped my contact lens. There was a drain ditch when I looked down. I searched the lens with my poor eyesight, but I could not find it. So, the third time was a sort of revenge. It might be a little early for the best season. My challenge has not been completed…..

Home-made cold tofu and a one-pot dish cooked at the table served at the minshuku were very delicious. This one-pot dish was very simple; pork back ribs, thin green onion, and Flammulina veluptipes were boiled in a soy sauce soup. This cuisine was added to my recipe later.

(Mt. Tanigawadake)

(View from Tenjintoge)

(On the Lift)