Saw a great cormorant making a pose as if a sculpture emerged on the Shibakawa River surface.
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行きたいリストにあった烏山と茂木を結ぶルート。アユの天ぷらも。
A long-lasting item on my bucket list: cycling from Karasuyama Station to Motegi and treating myself to early-summer ayu (sweetfish) tempura.
烏山線はキハ40ではなくバッテリー電車になっていた。
The battery train at Utsunomiya Station bound for Karasuyama.
Needed to purchase a paper ticket to enter Karasuyama Line.
Arrived at Karasuyama.
The train began to charge.
Karasuyama Station.
Headed west to the hill and valley area.
Ryumon-no-taki (龍門の滝) waterfall.
Taiheiji (太平寺) Temple.
Scenery from the hill.
Paddies in the valley.
Soba (buckwheat) fields on river terraces.
Wide river terrace.
Reached the Arakawa (荒川) River.
Bright graveyard on the hill.
Walked upstream along the Arakawa River.
Young rice plants blowing.
Due to a mechanical problem on my bike, decided to take a train at Kobana Station (小塙駅) to Karasuyama. Gave up the plan to Motegi.
Took a numbered ticket, just like on a bus.
Returned to Karasuyama Station, where I deposited my bicycle for a walk in a good old atmosphere.
Checked an item off my bucket list! Ayu tempura at Syogetsu-an (松月庵) restaurant.
After lunch, walked down to see the Naka River (那珂川).
Wide bank of the Naka River.
The river flows beyond the paddy fields.
Soba fields, too.
Crossing the River by Shimono-oh-hashi Bridge (下野大橋).
Kayaking in the best season.
The stone monument describes the place used to be a ferry point.
Spring water by the River, and interesting earth strata.
Wooden boat in use.
Crossed the bridge again to go back to the Karasuyama Station.
Saw a tube tunnel for kids, like in Doraemon.
Stone-built warehouse, used to serve logistics in history.
Got back to the Station with an iced coffee and some sweets from a nearby 7-11.
陰影起伏図で見つけた窪地を見に出かけた。窪地の近くの岩槻久伊豆神社にお参りし、野田線の川間駅から関宿の江戸川分岐まで歩いてきた。
Found a big depression on the shaded relief map on my PC.
Started my holiday at Iwatsuki Hisaizu Shrine.
Crossed over the Motoarakawa River.
Arrived at the depression on the map. It was Minamihirano Park (南平野公園), which was constructed as a rainwater reservoir. I had imagined a landscape with spring water, but it was not.
Moved to Kawama Station (川間駅) and began my walk north along the Edogawa River (江戸川).
It was not a major "kaido" route, but I found some old stone statues along the way.
Wow! All these green onions!
Found this river was dry. Kurihori Bridge over the Kurihori River (くり堀川).
A rural atmosphere still remains in this area.
Crossed Route 16.
Climbed up onto the left bank of the Edogawa River.
Mt. Tsukuba (筑波山) appeared far off over the green onion fields.
Descended to the flat ground and continued my walk. Looking up, the sky felt incredibly broad over the freshly mowed bank.
Walked past the Sekiyado Soaring Center (the glider field).
Passed by the football field, where kids were playing.
Four tractor mowers parked and ready for action.
Could actually touch the river water at this point. Imagined a big fish biting a worm.
After the point with the tractors, the grass on the bank grew knee-high. I took a paved path up the bank to see what was on the inner side of the embankment.
From Sekiyadobashi Bridge (関宿橋), the northern mountain ranges were visible in the far distance, stretching beyond the Kanto Plain.
The ruins of Sekiyado Castle.
Finally reached the diversion point of the two rivers. It appeared that the intake gate was managing the water levels, diverting excess water from the Edogawa into the main Tone River (利根川).
Regrettably, I ran out of time for Nakajima Park and the Sekiyado Museum today. I'll save them for next time.
Took a bus at Sekiyadodaimachi after another half-hour walk through the beautiful twilight.
On the way to the bus stop, stopped at Sekiyado Katori-jingu Shrine (香取神宮) to offer a prayer of thanks for the day.
左がコンデジ、右がスマホ。
スマホは鮮やかだが実際とは空気感が違う。細密なペンキ絵みたいなものか。Smartphone photos often look too vivid to be real. They almost look like paintings, and despite the high resolution, they fail to capture the true atmosphere of the scene.
Left: Nikon W150 Com-Disit
Right: iPhone SE 3G
三日目は美濃赤坂から米原の鳥居本宿を目指した。疲労の為、少し手前の醒井宿で切り上げて帰京。
Day 3: Planned to reach Toriimoto-juku, but called it a day at Samegai-juku due to fatigue.
A well of potable water in front of JR Ogaki Station (大垣駅). Very nice.
Resumed my walk from Mino-Akasaka Station at 6:30 AM.
Offered my morning prayer at Sengenjinja Shrine (浅間神社).
The Yabashi Family Residence (矢橋家住宅).
Kabutozuka (兜塚).
The Kawai Lime Industry (河合石灰工業) plant in the Hirui (昼飯) district.
The path descending to Aohaka post town (青墓宿).
Found intricate carvings on the building of Shirahige Shrine (白髭神社). Amazing!
The legend of Terutehime (照手姫) is more dramatic than a K-drama.
Mt. Ibuki (伊吹山) came into sight.
The rice paddies along the road were flooded and ready for planting.
The turbid water in the ditches also tells the season of rice planting.
Old street village of Aonocho (青野町).
Gorgeous natural stone signpost.
Entered Tarui post town (垂井宿). Mt. Ibuki, and carp streamers swimming over the Aikawa River (相川).
A former trading company building － another chapter of history along the route.
垂井曳山祭りに遭遇
Just encountered the moment the Hikiyama float emerges from its warehouse for the May festival.
Love to see a fast stream aside the road in mountain areas.
Baby wagons, guest furniture, and beds — the hopes of people in the Showa era.
From Deyashiki Crossing (出屋敷踏切), the route goes through the historical valley of Sekigahara (関ケ原).
Tarui milestone mound.
A beautiful sight to greet weary walkers at Nogami post town (野上宿).
The ruins of Fuwa-no-seki barrier gate (不破関) — its history traces back to the 7th century.
Crossing Fujiko River (藤古川) — crossing over an ancient battlefield.
A sign of community vitality, dedicated to a small Buddhist hall.
At Yasaki Jizo-do (箭先地蔵堂).
A historic well from 672, the year of the Jinshin War.
Beautiful street of Toge (藤下) village.
Enjoyed a valley water at Wakamiya-Hachimangu Shrine (若宮八幡宮).
This shrine sits high above the Tokaido Line railway, which runs parallel to the Nakasendo.
Refreshment to walkers at Yamanaka post town (山中宿).
Listened to the soothing sound of the Uguisunotaki Waterfall (鶯の滝).
A gentle slope leading the way to Imasu Pass (今須峠).
Yamanama Crossing with JR Tokaido Line.
The approach through the tunnel reveals the sacred garden of Myo-oji Temple (妙応寺).
The brick railway bridge creates a historic tunnel leading to the temple, setting a solemn atmosphere for the approach.
Crossing the border from Gifu into Shiga.
Terutehime Kasakake Jizo (照手姫笠掛地蔵).
A well in front of a Sake brewery in Kashiwabara post town (柏原宿).
Sophisticated streetscape of Kashiwabara post town.
A historical merchant of 'mogusa' (moxibustion incense), a local medical specialty.
Utilization structure of the valley water.
Kashiwabara milestone mound.
Saw rice planting in the fields of Uguisugahara (鶯が原).
Spotted a large 'suppon' (soft-shell turtle) in the Azusa River (梓川).
Busshinsui Well (仏心水) — clearly saw the letters carved into the inner wall.
Entered Samegai post town (醒井宿).
Kamojinja Shrine (加茂神社).
At the foot of Kamojinja, the abundant spring 'Isame-no-Shimizu (居醒の清水)' emerges.
The springs of Samegai post town merge into the Jizo River (地蔵川).
Another famous 'Juosui' spring (十王水).
Arrived at Samegai Station at 4:20 PM. Headed home.
