桑の実が変色しているのを見つけた。ネットで調べたらキツネノワンまたはキツネノヤリというキノコが寄生したものだそうだ。
Found some discolored mulberries. Online search revealed that they are parasitized by a fungus called Kitsune-no-wan or Kitsune-no-yari(Fox's bowl or spear). The fruiting bodies (mushrooms) can be seen under the trees in spring. They are a competitor to me as a mulberry eater.
Found a bagworm, which has recently become rare.
これはサネカズラ(Japanese kadsura, false schisandra)の花。
At the rail crossing.
高麗川の新堀橋に釣りに行った。
台風で2019年に流されたが、2023年に立派な構造で復旧されたそうだ。
Went fishing to Shim-bori-bashi bridge on Komagawa river. The bridge was destroyed by typhoon flood in 2019 and rebuilt with firm structure in 2023.
Had Oikawa fish in the pleasant clear water. One-day fishing ticket was 500 yen in the smart phone.
Visited Miike-Manda(万田坑) coal mine ruins.
Weather turned fine after summer shower at Omuta(大牟田) station.
Manda site is well preserved as a historical heritage.
Landscape of the site.
Left the site. Funny short tunnel and the walking route to the JR station.
Broad yard of Arao station(荒尾駅) also tells the history.
中山道碓井峠の裏街道である下仁田街道を歩いてきた。
Walked along Shimonita-kaido, an alternate route to the steep Usui pass in Nakasendo road.
Took a Joshin-Dentetsu(上信電鉄) train from Takasaki in the morning.
Began walking from Shimonita station.
Notice to the public in front of the station. Local atmosphere.
Greatly impressed to find gorgeous decorations of wood carving at Suwa-Jinja shrine.
Stone monuments and statues plenty along the road.
Fresh water of Kabura-gawa(鏑川) river.
The road leads to west from the Shimonita town.
Wood processing workshop.
Farming area in the valley.
Plenty of plum fruits of the season.
Mulberry plants and silkworm roof. Trace of the silk production era.
Vehicle road goes without tunnel because this pass is not so steep as Usui-toge pass.
Joyful walking under early summer clouds.
Attractions aside the road.
Small post offices like this used to be popular in Japan.
Shimonita leeks and hydrangea.
Flowers on Ishigaki stone wall.
Entered Moto-juku(本宿) post town, the ancient base to the pass climb.
Found a colony of succulents.
Interesting to see the ingenuity to make use of the inclined landscape.
Yet not successful to invite tourists to this attractive old street.
The valley got narrower towards the pass.
Merged to the vehicle road.
Deep greens of the summer.
Could see the fast stream and rocks from the road. Meoto-iwa(夫婦岩) pair rocks on the base rock in the stream.
Cold spring water of Meoto-iwa(夫婦岩の湧水). Really helps travellers in summer.
Kind of surprise to find big rice fields like this after walking in this deep mountain area.
This monument writes the paddy had been frequently destroyed by flood and reformed(西野牧開田記念碑).
Buddhist monuments and statues in the village.
Took a short break in Hatsutoya(初鳥谷) post town before climbing to the Wami-toge(和美峠) pass.
Walked along the vehicle road turning up to the pass top.
Passed under the highway bridge.
Entered Karuizawa(軽井沢) resort area.
Crossed the border to the Nagano Prefecture.
Fast traffic just having got off the highway threatened me when passing time after time.
Boring walking in a golf field with fatigue.
Took the last rest in front of the stone statues in Hocchi(発地).
The road encounters Yukawa(湯川) river and turned left to the Oiwake(追分) junction with the Nakasendo(中山道) road.
Saw the skirt of Mt. Asama(浅間山) with its head in cloud.
Reached in the evening sun light, Junction with Nakasendo.
Prayed for peace at Ochikochi(遠近宮) shrine revisited after two years.
Beautiful twilight on the Old Nakasendo road.
Spring water spot aside the road. Seemed potable yet not sure.
Arrived at Shinano-Oiwake(信濃追分) station.
Got back home via Karuizawa.
滑川町に谷津沼田んぼを見に行ってきた。
Visited NamegawaTown to see Yatsu-numa paddy fields.
Shin-numa(新沼) pond and Ikono-sato(伊古の里) the Farmer's Cafe Restaurant.
Along the shallow valley there, terraces of rice paddy have been maintained.
Climbed the observatory. Good scenery although rainy.
Season of hydrangea.
Hosts of the forest walker.
