cherry picking bus tour (4)

Cherry picking made everyone happy.
佐藤錦-brand cherries were sweet-and-sour.

Cherries reminds me of good old days.









On the way back we enjoyed flowers in Sagae.







(from my bus window --on the way to Asaka SA)

cherry picking bus tour (3)

Then we went to Yamadera, the temple of Risshakuji.

I climbed up more than 1000 steep stone stairs through
the deep forest to 奥の院.　It was a hard work for me.
But I made it!

The weather was improving.

I was happy to come to 奥の院.
I felt sincerely grateful for everything.

松尾芭蕉　visited Yamadera and wrote a famous haiku--

静けさや岩にしみ入る蝉の声
shizukesa ya iwa ni shimiiru semi no koe







(Matsuo Basho)




（せみ塚）




(奥の院）

cherry picking bus tour (2)

It seemed to be raining during the night.
It was cloudy in the morning.

My bus was going up the mountain road Zao Echo Line.
The higher we went up, the worse the weather got--
a thick mist closed in around us.

蔵王のお釜 was not to be seen at all.

( along the way )


(at the top)


I saw 蔵王のお釜 last year.

cherry picking bus tour (1)

I enjoyed a two day bus tour to Miyagi and Yamagata.
My chief aim was cherry picking in Tendou, Yamagata.
But what strongly excited me was Yamadera.

Early on the morning of June 27, I hurried to Tachikawa
City and boarded a sightseeing bus.

It took us about 6 hours to arrive in Matsushima.
I had bento lunch in the bus.



It was my second time to visit Matsushima.
I thought of my good friends with whom I enjoyed
looking around Matsushima five years ago.
What sweet memories!











Then the bus took me to Zao hot spring resort.
I enjoyed the sulfur springs of Zao and went to bed early.

The Chorus ぐみ

This afternoon I enjoyed a chorus concert
at Kodaira City Concert Hall.

The name of the chorus is 'ぐみ.'
The chorus 'ぐみ' is 40 years old.

The chorus is consisted of 23 ladies--only ladies.
The oldest lady is going to be 99 years old.

The conductor is a gentleman.
His name is Mr. Makoto Ohkubo.
He has been leading the chorus 'ぐみ' for 40 years!

The chorus ぐみ sang very, very well.
It was a heart-warming concert.

By the way, I'm going to join a cherry picking tour.
I will stay overnight at Zao hot spring resort.
See you！