Sakata city in Yamagata, and Naruko Hot Spring in Miyagi Trip

I would like to inform Sakata city in Yamagata, and Naruko Hot Spring in Miyagi.

Go to Sakata from Niigata by JR.
Japan Sea is available to see along north Niigata.

I rent a bicycle at Sakata hotel.
Sakata city has lots of no charge bicycle, I recommend you to rent this bicycle.
I go to 5 hours bicycle trip seeing trip guide green cource.

I go to Honma hose.
This house is Samurai and Merchant house.
Guide person explain this house in detail.
This house sell Edo period goods.

Next visit is Sankyo Warehouse.
This warehouse is famouse in Sakata, and for rice warehouse.

There are 11 warehouses.
The innermost warehouse is a rice museum.
This museum shows Shonai rice history.
I receive seeds of Haenuki rice.
At Edo period, Sakata is flourished city for trading rice and Benibana flowers.
Sankyo warehouse and Keyaki tree area is a West of warehouse.
This area is also the location of the TV series NHK novel of "Oshin".


Next is Sanno Club.
This house is Japanese restaurant.
At early Meiji period, lots of MPV persons were visiting this restaurant.

Next is Hie shrine.
This shrine holds Sanno festival.
This main shrine is decorated by dragon, dog, monkey.


West of this shrine, Hiyoriyama park is existing.
Sunset from this park is wonderful.


After seeing the sunset, I return my hotel, and drink Japanese Sake "Jyokigen".

Next morning, I go to Naruko Hot Spring.

En route, I visit Shinjo city.
This station has Shinkansen, and modern station house.


I get off at Naruko-Onsen station.

Naruko hot spring is a big three hot springs in Tohoku.

Takinoyu is a oldest Spring at Naruko.
About 7 minutes walking from station.
Charge is only 150yen.

I try to make a Onsen-Eggu.
I buy egg and go to "Onsen Egg factory"

This factory has only Hot Spring Well.
Hot spring temperature is 70degree.
Enter egg to this well for 25minutes, you can make a Onsen-Egg.
It is soft and delicious.

Naruko has a Naruko Kokeshi.
I buy a Chochin of Naruko, shape is Naruko Kokeshi.

I stay Naruko hot spring Hotel.
Naruko Hotel adopt Japanese style Omotenashi.
I drink Sake "Nauko no Yu" and sleep.

Historical city Sakata, Famouse hot spring NarukoOnsen.
Both are wonderful spots.

That's it.

Shinshu Agematsu Akazawa Forest train

I would like to inform Akazawa Forest train.

Go to Nakatsugawa by JR, and change train to Agematsu.
2hr20min from Nagoya, I arrive at Agematsu station.
In front of the station, ride a bus to Akazawa nature forest.
About 30 minutes bus riding, arrive at Akazawa nature forest.

This forest breeze Japanese cypress for Ise shrine.
This forest has many nature Japanese cypress.
Oldest tree is 300 years.
Japanese cypress has 5 kinds.
They are Hinoki, Sawara, Nezuko, Asunaro, Koyama.
Hinoki and Asunaro is suited for wooden house.

Forest train was finished at 38 years ago.
This train start again 26years ago.
Round trip is only 2.2km, 800yen.
Riding ticket is wooden paper, and you receive the memorial Plate made of Hinoki.

Time schedule is 30min span.
Before riding, I visit the forest train museum.
Steam locomotive is displayed at this museum.

Current Diesel train leades 4 passenger cars.

The train seat is free, I select front car.
Driving is 20minutes.
At Maruyama station, 5 minutes break.
You can get off this station and go to river.
This train drive near Hinoki forest.
Forest bathing is good for your health.
You can see Hinoki and river.

Next is walking forest course.
Forest course is 8 course.

First is Nakadate course.
This course is along Forest train and river side road.
I take a break at crystal-clear brook.
This brook is cold and fresh water.
Deep area is Emerald green.
I sit down a rock in the brook, and read a book.
It is a refreshing time.

After walking, I go to Therapy museum.
This museum has Japanese cypress leaves.
They are Hinoki, Sawara, Nezuko, Asunaro, Koyama's leaves.

Next is Mountain stream walking course.

Final visit is Forest museum.
This museum has Hinoki, Sawara, Nezuko, Asunaro, Koyama's cut woods.

Akazawa nature forest is far from Agematsu station.
But lots of cars are arriving, and some buses are coming.

Akazawa nature forest's best season is from April to Octover.
Please visit this forest for Forest bathing.

That's it.

Niigata Sadogashima Trip

Niigata Sadogashima Trip

I would like to inform Sadogashima island Trip.
I go to Sadogashima by Jetfoil ship 65minutes from Niigata port.

Sadogashima is 2nd largest island in Japan.
So, going around this island by bicycle is difficult.
I go around this island by bus.
First visit is Toki-no-Mori-park: this park is in the center of this island.
At the entrance, Toki : ibis mascot is greeting me.
Toki :Japanese ibis become extinct.
This park ibis is from China.

Toki museum shows Toki's history, feature.
You can see that Toki is raising a child at Toki plaza.
Toki like a loach, and frog.



I return to Ryozu port.
There is a big Lake Kamo.
The landscape of Lake Kamo and Mountains is very beautiful.

Lunch is Kaisen Zushi.
I ride a Sightseeing bus: Hakuundai-Kinzan-Senkaku Harbour-Couple rock, at Ryozu port.
30minutes riding, bus arrive at Hakuundai, this hill is near the top of mountain, you can see a wide view of Sadogashima.

After 30minutes riding, Next is Sado Kinzan.
Sado Kinzan is digged from 1601 to 1989.
Many golds and silvers are digged.
There are Sodayu tunnel, and Doyu tunnel.
I select Sodayu tunnel.

Tunnel road is fixed by cement, slope is not steep.
In the tunnel many worker's doll are showing digging Method.
Doll is moving and speaking for explaining digging works.

I see this tunnel for 30minutes.
Over the tunnel exit, Kijzan museum is existing.
Museum shows how to make a gold money: Koban, Oban.
At golden age, there are 50thousands people living in Sadogashima.


About 45minutes riding, I arrive at Senkaku Harbour.
Glass boat pleasure is optional tour.
I ride this boat, and see a Harbour.
Lots of rocks are showing different shape.
Bottom of this boat is glass, we can see a bottom see and fishes.
This Senkaku harbour has Observatory, and small marine museum.
A wide view of Senkaku Harbour is beautiful.

Next is Couple Rock: that is husband and wife rock.
We can walk near this rock.
Near this rock, Seafood shop is existing.
Sazae, Awabi are good taste.

This is the end of Sightseeing bus.
This bus return to Ryozu port at 18:30.
I go to Niigata by Car ferry for 2.5 hours.
Car ferry is a big ship, I go to deck, and drink Nihonshu.
'Wakusui' is a famous Sadogashima Sake.
I enjoy a relax time at deck.
I arrive at Niigata port at 22:00.
I stay hotel at Niigata.


Sadogashima has many sighseeing points, please enjoy Sadogashima trip.

That's it.

Nagano Nozawa hot spring, Kenshin-Uesugi Kasugayama Castle Trip

I would like to inform Nozawa Hot Spring, and Kasugayama Castle Trip.
I get off JR TogariNozawaOnsen station, ride a bus to Nozawa Hot Spring.


I arrive at today's Japanese hotel.
I go to Sky Jump Ramp.
I think that Jumping in this jump ramp is very dangerous.
Nozawa Mt area has some snows till end of May.
Young people enjoy spring skiing.


I return to spring town.

I enter these hot springs.
Matsbanoyu, Ohyu, Kwarayu, Takinoyu, Asagamanoyu, Shinyu.
I recommend two Hot Springs, Ohyu, Shinyu.

Ohyu
This hot spring is used for guide book.
This spring has two bath, hot one and not-hot one.
Beautiful and big spring.

Shinyu
It is high position of spring town.
The bath temperature is suitable for many people.
There are 13 Sotoyu in Nozawa Spring.
All Sotoyu has small locker room.


Next is Asagama.
Town people use hot spring for cooking and washing vegetables.
Travelores can not use this hot spring.


I buy Sake " Mizuo".
This Sake is sold only Nozawa hot spring and Iiyama area.
It is dry and mild taste.


I stay in Nozawa hot spring.
Next morning, I go to Kasugayama Castle Ruine in Jyoetsu city.

I go to JR Kasugayama station, and ride a bus in front of this station.
I get off Kasugayamaso bus stop.
There is Kenshin Uesugi statue near the bus stop.

I go to west, and meet the stone monument.
Turn left to Otedo, go straight to Kasugayama Shrine.
I turn left to Otrdo.

Go to this street, soon arrive at Otedo park.
Go to forward, arrive at Bansho Ruin.

Climb mountain, you arrive at San-no-Maru.
Important house is near San-no-Maru.
After San-no-Maru, Signpost indicate 3 direction.
Please select Honmaru.

Next is Izumi Kakizaki House.

Next is Kagekatsu Uesugi House.
Next is Shoro.


Next is big well.

Climb mountain 300m, you arrive at Tenshukaku, and Honmaru.
From Honmaru ruin, you can see Jyoetsu city plain, and Naoetsu-harbor.



Next is Gomado, Suwado, Bishamondo, Naoe House.




Next is Kasugayama shrine.
At car parking area, there is Kenshin-Uesugi standing statue.

This is the end of Kasugayama trip.

In front of Kasugayamaso bus stop, there is Reserves culture museum.
This museum shows Kenshin's history, and no charge.


Actor of Uesugi Kenshin is waiting me, say thanks for visiting this museum.

Return to Naoetsu station, then go to Niigata.

Visiting Kasugayama castle needs me three hours.
Please visit Kasugayama castle.

That's it.

Kyoto AOI-Matsuri Festival

Kyoto AOI-Matsuri Festival

I would like to inform Kyoto AOI-Matsuri festival.
This festival is one of Kyoto Big3 festivals.
AOI-Matsuri Festival is held May 15.
This year May 15 is Thursday.
It is a fascinating festival to reproduce the Heian period.

Schedule

Kyoto Gosho 10:30 →Marutamachi-dori→Kawaramachi-dori
→Shimogamo Jinja Ar.11:40 Lv.14:20　→ Kamigamo Jinja Ar.15:30
(Time stated above will be sometimes a little behind schedule.)

This festival is done by Shimogamo shrine and Kamigamo shrine.

Main processions are Kebiishi, Yamashiroshi, Gyusha, Huryugasa, Sainoshiro etc.
This procession starts Kyoto Gosho, to Shimogamo shrine, and final Kamigamo shrine.
All procession members are 500 persons, 36 horses, 4 cows, 2 Oxcart, 1 Mikoshi.
Total distance is 8 kilometers.


Sightseeing place
Recomend place is Marutamachi-dori, Kitaoji-dori.Kawaramachi-dori.

Recommended Sweets is Yabusame.
Inside, grain bean jam. Delicious, and Appropriate volume.


Please come and check the weather forecast, because it is rainy weather postponed.

That's it.