This is the last story of my Fujieda serial. Maybe I should have introduced this one first. Fujieda Tourism Association stands on the ground floor of JR Fujieda Station. Please feel free to step into it when you’ve got a chance to stop by Fujieda. I also visited it to have a map around Rengeji-ike Park and other brochures necessary to walk around. To my surprise, they are so positive about accepting visitors from abroad as to prepare hand-made guide-maps in English ! What’s more, here in Fujieda City Tourism Association, tourist Information is not the only thing you can ask for. They display and introduce all sorts of souvenirs in Fujieda including green-tea and Japanese sake. You can buy some of them.

In Shizuoka, we have about 30 varieties of Sake brand and Fujieda has 4 of them. That is, “Hatsukame”, “Suginishiki”, “Kikuyoi”, and “Shidaizumi”. It might be a good idea to make a research featuring Japanese Sake Breweries someday. Sakes are not for sale, sorry to say.

As for green-tea, Okabe town in Fujieda is very famous for “Gyokuro” throughout Japan, the very king of green-tea, I would say.

Green tea leaves are said to harden itself and become bitterer when sunlit too much. That’s why they dare to take an extra effort to cover the tea fields with black sheets for a predetermined duration to amplify its sweetness. Though a little expensive for a tea you may think, its sweet taste goes far way ahead of other tea, which occupy your mouth out. Why don’t you try ?＾＾

One more thing. Recently, Asarah the morning noodle is becoming popular rapidly among local people and tourists. Actually, I’ve ever tried it. So plain and non-fatty that I could have had one more.＾＾； Ready-to-cook Asarah noodle is also available in Fujieda Tourism Association. If you’d like to try it, please visit some noodle shops with the asarah guide-map, or buy the ready-to-cook noodle to enjoy it in your family.

So, what do you think of my day-trip in Fujieda ? I enjoyed it very much in the morning around Rengeji-ike Park seeing varieties of flowers, greeneries, colorful carps in the pond, and spectacular view from Nyakuoji tomb mounds. The history museum was also good to me ! No wonder I’m history nuts.＾＾； Being Steeped in the history is fun, isn’t it ? I guess it’s very important to see real historical materials to cultivate our imagination more to the reality. Many truths we could learn. Sometimes, even present modern science can’t explain how it was constructed. Personally, I believe honestly that incomprehensible ancient architectures were built with the help of extraterrestrial intelligence. Full of mistery !＾＾
Anyway, please keep it in mind that the purple showering wisteria is the symbol of Fujieda City, which you can remember it, wherever you are, by taking a look at “Purple Shower” like this picture, and my Fujieda stories can finally come to a successful end.

Have a good day !＾＾

English website for Fujieda Tourism Guide

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

It took me about 20 minutes to walk from the top of the hill, Nyakuoji tomb mounds, to Fujieda City History Museum. It’s just by the Rengeji-ike pond, near the entrance gate. It was very lucky for me that the museum was free during Fuji Matsuri, the wisteria festival. I talked with a staff there for a while and got brochures well written in English, Chinese and Portuguese.
Now, let me introduce some pictures in the museum. Basically, pictures are not allowed in the museum. I took a special permission that time.＾＾

There are 3 ways to go. Right, left and front to go upstairs. I took the right. See ? These are the discoveries from the ancient tombs. We can tell how they lived the time of 1500 years ago. The large panel in the left shows how tombs were clustered. I love histories. Just looking into historical articles takes me to the ancient world. Imagine how they were made, touched and used by early people. Fun, isn’t it ?
The left way took me to the old good days of Showa era. Precision miniature models of our life. I remembered some of them. Sweet old memories were evoked in me. For you, it will be a good opportunity to learn how we lived after World War II. Limited exhibition, until Jun 26 !

My days are not as old as these miniatures but I used to see or listen to this time from my grandfather. Modernity is not always better than the old days. As the word “good old days” means, I think we should not get rid of every old thing from our lives.
By the way, do you know Pachinko ? This is a gambling game peculiar to Japan, just like a casino in Las Vegas. I’ve heard Pachinko is one of the most intriguing subjects about Japan for visitors from abroad. Is it right ?＾＾

Walking further, you will step into another museum without recognizing it. That is a museum of literature featuring especially Ogawa Kunio, a writer of Fujieda, who’d published many books in Japan. The reproduction of his study room is supposed to be exhibited until Jun 26 !
The second floor was a small library. It looked rather for children. And a workshop, also for children. You can make a small stuff like dolls using clay for free or with small payment. Though instructors don’t speak English, maybe you can learn by seeing how they do with it. If you like it, go ahead enjoy it !

Have a good day !＾＾

Fujieda City History Museum
Access from Fujieda Station ： 20 minutes by #2 bus to “Rengeji-ike Koen Iriguchi” and 5 minutes walk
Admission ： ￥200 for adults
Open Hours ： 9:00 – 17:00
Closed ： Every Monday, the next day of a holiday, Dec 28 – Jan 4
English website about Fujieda

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

So, how was “Fuji Matsuri” the wisteria festival in Fujieda ? I enjoyed it very much and because I had been still vigorous enough, I tried to hike up a hill behind the pond. I was not so sure of my stamina, though, it’s not Mt. Fuji, right ? With pet-bottled tea, here we go !
In ten minutes, I was gasping after all. ＾＾； Good sloping trail. But there, I found something. Fuji-no Sato Wisteria Garden ! Fabulous scent came on the wind. It would be in full bloom by now.
Along the pathway, I saw various flowers to let my brain refresh through eyes. Especially, colorful flowers in the picture fascinated me so much. Recognize that ? It's called Shakunage-no Michi, the rhododendron walkway.＾＾

Now, it took me about 30 minutes to walk up to the top. Magnificent view ! Refreshing air. What else do you expect ? Not to mention Fujieda City, I could see the further city, Yaizu, Suruga Bay over it, and even Izu Peninsula beyond the sea ! Peace and quiet. That made me feel as if we had had the devastating earthquake long long time ago.
By the way, this is not merely a hill. This is well known as clustered ancient tombs in the shape of mounds. Actually, you can find 28 tomb mounds of 500s – 600s ! I walked though the mounds and found lots of azaleas. Honeybees were jubilantly sucking nectar in the flower. I sat on a bench in the Fujimi-daira observation deck. Sound of wind, scent of flowers, and this magnificent view. I wish I could have stopped the time.

Now, it was time for me to go to Fujieda City History Museum. There, you can see unearthed articles researched and found from these tombs. Sounds fun ? ＾＾ Though Fuji Matsuri has already finished, I here attach a guide-map so that you can walk around Rengeji-ike Park with it. Wisteria is still good for now. Talking about white wisteria, "Shirafuji-no Sato", located in the north from Rengeji-ike Park, is having its best season for now. You can also hike up to Shirafuji-no Taki falls that looks like white wisterias. Enjoy yourself !

So, I’m on my way to �A from �@ in the map. Next time, I’ll report the History Museum.

Have a good day !

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

Currently, under the name of reconstruction assistance for the Japan Earthquake 2011, “Fuji Matsuri”, the Wisteria Festival has been held around Rengeji-ike pond in Fujieda. As I love wisterias very much, I visited Rengeji-ike Park a few days ago to see how lovely they were blooming this year.
It was a beautiful day. On standing by the pond, I could catch the scent of some flowers. Expectation made me hurry to walk around. First came azaleas into sight. Yae-zakura cherry blossoms were showing their best and the pathway was dressed with various kind of flowers ( actually I’m not familiar with flowers ＾＾；). Flying carps above the pond were swimming pleasantly in the air. The wind was still rather cold but all colors of spring made me feel warm in my heart.

In 10 minutes or so, I found a lodge that sells some chips and drinks, or where you can eat soba or udon noodle. I stepped in it to have a bit early lunch. Lots of visitors were already there having their lunch, chatting with friends. I took Tempura Soba noodle which cost only ￥480. Good lunch for me in taste and cost.＾＾

After lunch, I started walking again along the pond. Soon, the hero of the day appeared. Yes, Japanese wisteria ! As you can find the word “Fuji” ( Japanese word for wisteria ) in the name of the city “Fujieda”, wisteria is the symbol of Fujieda City. Most of the people in Shizuoka would imagine Fuji color from Fujieda City, or Fujieda City from Fuji color.
The general blossoming condition on that day was about 40%, I would say. Still, in the sunlit part, they seemed to have fully bloomed and I could take good pictures this year, too ! According to Fujieda City Tourist Association, wisterias around Rengeji-Ike Park would become its best around this weekend. That is, it’s best during Golden Week ( Japanese long holiday ) ! I love wisterias. I like the purple color. Deep and soft, something beyond expression. The sweet scent is really something ! I felt as if I had embraced by a fragrant angel in a cozy air. I sat on a bench, having a quiet time. Soft breeze passed through me as if to wash every bad thing away from me.

By the way, during the festival, until May 5, you can buy wisteria ice-creams at the hdqrs booth by the pond. I bought one. Lovely purple and slight wisteria flavor. I don’t think I need to tell you how it tasted, right ?＾＾ ￥150 each. They told me that all ice-cream had been sold out last weekend. Go for it to taste the-only-one !

Rengeji-ike pond is 1.5km around. Maybe you can tour around it in 30 minutes at most. You can enjoy flowers through the year, like, in spring, it begins with Sakura cherry blossoms, Wisterias, Azaleas, Irises, and Hydrangeas, fascinating us all the time with various faces.
If this trip is not enough for you, just as I did, why don’t you hike the hill behind the pond ? I’ll introduce the hiking trail in the next report.

Have a good day !

Rengeji-ike Park
Access from Fujieda Sta ： 20 minutes by #2 bus to “Rengeji-ike Koen Iriguchi” and 5 minutes walk.
Admission ： Free
※ Fuji Matsuri ( Wisteria Festival ), held until May 5

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

You know what?
I’ve seen purple showers the other day. Ever seen it? Or heard of it?
I’ll take you there today through this article.

From Shizuoka station, take any train that goes to the west, as far as Fujieda station, about 20-munute boarding. Then you will see the surroundings in the picture. You can get English guide brochures and maps at Fujieda tourist information center (top-right image) if you need them, or you can take a rest at a coffee shop after you make sure of the time of bus departure at No2.
Buses from No2 leave almost every 20 minutes. 15-minute ride will take you to “Rengeji Ike Kouen Mae” (In front of Rengeji-Ike Park) and with 3 minute-walk, you will be there at Rengeji-Ike Park!

Maybe I need some explanation between purple showers and Rengeji-Ike Park.

Now, Look at this!
Yes, this is the symbol of Fujieda city, Japanese wisterias! They are almost in full bloom drooping fully from the pergola prepared for it. Looks like showering, isn’t it? If that tells you anything, “Fuji” in Fujieda means wisterias and “Eda” means branches in Japanese. What an amazing coincidence!

This is the Information about flowers and their appropriate times at Rengeji-Ike Park!

Plum blossoms	Late January
Cherry blossoms	Late March
Rhododendron	Mid-April
Azaleas	Late April
Irises	Early June
Hydrangeas	Mid-June
Lotus flowers	Early July

It will take about 40 minutes to walk just along the pond but there are some promenades to the hill or mountains.

I stepped in the way to “ancient tomb square”, where 28 ancient tombs of about 1600 years ago are laid in peace on the top of mountain. Additional 40-minute walk on the kindly arranged pathway for the hikers took me to the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious world! Deeply inhale the fresh air to purify yourself and look over the magnificent views. Then you may see Mary Poppins. ^^


Along the Rengeji-Ike Pond, you can drop in at a rest house and Fujieda Municipal Museum of History.
Rengeji-Ike Park will definitely meet your demand for nature.

Hope you enjoy Fujieda!
Good days^^

Rengeji-Ike Park
From JR Fujieda Station, Take the bus from No2 and get off at “Rengeji Ike Kouen Mae”.

Fujieda Tourism Guide
Fujieda Municipal Museum of History
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you! ^^