Satoshi Nihonyanagi
Welcome to my blog, Green Tea Club !
I'll show you all the beauties and goodies in Shizuoka through this blog.
If you have any inquiry, please feel free to post your messages on it.
Hope to see you around in Shizuoka !
Main content starts here.
08/29/2011 [Mon]
Hiking in the mountain ― Kawazu Seven Falls [Kawazu]
After seeing off the Suruga Bay Ferry, I took Tokai Bus to get to “Kawazu Seven Falls”. You can directly reach the main gateway for Seven Falls from “Odaru-guchi” bus-stop but in my case, I took the opposite way and this course is the very one generally most recommended by local hikers because you have only to hike DOWN the mountain. Remember the stop “Mizu-tare”. Here is the map for you with my footsteps marked down. Please open the PDF.
Now I began to walk from Mizutare bus stop and soon found the first waterfall “Kama-daru” ( Kettle Waterfall ). Be sure you are wearing shoes for hiking because the trails are partly very steep and slippery.
←Kama daru Waterfall
Kawazu Map (701KB)
Besides “Kama daru” waterfall, there are naturally other 6 falls as the name “Seven Falls” says. I saw, in order, “Ebi-daru” ( Prawn Waterfall ), “Hebi-daru” ( Snake Waterfall ), “Shokei-daru” ( First-sight Waterfall ), “Kani-daru” ( Crab Waterfall ), “Deai-daru” ( Confluent Waterfall ), and “O-daru” ( Large Waterfall ). Sorry that I can’t show you all pictures in the report. Maybe you can visit and see all of them with your own eyes.＾＾
Shokei-daru waterfall →
Odaru Waterfall
On your way, you will find an adorable shopping street ? where you can buy local products and souvenirs. I was very excited when I found Miyama stag-beetles sold there in cages. Miyama is something for Japanese boys, I definitely believe !
The walkway is well arranged from Syokei-daru (④) to O-daru (⑦). In case you wear sandals for some reason, it will be best to reach “Odaru-guchi” stop by bus and stroll to Shokei-daru. The statue of Odoriko there is well known as a symbol of Kawazu Seven Falls. Ryokans including Amagi-so stand around the walkway. The picture in the right is the O-daru, by the way, the largest waterfall among seven falls. 30m high and 7m wide. Overwhelming, isn’t it ?＾＾
Now, after all, it took me about 1 hour to walk through the trails and finally, I got to the Odaru-guchi bus-stop. I took the bus bound for Shuzenji passing the famous roadway “Kawazu Seven Falls Loop Bridge”. I was meant to visit the next destination, “Joren Falls”. Ever heard of Japanese famous song “Amagi-goe” ? I guess you not.＾＾； Anyway, it’s become so popular for the song. I’ll report it next time.
Have a good day !＾＾
Kawazu Seven Falls
Access ： JR Mishima Sta. → Shuzenji ( by Izu-Hakone Railway ) → Mizutare or Odaru-guchi bus stop ( by Tokai Bus ), Or
JR Atami Sta. → Kawazu Sta. ( by Izukyu Railway ) → Mizutare or Odaru-guchi bus stop ( by Tokai Bus )
Join us in Twitter φ(・ω・ )
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 09:09 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
03/02/2011 [Wed]
Kawazu-zakura Cherry Blossom Festival － 3 [Kawazu]
So, I walked back to the main pathway along the river wondering if I should get back on the same path. I opened the map and found something intriguing beyond the river. I could have reached there across the bridge nearby but I proceeded further to the next bridge. Sakura, the cherry blossoms were exclusively blooming as long as i walked. I thought I could keep walking for good.
English Map (1643KB)
Anyway, I crossed the bridge and strolled back on the other side of the bank. In 30 minutes or so from “Mine Onsen Daifunto Park”, I got to the first and original tree of Kawazu Sakura.
I could find it very easily because the crowds of lookers-on invaded the roadway and security officers looked so busy in making them get in the sideway. The tree is more than 60 years old and 10 meters high. It is said that a man of Iida family found a young sakura tree in the bank in 1955 and planted it at where it is now. It was named “Kawazu Sakura”, usually pronounced “Kawazu Zakura”, in 1974 because it was found and grown in Kawazu Town.
After leaving the First Sakura Tree, I walked back to the main walkway toward the main event site. There, I bought some souvenirs for my family. I here introduce some unique stuff that you can’t taste outside Kawazu Town.
First comes, though almost typical now, “Sakura Manju”. You know Manju, the steamed bean-jam bun, right ? This comes with a salted sakura leave. It has a distinctive flavor which some love very much but others don’t. Me ? Uh-huh.＾＾；
Next one is “Sakura Udon” noodle. The color is pink as sakura and, believe it or not, minced sakura leaves are mixed in. I’ve not tasted it yet but I can imagine. And “Sakura-ba Okowa” sticky rice. Powdered sakura leaves mixed in. A lady of the stall told me that it would taste better if a pinch of salt added.
By the way, on my way back to the station, I found a splendid fresh squeezed juice. I joined the line unhesitatingly. She was entirely absorbed in squeezing Ama-natsu Mikan － literally means “sweet summer orange” － with a big smile.
I counted how many would be used to make a cup of juice. 2 actually. No additives at all. It tasted extremely fresh, making me feel a breeze of summer.
I walked along the Kawazu River more than 3 hours after all. Please see the PDF map. Good exercise to me.＾＾ Anyway, I had the next destination to visit. I headed for the station.
Next time, I’ll make a report from Higashiizu Town.
Have a good day !
(916KB)
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 14:19 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
02/28/2011 [Mon]
Kawazu-zakura Cherry Blossom Festival － 2 [Kawazu]
So I kept walking and crossed a bridge to reach the next Ashiyu spot. Free of charge, of course. Coming up all the way here, maybe you will have room for yourself to bathe your feet in, I guess.
I didn’t take a short break there because my next destination was just around the corner. I proceeded off the main walkway to the narrow ally. It was not difficult for me to find what I was looking for because the steam was up high telling where it was.
Now, I reached the park, “Mine Onsen Daifunto Park” that literally means “Hot spring Fountain Park”. It gives off steam all the time and squirts hot-spring fast and furious at the scheduled time： 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30.
It was very lucky for me that I got there at 12:30 on the dot ! Remember I could not take a rest at the second Ashiyu spot for too many people ? If I had taken even a flash of break, I would have had to wait until 13:30 because the waterjet shall last only for 1 minute.
Now, this hot-spring spout was born by the abrupt eruption of the ground, like a volcano, in 1926. It is said that the onsen then blew up as high as 50 meters ! And since then, for more than 80 years, the hot spring of 100℃ is blowing out as high as 30 meters periodically. Be aware that you may get wet by its splashing mist when the wind blows against you, as I exactly did.＾＾；
After the vicious steam calmed down, I moved close to the stage. Then I found an interesting thing. It was eggs in the hot-spring. I talked to a man there and found out that we could buy 2 boiled eggs for ￥100 or 2 raw eggs with a bamboo basket to cook them by yourself. Funny. Though I wanted to cook it by myself, time did not allow me to. 12 minutes, actually. So I bought the boiled ones. It was smoking hot but so nice !＾＾
By the way, this Daifunto Park has a character named “Funto-kun”. It’s so cute ! Some visitors took pictures together with Funto-kun. See ? Adorable, isn’t he ?＾＾
In this park, there are another ashiyu spot. I needed to heal my overworked feet. 10 minute break again.＾＾ After my feet recovered enough, I started to walk again, looking around a souvenir shop, to find this English paper. I attach it in PDF so that you can refer to it in visiting Kawazu.
Kawazu (1473KB)
English Map (1643KB)
Next time, I’ll introduce Kawazu Sakura Matsuri － 3
Bye for now !
Mine Onsen Daifunto Park
Access from Izukyu Kawazu Sta.： 30 - 40 minutes on foot
Admission ： Free
Open Hours ： 9:00 – 16:00
Closed every Tuesday and Friday for maintenance
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 14:51 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
02/25/2011 [Fri]
Kawazu-zakura Cherry Blossom Festival － 1 [Kawazu]
I’ve just come back from “Kawazu Sakura Matsuri”, Kawazu-zakura Cherry Blossom Festival, which is being held until March 10. Telling the truth, I’m a little bit perplexed what to begin with because there were so many must-see points other than sakura cherry blossom that should be introduced first. Anyway, please open this map and copy it if necessary.
Now, I got off the train at Izukyu Kawazu Station ( 河津駅 ) and opened the map to find my way. As a result, I did not have to worry about how to get to the event site because sakura and food stalls led me there eventually soon after I got out of the station. In five minutes or so, I found a red bridge on the walkway along the Kawazu River.
I strolled toward the sea first to see what kind of beautiy i could find. It was a little windy that day and the wave was rather high. Now, I’m at the far-left side on the map. See ?
I walked on the left-side walkway of the river because there should be “Ashiyu” foot spa close from the bridge. There it was. It was very happy for me that the ashiyu was free. I went upstairs and looked around. Holly mackerel ! The view was splendid and the temperature of onsen hot spring was best ! I put my shoes and socks off to bathe my feet in it. Ten minute break !＾＾
I began to stroll again to the main site of the festival. On my way, I found hundreds of food stalls that sold souvenirs using sakura leaves, local oranges, green tea, and various B-class gourmets such as Fujinomiya Yakisoba and Mishima Croquette.
In 20 minutes or so, I got to the lawn square where another ashiyu was. I headed for it but……see the pic. There was no room for me.＞＜。。 Ok, maybe God was telling me not to take a rest there because I might miss the train or something.
I kept walking under the roof of sakura. Actually, it seemed like a tunnel of cherry blossom.
Now, see how much I walked so far from this PDF. I’ve written my route and ashiyu spots in the map so that you can follow my footstep. ＾＾
English Map (1643KB)
My Route (855KB)
Next time, I’ll introduce the latter part of my story at Kawazu Sakura Matsuri.
Bye for now !＾＾
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 17:12 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )