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 ! ＾＾

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 ! ＾＾

After leaving Kiunkaku, I walked down straight toward the seashore called “Shinsui Park” where you can take a tour boat and visit Atami City Tourism Association. 　You can also take the boat to Hatsushima Island from Atami Port.
The wind against me was very refreshing. I strolled along the promenade in the direction of the station. The wavy handrails seemes designed in the image of waves. I saw some men fishing and a lady walking with a dog. How nice it would be if this world had become a part of my life, I imagined.

In five minutes or so, I was at “Moon Terrace” known as a sacred place for lovers. There, I found a tall monument ahead with a peaceful dove on it. Wonderful views ! You can see the outline of Atami City from there.

Turning left, you will see “Atami Sun Beach” where hundreds of thousands of people visit in summer. Further on your left, you will see lots of hotels that Atami City is proud of. At the same time, you will recognize the geographical environment that Atami is standing on. Hills along the coast. Maybe almost all distinguished resort spots in the world are supposed to be in condition like this.

Omiya & Kan-ichi

Now, let's walk for a while along the Sun Beach. You will soon find “Omiya's Pine Tree” known as the setting of an uncompleted story titled "Konjiki Yasha" and this is the story between them.
Omiya had been supposed to marry a young man “Kan-ichi” when she pledged her future to another wealthy man for some reason. Why ? God only knows. Anyway, this is the scene when Omiya begged him for forgiveness and Kan-ichi kicked her away. She still tried to reach him by any means like by writing, but we don’t know what’s happened between them afterwards. What do you imagine ? Could he accept her as a friend ? Or He moved far away from her ?

I took a bus to the station across the street because my legs had been crying out for help. The shopping street in front of the station was really nice for buying souvenirs. I bought some stuff for my friends and now am ready to tell how much I enjoyed in Atami.

Have a good day !＾＾

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

So, I’m stepping into the “Kiunkaku”.　　Maybe I should first explain what is Kiunkaku in detail.

Kiunkaku was originally established in 1918 by Uchida Nobuya, a founder of a ship-building company, later a major politician in Japan, as his second house. In 1925, a chief executive officer of a railroad company ― actually people called him “Railroad tycoon” ― took over this mansion to set up a western style cottage and a luxurious garden. After World War �U, in 1947, it was started up as a Japanese style Inn “Ryokan” to have various great literary figures such as Shiga Naoya and Dazai Osamu, and finally in 2000, Atami City opened it to the public.

The entrance hall was dressed very decently with many flowers. I took my shoes off and stepped in the foyer, to the right first to look around a Japanese room with general information. Even though you don’t read Japanese, please don’t get disappointed. I have a good news ! At the reception desk, you can have a copy of information in English, Chinese and Korean.
Next, I walked through the long corridor which I could feel the vestiges of good old ryokan. Along the corridor, I saw several Japanese rooms. No wonder early writers loved these rooms because all rooms were faced with luxurious garden !

I walked on to the next room. Then, out of the blue, the world changed. Just like one of the medieval western room, I surmised. It was very interesting to me to compare cultures between Japan and Europe from these actual architectures.
Next came a large bathroom of the Roman, followed by an exhibition room ― when I was there, Japanese Kimono dresses had been displayed ― and another bathroom.

Now, each mansion was set up to make a large rectangle shape, surrounding a large garden. That is, you can enjoy the garden from every cottage. I walked all the way around back to the entrance hall and went out to stroll in the garden. From there, you can see how these villas look like. Staying there made me feel as if I had time-slipped to the early Showa time. Maybe it would have been quainter to walk around with Japanese Kimono cotton clothes on.＾＾
You can enjoy Kiunkaku enough in at most one hour. It would be a good idea to have coffee, looking out the garden, in the coffee shop belonging to it.
Now, I’m on my way back to the station. But maybe I should stop by at the Atami Port to fulfill myself with exhilarating air.

Next time, I’ll introduce the seashore of Atami.

Have a good day !＾＾

Kiunkaku
Access from JR Atami Sta. ： 20 minutes on foot／10 minutes by #3 bus to “Kiunkaku-mae”
Admission ： ￥500 for adults／￥300 for children under 18
Open Hours ： 9:00 〜 17:00
Closed ： Every Wednesday

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