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.
08/31/2011 [Wed]
A wonderful waterfall in the middle of Izu Peninsula ― Joren Waterfall [Izu City]
Ok, now I took a bus from Odaru-iriguchi in front of “Kawazu Seven Falls” to get to the next destination, “Joren Falls”. I often stop over it when I take a lovely drive through Izu Area because it’s located just in the middle of Izu and good as the rest spot for drivers. The parking lot is spacious enough, some souvenir shops and restaurants stand around, good walking trails are prepared, and what’s more, a spectacular waterfall, “Joren Waterfall” can be found if you take a further walk down the mountain.
Again, be sure that you are wearing shoes for walking because the trail is rather steep and slippery around the river. It takes only a couple of minutes to walk down, though. Just get yourself prepared to walk up ! It’s kind of back-breaking to me.＾＾；
“Joren Waterfall” is not only for sightseeing. Activity as well. Actually, fishing ! There stands a hut where you can have fishing rods and bait, and that day, I saw lots of people lowering bamboo fishing rods or sometimes someone trying to land the struggling trout. Even beginners can enjoy it because they release trout into the river regularly. All trout you may catch can be taken home. No extra charge. They also clean your catch for a bit of money so as to get ready for BBQ. Another pleasure is that you can see the Wasabi Field along the river. It’s richly cultivated for the pure water. And wasabi shop is beside the walkway. It’s fun just to look around.＾＾
Now, Joren Waterfall, one of the best 100 waterfalls in Japan, marks 25m high, 7m wide and 15m deep. And, believe it or not, it is traditionally believed that there lives a beautiful Joro Spider in the water pocket. Why spider ? Old tales tell that some men were caught by a silky spider web and taken into the water. A man even saw a stunningly beautiful woman beside the water. Here, I strongly advise you not to turn around and keep your back facing the waterfall. Especially cool guys. She might want you in another world. No wonder I found a web on my foot.＾＾
Enjoy your summer, anyway ! Good day !＾＾
Joren Falls
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Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 14:02 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
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 )
08/26/2011 [Fri]
Event Information in September [Event Information]
Summer is leaving and new season has already been ready to come out. In Japan, we have specific 4 seasons and September is regarded as the month of “the end of Summer” and “the beginning of Autumn”. Though it will be still hot and humid, some breeze carries the scent of autumn. I just wonder why we are to feel rather sad for the end of summer or for the coming of autumn. Maybe because we expect too much about summer ? or maybe a rush of cool air abruptly reminds us of something teary ? In my case, by the way, I love autumn best ! No mosquitoes and roaches, no spider’s webs, no sweat, and less money for pet-bottled tea ! Events in Sep are mostly something like summer, and autumn, mixed. Be sure that Mt. Fuji Climbing is restricted until the end of Aug. If you like to visit Mt. Fuji in Sep, Oct, or Nov, please enjoy yourself by hiking around the 5th. Now, let’s see the Event Information in September.
Event Information in September
Another pleasure of mine in autumn is that the colder it is, the better the open-air hot-spring would become. I often visit Izu by car to enjoy fishing, one-day hot spring and exquisite seafood ! “Half-off Campaign” is still available in Sep. Why don’t you come and join us ?＾＾
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 11:34 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
08/25/2011 [Thu]
Hike around Mt. Fuji － To Mt. Hoei Crater – 2 [Fujinomiya]
Now, I took the direction to Mt. Hoei from the 6th station. The trail was easy to follow. A mass of fog came toward us and soon we got shrouded in it. In ten minutes or so, I stood right in front of the crater ! I took a video to tell you how foggy it was. Please play it anyway.＾＾
Now, I walked in it along the trail to reach Mt. Hoei and it was the very sort of ordeal or vicissitude to me because, descending was fine though, the trail is rather sandy and my climbing shoes were mired in it every time I stepped to ascend. And what is more, physical power wouldn’t be restored enough due to insufficient oxygen. My walking was like this； 10 steps and 30 second rest and 30 steps and 5 minute rest. No wonder I took almost 1.5 hours to the top of Mt. Hoei from the bottom of the crater ( climbers would make it in an hour ). ＾＾；
Still, the fog was flowing when I reached on the top. No views. All I could see was a white air. I found a monument ( maybe a sun-clock ) at the edge of the site. Snack time. Salty rice cracker was so good as though the saline soaked into my body. Twitter for the “Enjoy Shizuoka” again. Then, suddenly, believe it or not, a miracle occurred. The fog cleared away and the thick cloud broke up, and the blue sky showed up right over my head just as the god opened the door to say hello to me. The sky looked more blue than “blue”. The clouds were like cotton candies. Mountain lines were literally beyond description.
I attach a video below to tell you all the beauty of the miracle moment. You would think it’s definitely a world of gods and goddesses !
Blue sky & fields of cloud
There, I took one of the most unusual pictures in my life ! Can you see what it is ? I found a figure on the place where human ought not to be, which tuned out soon to be myself. Yes, it was my shadow reflected in the haze far in the distance. Maybe Mt. Fuji is such a mountain wrapped in mysteries and miracles.
The blue sky got out of my sight after only 10 minutes or so. I stepped down the trails and when I got to the 5th, another miraculous blue sky came out. Impressive ! Please visit Mt. Fuji where all kinds of nature sprits play around, and you will see how blue the sky is supposed to be.
Mt. Fuji 5th station at Fujinomiya Trail
Access ： By Mt. Fuji Climbing Bus from JR Mishima Sta., Shin-Fuji Sta., Fuji Sta., Fujinomiya Sta.
Bus Fare ： ¥3000／adult ( for round-trip )
Time table ： Please open the PDF.
Mt. Hoei Hiking Trails are available until around mid-Nov
※Mt. Fuji Climbing Trails are supposed to be closed at the end of Aug.
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 11:12 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
08/23/2011 [Tue]
Hike around Mt. Fuji － To Mt. Hoei Crater – 1 [Fujinomiya]
It was by no means a good weather for hiking when I left JR Fuji Station by “Mt. Fuji Climbing Bus” for Mt. Fuji 5th station of Fujinomiya Trail. Actually, it rained a bit on my way. Still, the wonder of Mt. Fuji is that the weather in the city is not always the same as one at the 5th. I expected the blue sky. Maybe everyone on the bus did. We passed Fujinomiya and finally got in on the “Fujisan Sky-like” mountain road, proceeding into the clouds. Clouds, clouds, and clouds again until finally we reached the 5th station. Gosh……But lots of climbers were there on the fifth.
At the fifth, you can overlook cities, or fields of cloud. There I took the early lunch. It means much because you should take time at the 5th at least more than an hour to make your body accustomed to the air pressure. Or, you may have a mountain sickness that causes serious headache and dizziness. Anyway, I was there for 1.5 hours and got myself prepared for climbing. As a matter of fact, we had been very concerned about the drastic drop-off in number of climbers due to the earthquake but it seemed nothing. I saw not only Japanese but lots of visitors from abroad.
Now, this is the footstep I walked. To reach Mt. Hoei and its crater, you first get to the 6th which will take 20 – 30 minutes from the 5th. I took more than that maybe because you know……I am a down-only specialist.＾＾； There were so many climbers at the 6th. Some were on their way up to the top and others were down to the 5th. I took a short rest again there to control my breath and to send my message to our new website “Enjoy Shizuoka” from my cell-phone using Twitter. It’s very simple to use and all necessary information about Shizuoka is there, or you can post your message and even ask us ( or somebody ) about what you are going to do. By the way, you can have the Fujinomiy Trail guide-map in the picture at the information office on the fifth. English, Chinese and Korean adscripted.
At the sixth, you will find a direction board saying one to the summit and the other to Mt. Hoei. I stood at the gateway to the summit which looked to me very close from where I was, but trust me, it is nothing of the kind. I could tell the trails because climbers were making lines along it. The 7th can be seen just right over there, which actually would take about 1 hour to reach. What is most important about climbing is that you don’t do more than what you can do. Keep your own pace.
Anyway, I took the way to Mt. Hoei. I’ll report the rest next time.
Have a good day !
Mt. Fuji 5th station at Fujinomiya Trail
Access ： By Mt. Fuji Climbing Bus from JR Mishima Sta., Shin-Fuji Sta., Fuji Sta., Fujinomiya Sta.
Bus Fare ： ¥3000／adult ( for round-trip )
Time table ： Please open this Page.
Mt. Hoei Hiking Trails are available until around mid-Nov
※Mt. Fuji Climbing Trails are supposed to be closed at the end of Aug.
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 11:33 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
