Chigasaki is also famous for Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms. About 70 Kawazu-zakura trees are in full bloom on the bank along the Koidegawa River. The dark pink flowers look beautiful against the rape blossoms and the sunset.
Kawagoe, located in the southwestern part of Saitama Prefecture, used to flourish as a castle town and is called “Koedo”. There are many historic sites such as shrines and temples, and the number of cultural properties in the Kanto region is said to be the third largest after Kamakura and Nikko. When I visited Kawagoe for the first time, it was covered with spring weather, and the white plum blossoms were in full bloom at Yakushi Shrine. The townscape of Kurazukuri remains well. The potato has been a specialty since the Edo period. The local sake is also delicious. The bell that is the symbol of the city is “Nihon Otofukei 100 Selection”. Shiki MASAOKA composed a haiku while he was a student here.
The Soga Plum Grove in Odawara is at its peak. At Kozu Station (KO- ZU) on the JR Tokaido Line, transfer to the Gotemba Line and get off at Shimosoga Station. About 35,000 white plum trees were in full bloom and reflected the sunset. Mt. Fuji is also nearby. This village of Soga is famous for ‘Soga Monogatari’, one of Japan’s three famous avenges. I remembered the Soga brothers at his family temple, Jozen-ji Temple.
Early blooming rape blossoms are in full bloom at Mt. Azuma in Ninomiya Town, Kanagawa Prefecture. The weather was nice and the silhouette of Mt. Fuji was beautiful. The sweet scent of rape blossoms fills the air and makes me feel refreshed for a while. The flower language is “cheerful love”.Spring is drawing near.“Risshun” (the first day of spring)is coming soon.
A new commercial facility was built in Odawara last December. From the rooftop, you can see scenes of Odawara Castle and Sagami Bay that you have never seen before. It is interesting to see the castle tower of Odawara Castle from this angle. The sunset sinking into Hakone was beautiful. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the closing 2020 years.
Oiso has a beautiful row of pine trees and still retains many of the atmosphere of the old Tokaido. The beach of Oiso has been called “Koyurugi no Hama Beach” since ancient times, and is a place where beautiful utamakura (a place famed in classical Japanese poetry) appeared in Manyoshu.When the railway opened in the Meiji period, the area flourished as a seaside resort (Be the first in Japan) and as a villa area for Genkun in the Meiji period. Oiso is said to be the birthplace of Shonan due to its mild climate, and there are many historical places such as the place associated with Toragozen,, who fell in love with Juro, the older brother of the Soga brothers. I thought of it on the beach.
Chigasaki Beach on New Year’s Eve had a clear air and the last sunset and sunset of the year was very vivid. There were so many people on the beach that they watched the last sunset of the year. I wish you all the best next year. Thank you for stopping by the chigasaki Sunset Museum this year. I look forward to working with you again next year.
The view from Nomazaki Lighthouse on Chita Peninsula is one of the best scene in Ise Bay. I enjoyed the view of the sunset and beautiful sunset over the Kii Peninsula. This year will also end. I prayed that next year would be a good year.
The evening view from Morito-jinja Shrine in Hayama is called ‘Morito no Sekisho’ and has been chosen as one of the top 50 scenic spots in Kanagawa. The sky became madder and the color of the sea surface changed every moment. I couldn’t see Mt. Fuji, but the view is wonderful whenever I come. This temple is said to have been founded by MINAMOTO no Yoritomo. Beyond the monument of the late Yujiro Ishihara who loved this place, there is the Hayama Lighthouse (Another name: Yujiro Lighthouse) that his older brother Shintaro Ishihara built in memory of his younger brother.
After visiting Kenchoji Temple in Kamakura, a famous temple of the Rinzai sect, I climbed Mt. Shojoken in the precincts and watched the sunset. I could also see Kamakura Gakuen below. I sang the words to the classic Southern All Stars song, ”Bid farewell to the sunset’. Sagami Bay can also be seen beyond Wakamiyaoji Street. It was a beautiful sunset.