I Go to Utsunomiya Central Park

 

It becomes colder day by day. 

As time goes by, the color of leaves turns beautiful. I went to Utsunomiya Central Park to see how the park had changed its scenery these days.

Miyakawa Morning Market at Takayama City

 

When I went to Takayama city, I felt that the city looked similar to my hometown Matsue city.  

Both cities keep traditional Japanese culture and nature, and also both have beautiful rivers and streets.

Takayama Festival was added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.

I want to visit there again in the season of Takayama Spring or Autumn Festival. 

I Go to Varicolored Carp Museum in kanuma City

I went to the golden carp museum in Kanuma city, but it was not open on the day. Only ducks were swimming at the pond in front of the museum.

We stayed a hotel near the museum and enjoyed hot spring and delicious dinner.

A Flock of Wild Birds in Igashira Park

There were many ducks, three herons and three cormorants, at least I found, at the Igashira park. 

There was a little museum beside the pond which had displays explaining how, when and from where those migratory birds came to the park.

I Go to Utsunomiya Central Park #2

There are not only flower gardens but also a big pond and a medium size pond with traditional Japanese style bridges.

While I was staying in the park, I rarely met people.

I think the number of people visiting the park might be less than one tenth that of the number on a usual day.

Carps and wild ducks, they were swimming as usual, did not care about COVID-19 at all.

It was a very quiet day.

Winter Scenery in Matsue City

Without playing tennis for almost two weeks, I had ample time to take care of my family's garden, to walk here and there in the city and to take lots of pictures

Two ponds near my family's home were colored by beautiful trees.

Those two ponds were not tourist sites but, I'm sure, worth visiting.

I Go to Cafe Rectangle and Utsunomiya Central Park

 I went to 'Cafe Rectangle' to have lunch with my wife on a sunny winter day.

 

On our way to the cafe, we had a short visit to Utsunomiya Central Park where winter birds were taking a rest in its pond.

Chinowa Kuguri Ceremony

A large ring or Chinowa made of grass is erected on the pathway leading to a shrine.

Worshipers at the shrine pass through the ring as an act of purification from misdeeds, impurities, or bad luck.

Participants pass through the ring reciting a verse invoking long life and avoiding diseases.

Ceremonies of passing through the ring, sacred music and dancing are dedicated to the shrine on the ceremony day.