Walking Tour
Monday the 21st was a national holiday in Japan - Spring Equinox Day. I made plans to meet up with some friends for a walking tour. The day was a little gloomy with Mt. Fuji looking spooky.
This is the park where the walking tour began. The group was only six people with two volunteer guides.
The walking tour was outside of the park around the tea field area and was 4.5 kilometers. If the day had been clear, we would have had views of Mt. Fuji, like in the poster.
We did have some nice views.
This is a special tea field where tea for the Emperor is grown.
The black canopies can be rolled out on sunny days to prevent the growing tea from becoming bitter.
These are olive trees. I had no idea olives were grown here.
Another thing I learned on this tour is that they begin picking the tea 88 days after Setsubun.
After the walking tour, we walked around the park, which is very nice.
In addition to many steps, there are also gently sloping pathways making the park accessible to people with mobility issues.
There are several observation decks.
There is even a little shrine.
It was a good day to spend with friends.
9 comments:
What a fun excursion! The emperor and his family must drink a lot of tea.
If the view is that beautiful when it's cloudy, how magnificent must it not be when sunny!
I didn't know about Shizuoka olives either. Have you ever seen local olive oil for sale?
Another interesting day out with your friends.
The tea leaves are trimmed beautifully.
Lovely day out Pamela. xx
Hi Pamela: Wow what a great day tour, your photos share so much of the area, I find the tea groves interesting, I would have never though that they would cover the leaves on hot sunny days.
Olive trees, I always thought they were grown in Spain, the weather must be perfect in Japan for growing them.
Thank-you for sharing another beautiful tour.
Catherine
It looks like a wonderful day. I wish they'd make that a holiday here -- we so need it!
I just finished a book called "The Road Through Miyama" (non-fiction, Leila Philip). Have you heard of this village which is (or at least was) known for its traditional pottery? It was fascinating.
Well you certainly have a nice place to walk, even if the viewing conditions were not ideal.
xx, Carol
Sounds like a lovely way to spend a public holiday. The tea plantation was interesting.
Post a Comment