THE COLORS OF KAGAWA
2011年12月20日
‘One more? What, before any salary?’
“That’s right”. “Get the story on Yashima, then come back and we’ll talk about ‘salary’ JC snorted…
Yashima? It’s worth another look I thought and besides, the colors are perfect this time of the year.
•The plateau of Yashima is a place visible and easily accessible from Takamatsu and just full of history. But that’s not what I want to write about as it’s also a little known area for some brisk, colorful walks at anytime of the year. At the top, the dreariness of the post-bubble collapse is heartbreakingly displayed with abandoned hotels once occupied with tourists (6 at one point in time,) many small shops a few of which have closed down etc.
A woman in slippers came out of one place and half apologetically offered me a small cup of tea as enticement to come in and look at tourist stuff. Her cat sprawled and yawned on a stool and a TV was on with poor reception that nobody bothered to watch.
•The 84th temple of the famous 88 temple circuit is there as is a wealth of history for Japanese history buffs, pilgrims, and an occasional tourist bus. But let’s not be overly concerned with the glumness of Yashima’s economic plight, rather let’s head off to the north from the car park for a great 4 kilometer walk and it doesn’t matter if you’ve missed this autumn as there’s always next year. Besides, for a good head-clearing this is just great at anytime of the year.
•I climbed up from the road around the peninsular which isn’t difficult at all and takes about 30 minutes. On the way up, the wind peppered leaves through the air and absolutely everywhere on the ground.
•I recommend taking a rented bicycle from the Takamatsu Central Station (200 yen a day) and riding out here, then following the coast until you see the signpost showing the trail to the top.
From the top we can see the long finger of land stretching into the Inland Sea’s eddies, sometimes clashing currents as it all decants into the great Pacific.
•Halfway on this very easy walk, our social camp Takamatsu can be seen on the left. The town of Aji to the right and the coast scattered with little fishing ports. As I kid I always thought these rays from the clouds were the fingers of God… On with the report, sorry.
•A whiff of bracing sea air and away we go. The birdlife here is plentiful and there are some signboards on the trail showing the different types that appear. This day I saw a couple of crows flying at breakneck speed tagging each other not above, but through the dense and swaying trees. I just couldn’t believe such daredevil flying and aerobatic skills were possible.
•What really caught my eye were the changing and strongly contrasting colors everywhere. In the fall, Japan is just a riot of color and so good for the soul and to lighten any burdens we may carry.
•So that about wraps it up and if I’ve not given you as much information as you need, it’s easy to get there by bus, train but I think the best bet is a bicycle to the walking track on the peninsular. The Takamatsu Tourist Information Office at the Central Station will have all the information you’ll need.
•My French pal Sophie Le Berre has a great page on the flora and fauna in Kagawa.
Keep all them cards ‘n letters coming in! I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with more stuff for you so until then, have a great Christmas and New Year and try to get out and enjoy the seasons wherever you are …
“That’s right”. “Get the story on Yashima, then come back and we’ll talk about ‘salary’ JC snorted…
Yashima? It’s worth another look I thought and besides, the colors are perfect this time of the year.
•The plateau of Yashima is a place visible and easily accessible from Takamatsu and just full of history. But that’s not what I want to write about as it’s also a little known area for some brisk, colorful walks at anytime of the year. At the top, the dreariness of the post-bubble collapse is heartbreakingly displayed with abandoned hotels once occupied with tourists (6 at one point in time,) many small shops a few of which have closed down etc.
A woman in slippers came out of one place and half apologetically offered me a small cup of tea as enticement to come in and look at tourist stuff. Her cat sprawled and yawned on a stool and a TV was on with poor reception that nobody bothered to watch.
•The 84th temple of the famous 88 temple circuit is there as is a wealth of history for Japanese history buffs, pilgrims, and an occasional tourist bus. But let’s not be overly concerned with the glumness of Yashima’s economic plight, rather let’s head off to the north from the car park for a great 4 kilometer walk and it doesn’t matter if you’ve missed this autumn as there’s always next year. Besides, for a good head-clearing this is just great at anytime of the year.
•I climbed up from the road around the peninsular which isn’t difficult at all and takes about 30 minutes. On the way up, the wind peppered leaves through the air and absolutely everywhere on the ground.
•I recommend taking a rented bicycle from the Takamatsu Central Station (200 yen a day) and riding out here, then following the coast until you see the signpost showing the trail to the top.
From the top we can see the long finger of land stretching into the Inland Sea’s eddies, sometimes clashing currents as it all decants into the great Pacific.
•Halfway on this very easy walk, our social camp Takamatsu can be seen on the left. The town of Aji to the right and the coast scattered with little fishing ports. As I kid I always thought these rays from the clouds were the fingers of God… On with the report, sorry.
•A whiff of bracing sea air and away we go. The birdlife here is plentiful and there are some signboards on the trail showing the different types that appear. This day I saw a couple of crows flying at breakneck speed tagging each other not above, but through the dense and swaying trees. I just couldn’t believe such daredevil flying and aerobatic skills were possible.
•What really caught my eye were the changing and strongly contrasting colors everywhere. In the fall, Japan is just a riot of color and so good for the soul and to lighten any burdens we may carry.
•So that about wraps it up and if I’ve not given you as much information as you need, it’s easy to get there by bus, train but I think the best bet is a bicycle to the walking track on the peninsular. The Takamatsu Tourist Information Office at the Central Station will have all the information you’ll need.
•My French pal Sophie Le Berre has a great page on the flora and fauna in Kagawa.
Keep all them cards ‘n letters coming in! I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with more stuff for you so until then, have a great Christmas and New Year and try to get out and enjoy the seasons wherever you are …
"Pat has lived in Takamatsu continuously since arriving here on a one year study and leave 1981. Originally from Tasmania, Australia, he was involved in education at a variety of levels including as a specialist teacher for children with learning difficulties, and at senior high schools throughout the state. Pat is employed full-time by the i-pal Kagawa International Exchange as a co-oridintaor for international relations amongst other duties including traveling to schools and giving talks in Japanese to kids about Australia. He has been involved with youth education exchanges between Japan and Australia for many years.
Pat has been many things in his colorful life including a seaman, helmsman, welder, carpenter, traffic warden, scholarship/studentship winner at the university of Tasmania, staff at the Australian Embassy in London to name but a few. Pat has far too many hobbies which include tennis, playing jazz flutes and saxes, riding bicycles with the Takamatsu Cycling Club all of which his long-suffering family tolerate. Recently he's become interested in painting again. His wife wishes he would put more time in to helping around the house and the garden which he artfully avoids ..."
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