Yui: the 16th Station of Tokaido

I reached the entrance to Yui - the same zigzag road entrance - well preserved.

Yui also recreated the Honjin (lodging for high ranking people), and made it into a park.

In the park is the "Miyuki Tei" where the Emperor of the Meiji Era rested when he passed through this village.

Isn't the garden beautiful?  Japan has very distinct 4 seasons, so we have a custom to enjoy the seasons.  Japanese garden is created as a mineature of the nature that exists outside of the garden, so that you can enjoy the view without leaving the garden.  The view, the sound of birds, sound of water...you can enjoy the garden with all 5 senses if you sit quietly in the garden.


Now, I must show you what I had for dinner - the Sakura shrimp fry which you can get only twice a year:

The next day was my big day - to climb the mountainous path "Satta toge."  First, I gradually climbed the hill to the entrance of the Satta toge.  Before the mountainous path, there was an "aino-shuku" (interim resting town) where there were several beautiful old Japanese houses.  Here's one:

Then came the steep hill.  I had to take small steps to keep myself from falling down because the road was so steep.  Some people climbed the hill on their car - but I prefer the old fashioned way - the more difficult the path, more joy you will feel when you have finally climed the hill to the top!



Now, see this

This is THE scenery I wanted to see.  The mountain top you see above the clouds is Mt. Fuji.  The road you see below is the freeway.  The mix of old and new is what makes this scenery so beautiful.  I was very lucky that the clouds cleared up and I could see Mt. Fuji from here.

The road for the car ends here, so everyone who wishes to go down the other side of the hill must do this on foot.  In some places, the path looks a little wild - but that is part of the fun.  ADVENTURE...(by the way, I didn't really know what "adventure" meant until I wandered into real wilderness near Okabe later)

Then, I enter the farm land.  I lost my way, so I asked a farmer how I can get to the Kozu station.  He said "that way, or that way" and pointed in 2 opposite directions.  Oh well, I guess you don't really need precise direction around here.  All you need to know is to "go down the hill" and you will eventually hit the ocean.  Lessons learned.

As I enter Kozu, I am again hit by the heat of concrete.  We really need to do something with the roads.  They really heat up the air...