Author: seasons-japan-admin (Page 2 of 3)

Walking around Canyon in Hinohara vil. Tokyo ( Okutama )

April 4, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin / 3 Comments

A picturesque mountain stream you can not see without touching

I toured around Okutama, Tokyo with NC750S again. The first destination I headed for was Fall Hossawa but I found a lot of people to change the destination. I selected another place. There I enjoyed taking photos and walking in a small canyon. Once it becomes popular many people will visit. So I would like to hide the name of the place. The mountain stream there was transparent as the picture below shows. I had refreshed with the fresh air and the sight that have been created by the transparent water.

渓流の清水にイワナがいました。水が透明なのでただの岩場を撮っているように見えます。真ん中にイワナがいて水なのが分かります。

Feeling like a small adventure

There, the extremely transparent mountain stream have made the canyon in Okutama, Tokyo. You can enjoy the various sight which is consisted with small falls and abysses. Though the special equipment is not needed to walk on the canyon, there is a place where a support chain and a ladder are equipped. I enjoy the feeling like a small adventure.

渓谷の渡橋とはしご — 本格的な装備は必要ありませんが、ハイヒールではちょっと無理

Beyond the huge rocks

I found the picturesque sight. Here is the sacred place for residents around. I felt something sacred by the light illuminates between huge rocks. I was overwhelmed by the sight consisted with the small mountain stream and the huge rocks. The photo below was taken from the small open space beyond the rocks. The height of the left rock is 100 meters and 80 meters for the right rock.

奥多摩の巨大な岩と渓谷 — 左下に看板が見えていますが「地元の人にとっての神域なのでキャンプとか禁止」って書いてあります。そりゃそうだ。

Photos of the site

The mountain stream have been created the various sight ever. I felt thirsty a little and drank a mouthful water of the mountain stream. I was surprised by the freshness and drank more 3 mouthfuls. In inbound I had to use lavatory but this is a secret.

渓谷入口から2つの岩を見るとこんな感じですが、フレームに収まり切れません
渓流の最上流なので規模は小さいですが表情が豊かです
単なる苔むした岩ですが周りの雰囲気と合わさっていわくありげです
昭和のレンズで渓谷を撮影してみました。露出オーバーですが雰囲気は出ていると思います
時期は初春。木々の新緑が美しい季節でもあります。また紅葉も美しいことでしょう。
山の新緑とヤマザクラのピンクが対照的でした

Touring bound for Okutama to the Road Station Kosuge

March 20, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin / 0 Comments

I rode to Okutama with NC750S 2 weeks in a row. I can reach Okutamashuyu Road if I turned to left at Tachibanabashi Crossing near the village office of Hinohara Village and I had not turned to right. So I turned to right and rode on Metro Road 205th. The road was closed due to the construction and I returned to Tachibanabashi to go through Okutamashuyu Road.

Plums ( ume ) bloomed fully in May. Usually May. is the season of cherry blossoms, but Spring comes later at the place whose above sea level is high.

Last week, I rode to the parking lot of the woods of people of Tokyo through Okutamashuyu Road. How much difference of the sight. In this time, the snow has almost melted and leaves on the slope where faces to north.

路面の雪は溶けていましたが木々には多くの雪が残っていました
先週の雪景色とは一変しています。

To tell the truth, I had got to the entrance of Irumashiroiwa Woods Road. The road is well maintained comparatively and reaches to Okutama district. But I did not try because it was the first time for me and it was solo-touring. If I was young I would try.

入間白岩林道入口 — 入間白岩林道の入口です。比較的状態の良い林道…らしいです。

I usually go to Ogochi Dam via Okutamashuyu Road but I went to Otsuki this time. I felt a little tired and I looked for the place like a road station. I just found the Road Station Kosuge where has a restaurant and a souvenir shop. Hot Spring Kosuge and Forest Park Kosuge are next to the road park. This time I did not have enough time to stay and enjoy, I would try next time. I left for Otsuki.

ヤマメの看板が印象的。
右側の三角屋根の建物が小菅の湯の建物です
Tokyo2020の看板が心持ち煤けて見える…

I rode to Saruhashi. After Saruhashi I rode on Route 20 through Sagamiko, Takaosan and Hachioji. I took Route 16 to Okutama Street and went to Ooe Street through Shin-Okutama Street. I bought toilet rolls at a store on the inbound. Due to COVID-19, toilet rolls are sold out at a shop near from home. The restaurant serves only take-out menus. May the usual days return!

The sight of snow in Okutama, Tokyo（May 15,2020）

March 15, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin / 0 Comments

I went to solo-touring with NC750S for Okutama on a little cold Sumday. I saw the sign said ‘ Road closed between the woods of citizens of Tokyo ( Tominnomori ) and Kuduryu Bridge’. In fact, the road was closed and I took rest at the parking lot of the woods.

雪の都民の森　NC750Sと共に — 路面の雪は溶けていましたが木々には多くの雪が残っていました

While I took photos and used restroom, staffs start to work on the closed road. The road would be opened after the checking the conditions on the road. The fence says ‘ 通行止 (= Closed ) are closed and opened every day, because the road is closed during 18:00-9:00 every day in Winter. I thank the staffs for working.

奥多摩周遊道路通行止め解除 — 雪が解けているのが確認できたためか、通行止めが解除になり小河内ダム方面に向かうことが出来ました。

I took the photo before I went beyond after the open. The photo below is the best photo I took that day.

都民の森の木の雪 — 本日のベストショット。「冬」の感じが出ていますが、東京とは思えません。東京です。

I rode a little from the parking of woods to Tsukuyomi Parking 2. I saw Ogochi Dam from there. Above sea level of the parking of woods to Tsukuyomi Parking 2 is about 1000m. Because that of Ogochi Dam is 530m, the temperature and the sight of snow was so different. On the top of mountains I could see in the far distance were covered with snow.

I was a little tired due to the cold, I took Ome road for in bound without stopping at Ogochi Dam. The impression of NC750S is skipped because the topics to log gets lesser. But I would like to insist ‘ Thank you, the grip heaters! ‘.

Solo-touring in the east coast of Boso Peninsula（with NC750S)

February 29, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin / 0 Comments

It was cloudy day the last Saturday, I went to solo-touring with NC750S. The route was Tokyo – Chiba city – Ooamishirasato ( Shirasato Beach ) – Katsuura – Kamogawa – Mt. Kano – Kisarazu – Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line – Metro road 318.

I would go to Kamogawa via Chiba city using tall-free road first, but I changed the destination to ‘Shirasato Beach’ when I saw the city name ‘Ooamishirasato’ ( = white village with large fishing net ). Though it was a windy, cold and cloudy day, the landscape in the beach was impressive.

美しい貝殻＠冬の白里海岸　白里海岸で足元を見ると美しい貝殻がたくさん落ちていました。砂と貝殻（の破片）の混じった砂浜でした。

The atmosphere on Kujukuri Beach reminded me that of Ookinohama in Kochi pref., Japan where is near the place I had grown up. I saw the beach for the first time, but the sight made me remember the time when I was a child.

I arrived at Central Beach of Onjuku Town, after passing Ohara and Iwawada Peninsula. You can enter sea water in several ten seconds from the parking lot. A lot of people were enjoying surfing even in Winter. The sight is terrific and the road around there is the best touring road if it was fine.

鹿野山山頂から房総スカイライン方面を望むとあまり高くない山が折り重なる独特の風景を望めます。

It was 15:00 at Onjuku. I decided to return via Kamogawa, Kururi, Tokyo-Bay Aqua-Line. I have a little time and I went through the winding road of Mt. Kano.
I took Pref. Road163 to go down from Mt. Kano. The road is a nice winding road but damages by the typhoon still remain in Feb. 2020. I took care of the road conditions, returned home via Tokyo-Bay Aqua-Line and Metro Road 318.

NC750S@冬の白里海岸　こうやって見るとキャスター角は確かに大きいのが分かります。

Impression of NC750S today

The tall-free road between Tokyo and Chiba is always crowded. I thought that it may be less crowded due to the effect of COVID-19 but route 357 was crowded. So I could not think about the impression.
After I went beyond Chiba city, the jam disappeared. I ride to Shirasato Beach through the road beside of which houses are seen. No cowl nor windscreen is not equipped on NC750S, I have to take care of the visor of helmet when it winds with sand or rains.
In the just front of Shirasato Beach there is a parking lot. From the road to there road is paved but a part of the road is buried naturally by winds in a off season. On the situation like this, the low weight center of NC750S is demerit. If an off-road motor I can slide the tires intentionally to pass, the rear tire stuck a little unintentionally.
After Shirahama Beach I rode with pleasure and got to the view point on Mt. Kano. After that I got home via Tokyo-Bay Aqua-Line and metro road 318. The average fuel consumption was over than 30km/l. This is the absolute advantage of NC750S.

Camellia seeing on Izu Oshima ( traveled by the hydrofoil )

February 24, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin / 0 Comments

I have been to Izu Oshima ( an island in Tokyo ) to enjoy fishing and seeing camellia fully blooms in 22-24 Feb.

CAMELLIA GARDEN IN OSHIMA METROPOLITAN PARK

Topic of the fishing is skipped because I did not take photos. I have taken a lot of photos of camellia blooms in the camellia garden in OSHIMA METROPOLITAN PARK in the morning to early evening in Feb. 24. The camellia garden is very famous as one of the finest camellia park in the world. I digested the photos in the slider below. You can see the other camellias in the site 「写真の椿園」(Camellia garden by photos)。

We took the hydrofoil operated by Tokai Kisen Co. from Takeshibasanbashi Tokyo. The ship called up Tateyama port and arrived at Okata Port, Izu Oshima. It took 120 minutes from Takeshibasanbashi to Okata. Feeling during the trip is very comfortable with out pitch nor roll even if outer sea is a little tidy. And the best attraction of the travel with the hydrofoil is the early arrival.

ジェットフォイル　アイランド愛　時速80kmで航行する米国Boeingが開発したジェットフォイルBoeing929です。愛はBoeing社製ですが同型の新しい船は川崎重工製です。
竹芝桟橋を出るとガントリークレーンが見送ってくれます。（見送っているのではなく働いているのですが…）
今回乗船の便は館山港寄港。館山城が見えていました。
館山港を出てすぐ、ジェットフォイルから洲崎灯台を見たところ。

We rented a car for moving around the island. If you will enjoy fishing, you have to rent ‘a car for fishing’. This time the car was SUZUKI Every VAN (10th generation 1999-2013).

Impression of suzuki every van

This kind of cars are not for an impression… The car was equipped with new tires and there was no problem at the place where I had been stuck once. Oops, this is not the impression of the car.
The first impression was the lack of power of NA657cc engine. If I could use a manual shift, the problem may be avoidable. But the car have a 3AT shift and full throttle was needed to drive on an up slope in a constant speed with three adult passengers. They drive slowly in the island, but I had to pay attention to cars behind.
Of course no problem happened and we enjoyed the travel fully.

Solo touring to Okutama with NC750S

February 15, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin

Because it was so warm that I have lesser anxiety about a frozen road, I went the solo touring to Ogochi dam and Okutamako lake.

奥多摩湖と小河内ダム — この時期は山の落葉樹は葉が落ち風景のいろどりは春までお預けです

Colors on the mountains had been lost after the leafs fell. On the other hand, you can enjoy ‘animal watching’ in this season. There are many dears and Japanese macaques, but it is difficult to find them in then leaf-full season. You can see a little space in the right side of the father tower, there were…

I think they can be seen even in the leaf full season because they are so near. But I imagine that in the leaf full season they can feed themselves around the top of the mountain and they seldom get near.

The sacrifice in the building Okutamako lake and Ogochi dam is that 87 people were killed by the accident and 1000 families were forced to move. We thank them that they had built the stable water supply of Tokyo and the beautiful sight.

小河内ダムー水道局の皆さん — 小河内ダムは東京都水道局が管理しています。ヘルメットの「東京都水道局」の文字がその証明です。

Impression of NC750S today
I miss took the way for Okutamako lake. I would take Okutamashuyu road for the outbound but took metro road 5 and route 411 to Okutamako.
For inbound, I took Okutamashuyu road. The pleasure full winding roads continued and I do not have to feel fear aboud frozen road too much, but I reminded the safety riding with moderate speed. I rode with remembering and wandering that is the trigger of a cornering the timing after the deceleration is finished to release the brake and the center of weight return on rear tire? I am not so young that I can ride only with reflexes.
I found the reason why NC750S has the cornering characteristic that the front does not cut in the corner. This is because that the total length of NC750S (2215mm) is longer than CB1300(2200mm). NC750S has a low center of weight and long length, it looks like a cruiser. It is natural in a sense.

NC750Sと奥多摩湖近辺 — 言われてみればホイールベースが長いかも。エンジンの前傾を大きくしたのも一因か？

Jogasaki Beach (touring with NC750S)

February 8, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin

I spent my holidays for skiing and fishing wakasagi smelts using the car and shinkansen, but today I rode NC750S for one day touring. After wandering the destination, I decided to go Ito through metro route 311→Tomei exp. way→Odawara-Atsugi exp. way→route 135 to take photos of camellia in the camellia garden of Komuroyama park.
In this season, the various events like the plum festival in Atami and the Kawazu cherry festival in Kawaze are held and I was caught in the traffic jam at the Odawara side exit of Ishibashi IC of Odawara-Atsugi exp. way to Seisho bypass. I change the route to national way before Ishibashi IC to avoid the jam. I enjoyed the sight of the full-blown Kawazu cherry on the both side of the road from Atami to Ajiro, Kawana and Futo. I changed my mind that the destination should be Jogasaki Beach.

Jogasaki Beach is a rugged rocky beach and is not suitable for swimming. The sign shown in picture below is built at Igaigane parking lot. From here, you have to walk through the road in the forest about 10min to reach the beach line. When you reach the beach line, your sight spreads rapidly and in the front of you, you can see Izuoshima island.

河津桜は伊豆半島の河津を産地として1月下旬から2月にかけて咲く極早咲きの桜です。ソメイヨシノに比べるとピンクが濃いのが特徴です。
梅も満開でした。
太郎冠者はツバキの中でもメジャーな品種で「侘助」と呼ばれる椿の元となった品種です。
海岸近くの林に自生しているヤブツバキが綺麗な花をつけていました。

In this season you can see Tarokaja and Yabutsubaki ( both of them are the kind of camellia ) bloom fully. At Izu peninsula, you can enjoy seeing plums, (Kawazu) cherry and camellia blooming at the same time in this season.

NC750S（城ケ崎） — NC750S　エンジン・シート下燃料タンク・リアの足回りがほぼ同じ高さに配置されているのがよくわかります。

The Impressions of NC750S Today
I had some anxiety when I started the engine for the first time in three weeks, but it started normally. It was usual that the idling rpm is a little high until the catalyst of the exhaust get warm. Is the reason why the time of the higher rpm due to the cool temperature?
I found that I did not turn on the grip heater after riding a little and feeling chill in my hands. I think it is more convenient if the grip heater should recover the status before the engine stops.
From Tokyo to Jogasaki is about 150km in one way and I can go and return without the fuel supply. This is a convenient point due to the good fuel consumption rate.
Manazuru read, route 135 and prefecture road 740 are can be selected to go through from Yugawara to Manazuru. I selected route 135 for the outbound way and prefecture road 740 for in bound way. You can enjoy pleasure winding road on prefecture road 740. I also enjoyed the time I had no car and motorcycle in front and rear of me with the theme that I do not prevent the natural motion of front tire.
The averaged fuel consumption rate was 31km/l.

Wakasagi Smelt Fishing on the Ice at Lake Matsubara (Nissan SERENA)

January 25, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin

The last weekend in January, we went to the wakasagi smelt fishing on the ice at lake Matsubarako, Saku, Nagano. Because fishes eat a bait in early morning, we left Tokyo in the evening of previous day and stayed the 2nd house that our colleague owns. Next morning we left for lake Matsubarako in the early morning. Lake Inako, lake Choko and lake Otsukiko are sometimes called together as lake Matsubarako. Sometimes lake Inako which is the largest in the 3 is called ‘Matsubarako’. Due to warm winter, the ice on lake Inako was not enough thick. We fished on the ice on lake Choko.

冬季には氷上釣りが楽しめます。近隣の松原湖、長湖、大月湖を合わせて松原湖と一般的に言われています。
本格的な人はテント＋魚群探知機を持ち込んでいます。
釣り始めて30分、やっと最初の魚（クチボソ）に会えました。今回は最初で最後に…。
氷上釣りの釣果は5人で2匹。ワカサギとクチボソでした。
ワカサギの天ぷら。ワカサギ釣りの道具を借りたところに釣れた魚を持ち込むと天ぷらにしてもらえます。明らかに数が増えてます。

The wakasagi smelt fishing was very difficult for me because I usually fish on sea. I caught several touches of fish but I caught only one fish ( topmouth gudgeon ). 5 colleagues fished together and caught one wakasagi smelt and one topmouth gudgeon. We brought them to the rod rental shop and staff served several tens of fried fishes.

信州はそばの名産地。また山の実りである胡桃を使った胡桃蕎麦。
今回のそばを食べたお店はタイミングがよければそば打ちを待合スペースの前で実演します。この日はタイミングが合いませんでした。
信州は清冽な水を活かしたお酒の名産地でもあります。千曲錦の蔵元にお邪魔した時の看板。
江戸時代と思われる時代の酒造の風景画がありました。値段の交渉をしている人と書いて意外と面白い。

We choose soba ( = a buckwheat noodle ) for lunch after the fishing. Soba is the specialty of Saku as the harvest of the climate and the clear water. We felt smell of the shell of buckwheat and it tasted delicious. After the lunch we went to the brewer of Japanese Sake, Chikumanishiki-shuzo to attempt and buy their product. I was a driver and can not check the taste. At diner I drunk them. It was decided to taste very good.

Impression of NISSAN SERENA
This time, we rent NISSAN SERENA. This car is suitable for several people to travel together and is not for a fun driving. So to write a driving impression of the car is a little mean but I would like to do.
First, the relationship between the seat position and the dashboard arrangement is not good. After the adjustment of the height of the seat and that of the stirring wheel, meters are difficult to be watch. Second, the engine power is short for the body size. Third, the suspension is so weak that the dumping ability for the roll of body. Is it a too severe impression for a rent car?
The fuel consumption was about 13km/l and not so good.
NISSAN SERENA is sold mainly in Japan and be popular. But I do not recommend, honestly.

Road Station　AshigakuboーChichibu district（solo touring with NC750S)

January 11, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin

After oil changing of NC750S at the shop, I went to Chichibu district, Saitama pref. where a staff of the shop recommended for solo touring. I was afraid of the frozen road but there were no problem.
Photos below were taken in the way at Koma River of Agano Valley along the route 299. The site is famous for the flight of fireflies in summer, but in January the sight can not be seen. Anyway the sight constituted of the transparent water and forests and clear air refreshed me.
photo1. The landscape of the valley.
photo 2. NC750S parked in front of a sign says ‘fireflies live’
photo 3. The water of Koma River.
photo 4. The splash of Koma River.

吾野渓谷は人里に近い小さな渓谷でした。右側に見えているのが国道299号線。
蛍生息地と書かれた看板がある吾野渓谷で高麗川をバックにNC750S.
蛍生息地の高麗川はとても澄んでいました。台風以降はあまり雨が降っていないので岩には苔がついています。
荒川水系の高麗川上流の吾野渓谷で撮影。

It takes a little ride to reach Michinoeki ( = Roadside station ) Ashigakubo from Agano Valley. Roadside stations in Japan are designated and provided usually by local governments. In a michinoeki, place for travelers to rest, automatic vend0rs, shops and cafeterias are provided. The souvenirs sold in a each michinoeki have characteristics corresponding to the district where a michinoeki is. Chichibu district including Ashigakubo is famous for its agricultural products. Konnyaku ( jelly food, made from devil’s-tongue stach ) is special in the district.
In the parking lot of the michinoeki I met a lot of touring riders. The next to my NC750S, Honda Africa Twin CRF1100 and Honda NC750X is parked.
photo 1. the main building in Michinoeki Ashigakubo
photo 2. the landscape from in the michinoeki
photo 3. NC750S, opened luggage box and souvenirs fixed on rear space
photo 4. souvenirs I bought. Konnyakus, imogaras ( teared and dried roots of taro ) and a radish.

道の駅芦ヶ久保メインの建物です。この中でお土産やお弁当が販売されています。
道の駅芦ヶ久保の全景です。この日はまずまずの好天に恵まれました。
購入したお土産を乗せたNC750Sです。荷造り中なのでフロントのラゲッジスペースも開けています。少し異形のルックス？
道の駅芦ヶ久保のお土産です。こんにゃくと大根と芋がら（芋茎）。

Today’s impression of NC750S
Engine oil is changed after 2000km ride from the previous change. I would like to check the adequate frequency of changing and changed at earlier timing comparing to usual. The damage of oil was small and it seems the change per 3000-4000km is acceptable.
I selected Ome-Chichibu line ( Prefectural road 53 ) for return path to reach Ome. There is few traffic and I ride pleasurably on the winding road with various types of corner. Some tight corner has no guard rail and I ride with some care. I was afraid of a frozen road but all roads were dry and not frozen.
NC750S has a honest cornering characteristic that responds to the movement of the center of the weight. ( In other word, not so quick nor sharp. ) So an intentional cornering motion is needed but this is an interesting characteristic of NC750S.
Route was Kannana ( Prefectural road 318 ) →Kawagoe road→route 299→Michinoeki Ashigakubo→route 299→Ome-Chichibu line ( prefectural road 53 ) →Shin-Ome road→Ome road. About 150km way and fuel consumption was 28km/l. It was good even after I was caught in a traffic jam on Kawagoe road.

Boso Peninsula Myogane Cape～Sunosaki Lighthouse(Solo touring with NC750S)

January 3, 2020 / seasons-japan-admin

The route of the first solo touring in 2020 with the partner, NC750S was Tokyo – Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line – Cape Myogane – Sunosaki Light House and around there. In this season Mt.Fuji can be seen from Boso Peninsula if the air is transparent…

明鐘岬から富士山方向を望む、薄っすらと富士山が見えています。手前の海に粒の様に見えるのは渡り鳥の一群。この時期ならではです。

Sunosaki Lighthouse is built on Boso Peninsula and plays am important role to keep the safety of the entrance of Tokyo Bay. It blinks white and red every 30 seconds and the light reaches 34 kilo-meters. The intensity of light is enough for farther distance but the horizon hides the light. There is Sunosaki Taishakuten (photo4) beside of the lighthouse.

洲乃崎燈臺の旧字体表示が歴史を感じさせます
洲崎灯台の全景です。重要な灯台にしては比較的小型なのが印象的です。
洲崎灯台から内房を望むと、手前側が鋸山、奥の左側に富津岬が見えます。この日は少しかすみ加減だったのが残念です。
洲崎灯台の裏側には洲崎帝釈天が祀られていました。小さな祠ですが手入れが行き届き線香の香りがほのかに漂っていました。寅さんのポスターは御愛嬌。

I walked around Sunosaki Lighthouse. People there lives with harvest from sea like farmer grows plants on the farm and lives with the harvest. The parking around the light house are provided by individual and the price for 2 hour is 200 jpy ( about 2 dollars ). The roof of some houses are covered with blue sheets. The scars by typhoon 15 (Faxai) and typhoon 19 (Hagibis ) are still left around Chiba area. I wish earlier recovery sincerely.

洲崎灯台の近所のお宅では天草を干していました。天草は寒天の原料であんみつの寒天や心太の原料となる重要な海産物です。
伊豆半島に比べると房総半島はヤブツバキの自生が少ない印象ですが、洲崎近くではよく見かけました。寒さには比較的弱いので暖かい南部に自生が多くなるのは首肯できます。
洲崎灯台から海岸線へ降りていくと小さな港に行き当たりました。そこでは冬に美味しい（春は大きくなりすぎて硬い）フノリが水揚げされ干されていました。船の奥に敷き詰められている赤紫のがフノリです。心打たれる風景でした。

Impression of NC750S and touring route
The camera and 3 lenses are stocked in the 21 liters luggage space located in the front ( is usually tank space ). This space is very convenient for 1 day touring. The fuel injection control rises the idling rotation when the oil temperature? or the catalyst temperature? are low and some carefulness is needed.
A lot of car was driven on the road and I was caught in traffic jams several time. Especially on Keyou road on the return path is crowed and several accidents occurred.
Fuel consumption is 9.1 liters for the 280 km trip. NC750S always promises the good fuel consumption rate for me. But I am sorry for the lack of riding impression because I did not pass the winding road this day.