ダムや海、山、川、岬を巡るツーリングを通し関東を主に日本の風景を紹介します

Category: 春 ( Spring in Japan )

The beautiful landscape of a yellow green valley and wild cherries at OKUTAMA in late spring

Someday, I went for solo touring to OKUTAMA. It was a late spring day and the landscape of a yellow green on a valley and mountains was impressive.

秋川と奥多摩の山々
晩春の芽吹きの萌黄色が印象的です

The river in the picture is AKIGAWA River and the mountains in OKUTAMA can be seen beyond the valley. The valley was beautiful and at the same time the landscape that the mountains overlap each other were impressive. I rode on the route 411 for OKUTAMA and I could see OGOCHI Dam in my left hand side.

小河内ダムの洪水吐
小河内ダムを国道411号線から

From the route 411, the emergency channel of OGOCHI Dam was seen nearly. It was so large that the photo above does not express the scale of the dam. Once I rode beyond OGOCHI Dam, I reached the lake side of OKUTAMA Lake. I found the wild cherries blossom.

名残のヤマザクラ
晩春、奥多摩名残のヤマザクラ

After I had been satisfied with the yellow green landscape and the wild cherries blossom, I returned home.

The most picturesque sight of Mt. FUJI from BOSO Peninsula

Someday, I went for solo touring to FUTTSU Cape and MYOGANE Cape, BOSO Peninsula, Chiba. It was a very windy day and due to the wind I could see Mt.FUJI from FUTTSU Cape clearly.

富津漁港から富士山を望む
富津漁港から富士山を望む

From FUTTSU Fishery Port, I could see Mt. FUJI. The port was almost full with fishery boats and pleasure boats. Probably they got a day off work due to the wind. A little beyond the fishery port, I arrived at the observatory on the edge of FUTTSU Cape.

第一海堡と富士山
第一海堡と富士山

From the observatory, DAIICHIKAIHO ( means ‘the 1st sea base’ ) could be seen with Mt.FUJI. The sea base is artificial island built in Meiji era (1868-1912) to defend Tokyo, the capital of Japan. The similar island is ODAIBA in Tokyo. They are ‘brother’ each other, in a sense. In years past, arms were equipped and deployed actually.

富津岬の潮目
富津岬の潮目

When I saw on the sea, I found a clear tideline. FUTTSU Cape divides TOKYO Bay into outside and inside. And this is the reason of the tideline promotion between ebb tide and full time. This environment grows delicious fishes around the cape. OGON-AJI ( golden Japanese jack mackerel ) is a special of in this area. ( Especially in KANAYA, is located near MYOGANE Cape. )

NC750Sと伊豆大島
NC750Sと伊豆大島

When I have arrived at MYOGAME Cape, Mt. FUJI is hidden by clouds but IZUOSHIMA ( IZU Big Island ) could be seen clearly. I took photo of NC750S parking in front of the rock field of MYOGANE Cape. This area is famous as a rock fishing site. The fishing black seabream is very popular in this area and I have tried several times. But I caught no fish… The problem may not be the point but may be my technique.

NC750Sと海
なんとなくノスタルジックなNC750Sと海

And one more photo. This is one of the best which has nostalgic atmosphere. I have enough time to head another site, but I return home to avoid the traffic jam which often occurs between Tokyo and Chiba.

Walking around Canyon in Hinohara vil. Tokyo ( Okutama )

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
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
    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
  • 渓流の多彩な表情
    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
  • 苔むした岩
    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
  • 昭和のレンズで撮影した渓谷
    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
  • 若葉と渓谷
    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。
  • ヤマザクラと渓谷の大岩
    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

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.

山の中にも春の訪れ。都道205号の行き止まり直前で撮影しました。

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.

都道205号行き止まり手前
山の中の遅い春を実感させます

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.

  • 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
  • 初春の都民の森
    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.

  • 道の駅こすげの看板
    ヤマメの看板が印象的。
  • 道の駅こすげから小菅の湯を望む
    右側の三角屋根の建物が小菅の湯の建物です
  • 道の駅こすげからフォレストパーク入口を望む
    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!

Solo touring to Okutama with NC750S

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…

奥多摩湖のニホンザル
奥多摩湖のニホンザル

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.

奥多摩湖の慰霊碑
奥多摩湖の慰霊碑

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)

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.

この時期の伊豆半島は河津さくらが満開です。というか、少し散り加減でした。

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.

城ケ崎海岸の案内看板。ジオパークの認定がされてから新しい看板が整備されました。
伊豆大島が見えていました が少しかすみ気味でした
  • 河津桜
    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(城ケ崎にて)
    梅も満開でした。
  • 太郎冠者(城ケ崎にて)
    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。
  • ヤブツバキ(城ケ崎)
    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.

About this site

This site introduce beautiful and interesting seasons in Japan with photos and exquisite sentences… But the author is not a native English writer, so sometimes write something strange.

The icon of this site means
‘blue ‘ spring ( in Japanese「青」春 ),
‘ vermilion’ summer ( in Japanese「朱」夏 ),
‘white’ fall ( in Japanese )「白」秋,
‘black’ winter ( in Japanese )「玄」冬,
and a letter ‘J’ is placed on right side.

I ride motorcycle to take photos, so I report the impression of the riding motorcycle. Especially impression of my partner ‘Honda NC750S’ will be often reported.