Yumura Hot Spring in Kofu: Sept 16, 29024

I visited Yumura Hot Spring (Onsen) during my travel in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Yumura Onsen is not far from central Kofu (about 3km). It has a history of more than 1000 years. It is especially famous as Takeda Shingen's secret hot spring. Takeda Shingen lives in the 15^th century.

In was loved and used by many famous novelists, such as Dazai Osamu and Ibuse Masuji, in the early Showa era.

There are about ten hotels in the area.

Some hotels as well as restaurants and other related facilities in the area now old. Now, redevelopment works are on the way in some places.

There are some hospitals and nursing care facilities in the area. Such facilities and hotels stand side by side.

One of the most prestigious hotels in the area is Tokiwa Hotel. It has a beautiful garden.

Many historically important matches of Shogi (Japanese chess) and Igo games have been held in the hotel.

There are photos and autographs of famous Shogi and Igo Players displayed in the hotel.

 

 

 

Koshi Kaido Walk (16) Daigahara(41/45)-Tsutaki(43/45): Sept.15, 2024

The summer of 2024 was extremely hot. Now, it is the middle of September and the heat is slightly easing. I had my Koshu Kaido walk (part 16).

I started Digahara, the 41st shukuba station from Tokyo's Nihonbashi. Many traditional buildings are preserved here as I wrote in this blog in April. Shichiken Brewery is one of the most impressive spots in Daigahara.

Koshi Kaido goes along rice and vegetable fields.

This area is near from the Southern Alps mountains and produces good water. There is a factory of Suntory beverage manufacturer in Hokuto City. They produce drinking water, whisky and other beverage products. I found a sign board to the factory.

I arrived at Kyoraishi, the 42^nd shukuba station. It was a small shukuba station and few shukuba-related facilities have preserved.

There remains a big stone in a cemetery in a temple nearby. The stone is an origin of the shukuba statin's name.

It was rice harvesting season. I saw many farmers working hard.

The rice fields in this area lie in along Kanamanashi River. There are mountains over the river. The fields were brown when harvesting had been over and were green when it had not been. The scene was beautiful. (See also the top and 2nd photos)

Walking 3-4 km from Kyoraishi, I arrived at the border between Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures. I finished walking about 110 km in Yamanashi Prefecture. There are 25 shukuba stations there.

Walking about 1km, I arrived at Tsutaki, the 43re shukuba from Nihonbashi and the first in Nsagano Prefecture.