EXPERIENCE YAMANASHI AND MORE _ EXPLORE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Etsuo Yamamoto _ Certified National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter
Kai Choshizuka Tumulus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Ch%C5%8Dshizuka_Kofun; https://www.sonekyuryo.jp/en/map/map06/; https://etsuo.tokyo/2022/02/
A tree in Kai Choshizuka Tumulus, Sone Kyuryo Park, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/18/2025
Views of Mount Kita, Sone Kyuryo Park, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/18/2025
The first full Moon in Japan this year was observed on January 14, 2025. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac in the USA, the full Moon in January is called the Wolf Moon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Farmer%27s_Almanac; https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/the-next-full-moon-is-the-wolf-moon/; https://eco.mtk.nao.ac.jp/koyomi/yoko/2025/rekiyou253.html.en
Full Moon, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/14/2025
In Japan, there is a custom of eating seven-herb rice porridge on January 7th to promote good health and ward off evil spirits in the coming year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanakusa-no-sekku; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinjitsu; https://www.foodinjapan.org/japan/nanakusa-gayu
A set of seven herbs, produce of Hakone Seiroku Mishima Yasai* in the city of Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/07/2025
(Bottom, left to right): Chickweed (Stellaria media) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellaria_media; Japanese radish (Raphanus sativus) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daikon; Water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenanthe_javanica; Turnip (Brassica rapa) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip; Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsella_bursa-pastoris
(Top, left to right): Shepherd’s purse; Cudweed (Pseudognaphalium affine) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudognaphalium_affine; Nipplewort (Lapsana communis) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsana_communis
* Hakone Seiroku Mishima Yasai: https://hakoneseirokumishimayasai.jp/?lang=en
Happy New Year!
This year 2025 is the year of the snake in the Chinese zodiac (though China starts its zodiac from January 29). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_(zodiac)
Snake Dharma doll by Arai Darumaya, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2025
Dry ice fog cooling the salad, Steak House Watayoshi, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/28/2024
Himuro Shrine is located in the middle of Mount Kushigata at an altitude of about 1,000 meters. The original buildings were built by Gitan Gyouen as Takao Temple belonging to Shingon Buddhism in 770. However, the temple buildings were destroyed at the time of the Meiji Restoration and replaced by Shinto Shrine ones. Ever since the incident, the place has been known as Himuro Shrine. There are 575 stone steps to reach the main house of the shrine. There are large cedar trees and they are estimated to be about 100 to 150 years old. Some sacred trees were thought to be a lot older than those years.
Mount Fuji view in front of the Torii of Himuro Shrine.
Himuro Shrine, Hirabayashi, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024
Torii(s), stone steps, cedar trees, shrine houses and stone lanterns, Himuro Shrine, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024
Japanese thuja (Thuja standishii), Himuro Shrine, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuja_standishii
A stone structure with a family crest of two hawk feathers cross each other.
Himuro Shrine, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%B7%B9%E3%81%AE%E7%BE%BD; https://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/202212/202212_03_en.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_(emblem)
The cutest and smallest post office I have ever seen in Japan is located in the town of Fujikawa in Yamanashi Prefecture. The name of the post office is Ohkubo Simplified Post Office: https://map.japanpost.jp/p/search/dtl/300108865000/.
Ohkubo Simplified Post Office, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/22/2024
There is a smaller post office than this one in the United States of America. Ochopee Post Office is considered to be the smallest post office in the USA, located in Ochopee, Florida. How small is it? You will find it: https://facts.usps.com/smallest-post-office/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochopee_Post_Office#:~:text=Measuring%20a%20mere%2061%20square,41%20and%20State%20Road%2029.
The Smallest Post Office in Japan is Hikutani Simplified Post Office in the city of Yamaguchi in Yamaguchi Prefecture; however, the service of this post office has been suspended since October, 2015 until someone raises a hand to help. Currently, there is only a post box at the site of the Post Office.
Sunrise sky images, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024
Yuzu (Citrus × junos), Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuzu
Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllostachys_edulis
Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptomeria
Literature monument of a Japanese poet and sculptor Takamura Kotaro, Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/19/2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setaria_viridis
Weeds growing alongside a road, green foxtail (Setaria viridis), Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/11/2024
Also, please refer to the article on November 8, 2024 “Tokai Nature Trail: Koyodai, Sankodai and Gokodai 2” https://yamanashietsuo.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=3733&action=edit.
Chinese hackberry tree, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/09/2024 & 10/11/2024
A large Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis) tree on the river bank of the Arakawa River in the city of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.