Took a Cool Walk at the Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site 2026/06/18

The Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site, just a 30-minute drive from my home, is one of the component assets of the ‘Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining’ , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As dogs are allowed on the site, I went there with Sachiki-san.

Although it was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2015, it had already been designated a National Historic Site in 1957 as the site of Japan’s oldest surviving Western-style blast furnace. As I was born in 1961, I have been familiar with the name ‘Hashino Blast Furnace Ruins’ since childhood, but I didn’t visit for the first time until after it had been inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

Starting from the car park in front of the Information Centre, it took about an hour to walk from the furthest blast furnace—Blast Furnace No. 1—to Blast Furnace No. 2 and then Blast Furnace No. 3, before returning to the car park. It’s just the right length of time for a walk.

We followed the signposted route whilst reading the information boards.

The grass has been neatly mown, so it’s easy to walk on.

As it’s at a high altitude and there’s plenty of shade from the trees, it was a pleasant, cool walk.

Funakoshi Park was Bustling with Chirping of Wild Birds 2026/5/19

Although the tulip season had passed, Sachiki-san and I visited Funakoshi Park in Yamada Town.
Funakoshi Park is a vast park adjacent to KUJIRA-TO-UMI-NO-KAGAKUKAN (Whales and science of sea Museum), and I hear the tulips are at their best around Golden Week (Spring Holiday Week) every year.

Although the tulips had finished blooming on this day, the Nemophila flowers were still in bloom.

There is a stream running through the park.

As it was getting hot, we took a break in a gazebo.

Whilst we were resting, we could hear the lively chirping of wild birds coming from the thickets of reeds around the swamp.

After our break, we went for a walk around the swamp in the park. However, when we had almost completed a full circuit of the pond, we realised that to return to the car park in front of the Whales and science of sea Museum, we would either have to retrace our steps or walk along the road on top of the Tsunami sea wall away from the swamp. We chose to walk along the road on top of the Tsunami sea wall.

From the road on top of the Tsunami sea wall, we descended via some steps to return to the car park.

Soaked up Negative Ions at the Namiita Fudonotaki Falls 2026/4/11

Two months ago, Sachiki-san and I visited Namiita Beach in Otsuchi Town, but this time we visited the Namiita Fudonotaki Falls, located in the mountainous area of the same Namiita district.

I'd wanted to go for a long time, but Google Maps navigation showed that the final few hundred metres to the falls would have to be on foot, so I hesitated.

I checked the Otsuchi Town Tourism and Exchange Association’s website, and it seemed possible to drive there, so I decided to go. I was able to drive almost all the way to the Kujirayama Shrine actually, just before the waterfall. However, the road is unpaved.

According to the information board, the waterfall is about 15 metres high.

The sound of the powerfully flowing waterfall was soothing, and it feels as plenty of negative ions are being released.

It seemed possible to drive right up to Kujirayama Shrine, which is very close to the waterfall, but since making a U-turn would be difficult, I parked my car in a wider area along the way.

There are many stone monuments standing where I parked. Some of them appear to have been donated recently, showing that the shrine is still a place of worship today.

Kujirayama Shrine can be seen at the end of the approach path in the image below. The waterfall is beyond that.

The current shrine building appears to have been constructed after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The shrine used to be situated so close to the waterfall that it seemed as if the water's droplets splashing to it, but now only a small offering box is placed in that spot.

The water flowing from the waterfall forms a gentle stream, which seems to cleanse the soul.

There were Lots of People and Dogs at Takamatsu Park on Sunday 3/29/2026

When Sachiki-san and I lived in Morioka City, we often went for walks in Takamatsu Park. This park is one of several dog-walking spots in Morioka City and many dogs visit it. Not only can you take a walk along the path that circles the large lawn, but you can also play with your dog on the lawn itself. You can also walk over to the adjacent Takamatsunoike Pond.

We visited Takamatsu Park for the first time in a while, on a trip to a salon to groomer salon in Morioka City to have Sachiki-san washed.

It was a beautiful, warm Sunday, there were lots of people and dogs at the park.

We rarely see other dogs on our usual walks, but we encountered many dogs here.

Sachiki-san sometimes barks at other dogs, was able to greet them without barking at all here.

Pines at Namiita Beach had Grown Tall 2/17/2026

Sachiki-san and I went for a walk at Namiita Beach in Otsuchi Town.

Namiita beach is known for its Katayosenami waves. According to the Otsuchi Town Tourism Exchange Association, "it is said that the waves are absorbed by the coarse sand, resulting in no return waves. However, it is also thought that other factors play a significant role, such as the shallow seabed topography, currents within the bay, and the wavelength of the incoming waves, as the return waves remain small even after the sandy beach disappeared by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami."

I have been to this beach many times since I was a child. Before the Great East Japan Earthquake, this was a beautiful beach with a beautiful contrast between green pine wood, white sandy beach, and blue sea. However, the pine wood and sandy beach disappeared due to the tsunami and land subsidence caused by the earthquake.

The current Namiita beach has seen its sandy beach restored through regeneration works, and the pine trees, which were reportedly about 30cm tall when planted, have grown considerably.

Near the coast, there is a surf shop and such. Namiita Beach is one of the best surfing beaches the Tohoku region.

A little way from the beach, there is a monument inscribed with a poem by Kenji Miyazawa in a parking area along the national highway.

Having Heard No More Bear News, Went for a Walk on Shiroyama 1/13/2026

Since last autumn, there had been continuous reports of bear sightings and damage caused by bears. However, for the past month, I've heard no such news, nor have I received any bear sighting alerts via LINE from the town hall.

Perhaps the bears have finally gone into hibernation?

So, Sachiki-san and I went for a walk on Shiroyama(Castle Hill) in the neighbouring town.
Shiroyama was the site of the Otsuchi clan's castle from the Muromachi period until the beginning of the Edo period.
It is now maintained as Shiroyama Park.

We started from the car park of the Otsuchi Town Central Community Centre at the southern end of the park.
The paved road has a gentle gradient but continues uphill for about 1 km. I regretted not starting from the western car park closest to Honmaru(Centre of the Castle) site, one of the three available.

This is the western car park.

We left the paved road and entered the walking path, reaching the base of Honmaru site. However, I, turn 65 years old this year, decided not to go all the way to Honmaru site.
Honmaru site is located at the top of these steps.

We didn't go up to Honmaru site, but we got a good view of Otsuchi Bay.

Last Run of 2025 at Seagull Park 12/23/2025

Seagull Park is the closest dog park to our home, so We're registered as a member and use it regularly, but it's been over a month since our last visit.

I've been thinking ‘We should go soon’, but it's already year-end. we finally managed to go today, and it seems this will be our last run of the year.

‘Stop filming and throw the ball already,’ he seems to be saying.

A black Labrador girl came into the neighbouring area. We've met her before.

Played with a Ball at Seagull Park 2/21/2025

It's been a while since we last went to the dog park, so Sachiki-san ran around a lot.

Tono-go Hachimangu Shrine still Had Beautiful Autumn Leaves 11/4/2025

Tono-go Hachimangu Shrine is known for having a cat shrine on its grounds, and it's also known for its beautiful autumn leaves, and every year during the autumn leaves season, they hold an autumn leaves illumination event. This year's illumination ended on November 2nd, but I thought, "There should still be some autumn leaves to see," so Sachiki-san and I went there.

Japanese traditional umbrellas are placed on the horse track running perpendicular to the approach to the shrine, creating a nice atmosphere in combination with the autumn leaves.

This horse track is 500 meters long.

Sachiki-san wasn't paying any attention to the autumn leaves and was playing with the fallen leaves. (lol)

The shrine grounds are spacious.

At the main shrine, I prayed for the longevity, health, and happiness of my family. Sachiki-san is, of course, also a member of my family.

Although the autumn leaves illumination had ended, the autumn leaves themselves were still beautiful.
Next time, I'd like to come and see the snowy scenery.

Ran around a lot at Daiwa Fruit Park 10/24/2025

Daiwa Fruit Park is a fruit-themed tourist farm, but it also has a dog park, so Sachiki-san and I visited it.

It's located in Rikuzentakata City. Nearby is the Takatamatsubara Memorial Park for TSUNAMI disaster, known for its "Miracle Pine Tree."

Paying no attention whatsoever to the fruit being cultivated in the park (lol) and headed straight for the dog park.

Registration for the dog park is done at the cafe. It's the building you see behind Sachiki-san in the picture.

Almost at the same time as us, a male Akita Inu arrived. Sachiki-san doesn't get along well with male dogs, so we let the Akita Inu use the large dog area and used the vacant small dog area.

Sachiki-san, who loves new things and places, was excited about being in a new place.

He ran around a lot and did a lot of sniffing.

He occasionally kept an eye on the Akita Inu in the large dog area (lol).

A staff member kindly took pictures of us, saying, "You probably won't be able to get pictures together very often."

The Kuzakai Highland was already Autumnal with the Ears of Silver Grasses Bearing 9/4/2025

On my way from my home in Kamaishi City to Morioka City, Sachiki-san and I stopped off at the Kuzakai Highland Roadside Station.

This area is at a high altitude, and there are woods behind the roadside station, offering a cool, sheltered walk from the sun.

The midday temperature was 24°C. It was very comfortable in the woods.

Beyond the woods, silver grass grew thickly, its heads swaying in the breeze, creating a truly autumnal landscape on the highland.

I sticked to Sachiki-san closely on the cool highland (lol).

The lower world is still hot, but autumn is approaching.