Went to Kyukamura Iwate Amihari Onsen to Escape the Summer Heat 7.22, 2024

The lowest temperature this morning was 24.3℃. It was almost a tropical night, and it was hot from the morning!

So Sachiki-san and I went to Amihari Onsen-hot spring, located on the middle slope of Mt. Iwate, to escape the summer heat. Amihari Onsen is about an hour's drive from my house. The altitude is about 760m. It is about 600m higher than the city, so the temperature should be 5 or 6 degrees lower.

There is a Kyukamura-national park resorts of Japan called Iwate Amihari Onsen, which has accommodation facilities, hot springs, a ski resort, a campsite, a visitor center, and walking trails. You can walk with your dog on the walking trails. However, dogs are not allowed in the accommodation facilities or tents.

I parked my car in the visitor center parking lot and first walked to Amihari Onsen Ski Resort.

On the way from the visitor center to the ski resort, there was a snow shed. Seeing this makes me realize that the snow must be deep.

In front of Amihari Onsen Ski Resort.
From here, I could see the foot of Mt. Iwate clearly.

Return from the ski resort to the visitor center.

Below the visitor center is the grassy area of ​​the campsite.

We headed to the walking trail from the visitor center.

Along the way, there is the wooded area of ​​the campsite.

I wanted to go beyond the campsite, but Sachiki-san wasn't keen, so we took a break in the woods and then returned to the visitor center.

It was a cool and pleasant walk.

Digging up the sandy beach at Nebama-kaigan 7.5, 2024

Nebama-kaigan beach in Kamaishi City used to be a 2-kilometer-long sandy beach, including the adjacent Katagishi-kaigan beach across the Unosumai River, but both beaches were lost due to the tsunami and land subsidence caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Of these beaches, about 500 m of the Nebama-kaigan beach was restored, bringing back the white sands and green pines of the past.

Just before the swimming season, Sachiki-san and I went to the beach in the morning when no one was around.

It was the first time for Sachiki-san to walk on the beach.

Sachiki-san was digging up the sandy beach. This is not the only place.
It is a very clean beach that is maintained for swimming, but I was a little nervous as a caretaker in case something sharp was buried in the sand.

After digging up the sand, Sachiki-san voluntarily ran on the grassy square next to the beach to remove the sand from his feet.

There is a campground at Nehama-kaigan, so let's come back soon.

A Cool Walk while Admiring Hydrangea Flowers at Michinoku Ajisai-en 7.1, 2024

I had always wanted to visit the Michinoku Ajisai-en (Hydrangea Garden) in Ichinoseki City because I could take Sachiki-san there.

It is a little far from my house, but I thought "the hydrangeas must be in full bloom now," so I and Sachiki-san went out.

According to the official website, 40,000 hydrangeas of about 400 varieties are in full bloom in a 150,000 square meter cedar forest, and the promenade is about 2 km long. It is just the right distance for a walk with Sachiki-san.

The promenade is well maintained and easy to walk. The shade of the cedar trees is pleasant.

You can ride around in a cart like those used on golf courses, so you will occasionally encounter carts while walking along the promenade. (Pets are not allowed to ride on the carts.)

There is a rhododendron area, but flowers are over.

There is an admission fee (1,000 yen), but it was worth it to take a leisurely walk with Sachiki-san through the cool cedar forest and admire the hydrangea flowers.