Enjoyed the Snow at Takamatsu Park for the First Time in a While 1.19, 2025

Kamaishi City, which faces the Pacific Ocean, has many dry, sunny days in the winter and does not snow much.

Having moved to Kamaishi City from Morioka City, where snow often accumulates, Sachiki-san may be having a slightly unsatisfying winter.

Today is the day to get Sachiki-san ​​shampooed at the dog salon in Morioka City that we have been going to since before moving.

We arrived in Morioka early to go to the salon after a walk in Morioka City, and took a walk in Takamatsu Park, which is not far from the salon. Takamatsu Park is a park where we sometimes went for walks when we lived in Morioka City.

There was snow in Takamatsu Park, so we were able to take a walk in the snow for the first time in a while.

I'm sure Sachiki-san had a great time.

The Swamp in Katagishi Park was Frozen and Swans were Walking on the Ice 12.15, 2024

Katagishi Park is not far from our house, so Sachiki-san and I often go there for walks.

The swamp froze over due to the recent cold wave.

Swans were walking on the ice of the frozen swamp from one unfrozen surface to another unfrozen surface.

Swans need a run-up to take off, so they look not good at flying short distances.

The roof visible across the swamp is the Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium.

It's like the "Dance of the Little Swans" from the ballet "Swan Lake."

Sachiki-san is full of energy even in the cold weather when the swamp is frozen.

Swans Came to the Swamp in Katagishi Park 11.14, 2024

Katagishi Park is a park that was developed after the Great East Japan Earthquake near the mouth of the Unosumai River, which flows through the Unosumai district of Kamaishi City. On the opposite side of the river is the Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium.

In the center of the park is a swamp called Minosuke-numa by locals, and a promenade has been developed around the swamp. There is also a car park and a toilet.

It's not far from our house, so I often take Sachiki-san here for walks.

When Sachiki-san and I moved to Kamaishi City in the fall and were walking in Katagishi Park, I heard from people who were also walking that swans fly to Minosuke-numa and the Unosumai River, but this was the first time we saw swans.

I thought, "The swans have come. Winter is coming," but Sachiki-san showed no interest in the swans and said, "Give me a treat." (lol)

Took a Walk in Takamatsu Park before Going to the Veterinary Clinic 10.18, 2024

October is the month when Sachiki-san is given a mixed vaccine.

He is given a rabies vaccine in the spring and a mixed vaccine in the autumn.

Sachiki-san and I moved from Morioka City to Kamaishi City at the end of last month, but I drove more than two hours each way to our favorite veterinary clinic in Morioka City to get his vaccine.

Since the journey had been long, we took a walk in Takamatsu Park nearby the veterinary clinic before vaccination.

Sachiki-san, who didn't know that he was about to get his vaccine, seemed to be happy and excited. (lol)

Mizuaoi Bloomed in the Otsuchi Town Local Assets Utilization Spring Water Area 9.3, 2024

The Otsuchi Town Local Assets Utilization Spring Water Area is located south of Otsuchi Station on the Sanriku Railway.

This area was a residential area before the Great East Japan Earthquake, but after the earthquake it was developed as a park where you can observe the swanps instead of a residential area.

Otsuchi Town is rich in underground water and there were many artesian wells that would gush out water when a pipe was driven into the ground. Water continued to flow from the many wells destroyed in the earthquake, making swanps, where you can see the three-spined stickleback fish, which can only live in clear, cold water, and the Mizuaoi plant, which is a nationally near threatened species. Many other precious plants can be seen.

I heard from an acquaintance that the blue flowers of Mizuaoi-Pontederia were blooming beautifully, so Sachiki-san and I went to see them.

There are car parks and roads in the area.

While walking with Sachiki0san, deer ran by.

Took a Leisurely Stroll around Family Land at Lake Goshoko Regional Park 6.4, 2024

Lake Goshoko Regional Park posted on X that "The poppies are nearing the end of their blooming season. They are scheduled to be mowed on June 6th-7th," so I thought, "I have to go and see them," and hurried over with Sachiki-san.

I had seen the blooming and full bloom information posted on X a half month ago, but I don't act until the last minute. (lol)

Family Land is located on the western edge of Lake Goshoko and is one of the facilities that make up Lake Goshoko Regional Park. It's about a 30-minute drive from my house, which is close to the center of Morioka City.

The poppies were planted in the "Kenji Flower Bed," which is named after Miyazawa Kenji and has a statue of Kenji in the center.

Even though it was nearing the end of its blooming season, it was still beautiful.

According to the person who was taking care of the flower beds, after the poppies are mowed, sunflowers are planted.

It was a weekday morning, so there were not many visitors, and I felt like I had the large park all to ourselves.
We took a leisurely stroll around the spacious garden, which included poppy flower beds, grassy areas, and around the pond, etc.

Shidarezakura-Weeping Cherry Blossoms in Morioka Central Park Looked Like Waterfalls 4.23, 2024

Many Shidarezakura-weeping cherry trees are planted in Morioka Central Park. Now Someiyoshino cherry blossoms has passed its peak, the Shidarezakura cherry blossoms in Central Park are at their best.

The Shidarezakura cherry trees here droop so much that their branches almost touch the ground, so it looks like there are pink waterfalls all over the place.

The black tiled roof and dignified Japanese-style appearance of Morioka Memorial Museum of Great Predecessors harmonize well with the rows of cherry blossom trees.

Morioka Central Park

https://www.city.morioka.iwate.jp/shisetsu/sports/koen/1006914.html

Cosmos Flowers were in Full Bloom at Machiba Area Park in Goshoko Regional Park 10.1, 2023

Sachiki-san, a Samoyed dog who is sensitive to high temperature, used to stay in an air-conditioned room in the daytime during summer without going out. Now the weather has gotten cooler, he is able to go out in the daytime.

I heard that cosmos flowers were in full bloom on the shores of Lake Gosho, so Sachiki-san and I went to see them.

Lake Gosho is a lake created by Gosho Dam, located about 15 km west of the center of Morioka City. It is known for Iwate Morioka Tsunagi Hot Spring located by the lake, but in addition of the hot spring, the surrounding area is also a regional park that exceeds the municipal area and has various facilities.

The place to see cosmos now is one of these facilities, the Machiba area park. It is a park with a panoramic view of Mt. Iwate, which includes a center house with a rest room and a study room, a picnic area where you can enjoy a barbecue, playground equipment, and a flower garden. The park is closed from December to March.

Cosmos flowers are blooming on the other side of the center house.

Sachiki-san seems to prefer sniffing the ground to admiring flowers.

A picnic area and a kitchen building. You can put up a tent in the picnic area, and you can drive your car to the back of the kitchen building when loading and unloading.

Next to the picnic area, there are play equipment and a hill from which you can view the park.

Wild flowers are planted around the hill, which were the subjects of a paintings by Fukazawa Koko, a painter from Morioka.

Took a Walk in the Snow-covered Morioka Central Park 12.17.2022

When Sachiki-san saw snow for the first time in his life, he played with it and didn't take a walk well. However, he has experienced walking on snowy roads several times, so now he walks without playing the snow so much.

When the roads around my house are covered with snow, it becomes difficult to walk and time for a walk becomes shorter, so Sachiki-san and I took a two-hour walk in Morioka Central Park.

Morioka Central Park was a snowy world. The snow that fell the day before yesterday was still there.

The way Sachiki-san runs is somewhat like a rabbit.

He greeted the dogs he met on the way.

Children visit the artificial hill, which can be said to be the symbol of the park, covered with snow to play sledding.

Sachiki-san also climbed the hill.

Walking, running, greeting, I wondered if Sachiki-san was tired. He fell asleep as soon as I put him in the cage on the way home.

Morioka Central Park
https://www.city.morioka.iwate.jp/shisetsu/sports/koen/1006914.html

There were Squirrels at the Iwate Prefectural Sports Park 12.10,2022

Iwate Prefectural Sports Park is located about 6 km northwest of the center of Morioka city. On the site of 24.4 hectares, there is an athletics stadium that accommodates 30,000 people, a soccer/rugby field with two grounds, tennis courts, a sport climbing field, and a baseball field.

A wide road passes through, but cars cannot enter. The sidewalks are also wide, so many people walk their dogs.

There are big trees in the park and squirrels are often seen. On the day I walked with Sachiki-san, I saw total of 5 squirrels crossing the road or climbing trees.

There are two squirrels in the photo below.

Sachiki-san likes people, so he did not see squirrels, but running people.

The Iwate Prefectural Sports Park
https://iwate-sposhin.jp/undou/

Spent a Happy Time in Morioka Central Park 11.12.2022

Morioka Central Park is located about 3 km southwest of the center of Morioka city and about 1 km from Morioka Station. It is a vast park with an area of 28.6 hectares. There are facilities such as Study Museum of Archeological Site, Iwate Museum of Art, Morioka Children's Museum of Science, and Morioka Memorial Museum of Great Predecessors. There is also an artificial hill and an enclosed dog park. Many people take their dogs for walks in the park. However, dogs can only be walked on the park paths and not on the lawn.

Even though we came to a large park, Sachiki-san sniffingly smelled the ground near the parking lots for a short time, and returned to the car.

After returning to the car, I opened the car hatch, and I sat in the luggage space with Sachiki-san and spent a happy time watching the dogs coming and going around.

Morioka Central Park
https://www.city.morioka.iwate.jp/shisetsu/sports/koen/1006914.html

Saw a River at Kichiman Park 11.6.2022

The Kitakami River running north-south through Iwate Prefecture, merges with the Shizukuishi River coming from the west near Morioka Station, and the width of the river widens. There are wide riverbeds near this confluence point, and the riverbed a little downstream is a park.

There are no facilities such as toilets, but the spacious park is suitable for walking.

Sachiki-san saw a river for the first time since he started living with me. It was probably the first time in his life.

He seemed to have little interest in the river.

We had a good view of Mt. Iwate.

Enjoyed Autumn Leaves at Shirataki Shinsui Park 11.1.2022

Sachiki-san and I visited Shirataki Shinsui Park (Shirataki waterfall park) located about 4km east of the center of Morioka city. 

The old highway, called Miyaokaido, which connected the castle town of Morioka and Miyako on the coast in the Edo period, runs through this park. It is a little surprising that this old Miyakokaido is displayed on Google Maps.

Because it is a quiet park in the mountains with few visitors, I was able to enjoy the atmosphere of the road in the Edo period.

It was a little disappointing that there were wooden arbors and bridges that could not be used because they began to corrupt.

We visited here on November 1st. The autumn leaves were beautiful. The leaves on the trees started to fall and I could see the waterfall. This waterfall is not a waterfall where the water falls powerfully, but the water flows over the rock face.