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)

Gravel at Jodogahama was White, so White Dog didn't Stand out 11/11/2024

Jodogahama in Miyako City. It is one of the attractions of Sanriku tourism.
My father's family home was near Jodogahama, so I have memories of my uncle taking me there when I went to visit my grandmother as a child.
I had always wanted to take a walk on Jodogahama with Sachiki-san, but during the high season from April 1st to October 31st, there are traffic restrictions and general vehicles cannot go to the place that is famous in tourist posters, so I went this month when the traffic restrictions were lifted.

We arrived at almost 3pm, so the shadow of the mountain reached to the peninsula.

We walked on the promenade along the coast with Sachiki-san.
There were few people and no trash on the ground, so I was able to enjoy the scenery with peace of mind. During our regular walks, I always look at Sachiki-san and the ground around us to make sure he doesn't pick up and eat trash (lol).

The gravel at Jodogahama is white, so the white dog doesn't stand out very much. It doesn't look good in photos (lol). That's partly because it's been a while since Sachiki-san's last shampoo, and he's little dirty (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.

Played with a Siberian Husky Girl at Seagull Park 8/17/2024

This afternoon, the temperature was about 28°C, but there was no sunshine, so I thought, "This is a chance!" and went to Seagull Park, a dog park in the city, for the first time in a while.

A Siberian Husky girl was at the dog park.

It seems that owners of northern dogs think the same thing. (lol)

Since Sachiki-san became an adult, he has a hard time getting along with boys, perhaps because he thinks of them as rivals, but he can get along with girls. (lol)

This Siberian Husky girl was full of energy and kept coming at Sachiki-san, so Sachiki-san got thrown off balance. Sachiki-san got punched in the face (lol)

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.

Hydrangeas at Tenshochi have Started to Bloom 6.19, 2024

Tenshochi in Kitakami City is known as one of the three major cherry blossom viewing spots in the Tohoku region. Hydrangeas are planted along the bicycle and pedestrian path that runs alongside the cherry blossom trees, making it a place where you can enjoy beautiful flowers even other than cherry blossom season.

Hydrangeas have started to bloom near my house, so I and Sachiki-san went to see them at Tenshochi, thinking that they would also be starting to bloom.

The bicycle and pedestrian path is in the shade of the cherry blossom trees in the morning, so even Sachiki-san, who gets hot easily, can walk comfortably.

The hydrangeas have just started to bloom, but some trees are already in full bloom.

There are various facilities around Tenshochi. (Pets are not allowed)