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A view from Kashiwagiyama, and time for a bath, sweets and udon

A mountain view, wooden figures and a longer walk than expected. Alongside that memory, Haruru’s notes hold another pleasure: soft shiri-mochi, a leisurely bath and cold udon with vegetable tempura. These two June 2023 records keep both the walking and the food in view.

Two personal notes saved on 25 and 26 June 2023, with the mountain walk and the later note about bathing and food kept distinct.

The view from Kashiwagiyama’s summit

Haruru reached Kashiwagiyama’s summit sooner than she had expected. This much walking felt manageable to her, and the view made it a pleasant place to stop.

The summit sign reads Kashiwagiyama, 303 metres. Wooden figures stand among the greenery, while the hills stretch into the distance. One photograph shows sushi rolls, containers of food and a cake set out on a wooden bench with the view behind them.

The view from Kashiwagiyama’s summit — Haruru’s photograph
The view from Kashiwagiyama’s summit — Haruru’s photograph
The view from Kashiwagiyama’s summit — Haruru’s photograph
The view from Kashiwagiyama’s summit — Haruru’s photograph

Trees, light and small details along the walk

Away from the open view, the photographs return to the trees: tall trunks, green undergrowth and light falling through the leaves. A large hollow in one trunk gives the forest a different shape from the summit scenery.

Haruru remembered the woodland as part of what made the walk enjoyable. The small wooden figures at the top were another detail she liked.

Trees, light and small details along the walk — Haruru’s photograph
Trees, light and small details along the walk — Haruru’s photograph
Trees, light and small details along the walk — Haruru’s photograph
Trees, light and small details along the walk — Haruru’s photograph
Trees, light and small details along the walk — Haruru’s photograph
Trees, light and small details along the walk — Haruru’s photograph

A detour that felt much longer

She had meant to head towards another mountain, but lost her way and came out on a main road. From there, she kept walking towards the car park.

At the point she wrote about, she had already walked seven kilometres and still had another 2.4 kilometres to go. Seeing a bus made her want to call out for a ride. The easy arrival at the summit had turned into a tiring walk back.

A detour that felt much longer — Haruru’s photograph

Shiri-mochi to take home

The note saved the following day turns to food and a bath. Haruru bought shiri-mochi as a souvenir, and her photograph shows six white sweets stamped with the name.

She had not eaten them for a while. Their soft texture and the bean filling tasted good to her, making them a happy part of the outing.

Shiri-mochi to take home — Haruru’s photograph

A leisurely stop at Sawarabi no Yu

A wooded hillside surrounds the bathhouse in the photograph. The wooden sign inside reads Sawarabi no Yu.

Haruru stopped for a bath and took her time. The Kintokiyama trip she had planned had not happened, but bathing and eating still made for a very enjoyable day.

A leisurely stop at Sawarabi no Yu — Haruru’s photograph
A leisurely stop at Sawarabi no Yu — Haruru’s photograph

Cold udon and vegetable tempura for dinner

Dinner was at a handmade udon restaurant. She chose cold udon with grated yam and added vegetable tempura. The photograph brings the noodles, a separate bowl of grated yam, dipping broth and a generous plate of tempura together on the tray.

She felt she had eaten plenty again. Looking ahead, she planned to pause trekking until autumn and enjoy trips centred on baths and food in the meantime.

Cold udon and vegetable tempura for dinner — Haruru’s photograph

Sources for this account

Haruru’s two personal notes saved in June 2023, edited and shared with her permission. The saved dates identify the records; the accounts retain her own plans, experiences and impressions.