Saturday, November 9, 2013

A Trip to Oirase


The day before yesterday was the first day of winter by the old calendar, still we have relatively warm days. Autumn tints are getting beautiful around my neighborhood. I am wondering how autumn colors are now at Oirase Stream(奥入瀬渓流)…

Oirase Stream was always on my place-to-go list and my dream came true last month at last.



The stream flows from Lake Towada; the large caldera lake situated in the northern part of Tōhoku region.

 
Lake Towada







The upper passage of the stream draining this lake is famous for scenic sights as long as 14km long with over a dozen waterfalls cascading down into the stream.

 

 

This is Choushi Ōtaki (銚子大滝、Great Sake or Japanese wine Bottle Fall)  situated upper most part of the stream. It was spectacular.  Some sake lover might have associated the fall with the mouth of sake bottle, from which sake pours forth out of the bottle; the lake.

 


 


 

orangish red seed of Komayumi (小真弓; euonymus alatus)  Its vivid color among unfledged autumn leaves drew my attention.


 

 

Wet fallen leaves under my rain boots on the trail were easy on my knees and eyes. Hotel lent us all necessary outfits from rainboots, umbrellas to raincoats.  Of course I prefer fair day but rain is not that bad. Leaves and trees looked glossy and lustrous because of rain. Changing colors was just beginning.

 

Stream turns rapid currents, dashing against rocks and swirls and then it flows in a steady continuous stream.








Rich water continuously flowing has brought and nurtured new growths on the fallen trees or even on the rocks and has formed what they are now after many years..



 





A lounge at the hotel with a big fireplace made by Taro Okamoto
Leaves outside should be ablaze with autumn colors by now



at night

 
This trip was something special for us three sisters and our spouses.
We came up with this plan to get relaxed and appreciate what we had done to help each other to take care of our aged parents. Each spouse’s cooperation was a great help. Fourteen months later than Mother’s passing away, those taking care days were put an end with an unexpected death of Father in February this year.  These past five years were the time we reunited and strengthened the bond of sisterhood and brothers-in-law hood.  How I was grateful that I had sisters and brothers-in-law as well to share the difficult times with. Now we realize it is the greatest asset our parents left us.

 

47 comments:

  1. Hi,Cosmos
    3人姉妹カップルでの旅行良いですね。いつか私も妹と旅をしたいです。どの奥入瀬渓流も素晴らしいです。厳しい気候の東北、奥入瀬でもこの渓流の水が又自然の営みを育んでいるのですね。今頃はもっと紅葉がすすんでいることでしょう。それにしても雨に備えてのホテルのサービスはすごいですね。天候が変わりやすいのかもしれませんね。東北のホテルラウンジに岡本太郎氏の暖炉が作られていたとは驚きです。実物はきっと迫力があったことと思います。息子の奥さんの実家が秋田市なんです。私達もいつかゆっくり東北の旅をしたいです。
    良い週末を!Cosmos,
    Tomoko

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    1. 長靴は助かりました。傾斜のきつくない自然道で、足元を気にせず歩けました。奥入瀬渓流の入り口にあるホテルで、散策コースも豊富でもっと長くいたかったなと思います。行きは三沢空港着、帰りは青森空港からだったので帰りの八甲田十和田ゴールドラインのブナ林がまさにゴールドラインでした。
      青森も予想以上の都会で驚きでした。秋田ですか。いいでしょうね。是非妹さんとの東北の旅、実現させて下さいね。いつもありがとう。

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  2. This is an interesting piece of writing, especially from the perspective of "contrastive rhetoric". Were you impressed by that phrase? It sounds very impressive and imposing, doesn't it? It is a technical and academic expression, but it does a very bad job of expressing what I experience, as an English-speaker, when I read your piece. I begin with the title, and having understood it (although I do not know Oirase, I can guess it is a place-name and the place is somewhere in Japan, and that it is probably famous because you don't write " a trip to a stream"), I assume I know what the blog will be about. Then I come to the final paragraph - in English, the "conclusion" - and then... surprise, even shock! This piece was not about Oirase stream at all. The main topic is the passing away of the author's parents. I feel a little tricked: how deceitful to put this crucial information only at the end! This is verging on dishonesty! Why is the title "Visit to Oirase" when the real topic is the passing away of parents? But after a while, my righteous indignation melts away, and I begin to appreciate this literary technique. By putting this information at the end, it "colours" the whole preceding paragraphs, and tinges it with sadness. Yet at the same time, the description and photos of the natural landscape also "colour" the mention of the bereavement, so that the overall effect is one of nostalgia rather than grief. It is a muted sadness, rather like the feeling one gets when one looks at all those falling and fallen leaves, and trees gradually becoming barer and barer as winter inetivably approaches. Such scenes evoke awareness of human mortality in most people regardless of culture. The effect is very neat, yet naturally, not artificially so.

    It seems to be a Japanese rhetorical pattern to put some key information at the end of a piece of writing. I notice that "Totto-chan" author does the same in the last sentence of each section of her book. Your writing becomes far richer and more memorable and meaningful than the chatty "Japan Guide" piece you linked to (http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo13/131030.html).

    Thank you for sharing this.

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    1. Shefi, thank you for visiting and commenting. Actually I am a bit surprised to get this kind of candid but so deeply appreciative comment. I understand how you felt discomfort to read this arbitrary writing style not observing English writing style. I m afraid I don't understand exactly what technical and academic "contrastive rhetoric" is but I may be influenced by Japanese writing style without noticing. Anyway I am thankful for your leniency that your righteous indignation melted away:-)
      I like your expression "the description and photos of the natural landscape also "colour" the mention of the bereavement, so that the overall effect is one of nostalgia rather than grief". I feel so happy your deeper thoughtfullness drew more significant meaning out of my piece, though your over-appreciation made me blush a little:)

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  3. とても清々しい渓流、こまやかな記述、そして故御両親への今ある感謝と御兄弟への思い。美しいポストです。

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    1. 残念ながら滞在中はずっと雨で、水かさも増えているようでした。でも思い出深いものがあります。この2年のうちに私の両親、主人の母を見送って時の流れを強く感じます。ふと振り返って、やはり感謝の気持ちが自然とわいてくるようになりました。兄弟姉妹への思いもあらためて確認しあえた旅だったと思います。

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  4. cosmosさん この度のお出かけをとても楽しみにされておられた訳がわかるようです。
    仲の良い姉妹ご夫婦とご一緒できるのは、どんな時も分かち合った絆があるからなのでしょうね。

    苔むした岩、おおかぶさる木々、様々な形の葉の中を生き物のように流れる渓流。 
    cosmosさんがその景色を心から楽しんでおられる気持ちが伝わってきます。

    岡本太郎のモニュメントが印象的な素敵なホテル。
    開口部の大きな窓は癒し効果満点ですね。 (*'o'*)

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    1. 母の介護、父のサポートの5年間で、深まった兄弟姉妹の絆が今回の慰労の旅になりました。若いころはそれなりのライバル意識もあったのですが、今はお互いの良さを認め合い、励ましあえるようになりました。渓流散策では集合時間だけ決めておいて、男性陣はそれぞれ自分の好きなペースで動き、我々は一緒に歩きました。短歌の得意な姉、ITに強い妹、それに重いカメラをさげて恰好だけは一人前の私。「川の流れのように」緩急のあるだろうこれからの人生も、彼らに助けられ励まされることだろうと思いました。来年もまた6人旅を計画するつもりです。Anzuさん、いつもありがとうございます。

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  5. What a beautiful place--nature at its best. The everchanging water and leaves are inspiring and poetic. Your heartfelt description of your time with your sisters and their husbands (and what you have been through together, was very moving. A perfect post--the writing and the pictures!

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    1. Thank you Jen, as always.What we have been through together, with whoever or wahtever, has become treasure twofold or threefold as much.
      Like nature at the stream has embraced the ragged rocks, we have come to feel reassured with warm feeling.

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  6. Hello Cosmos!
    Beautiful shots of water rushing over stones and waterfalls.........your photo sequence has really given a sense of movement. I really like the fireplace and large windows with views of the trees. I'm not sure when Winter should arrive here but I think it's around the beginning of December.
    Wonderful for you all to escape to this lovely place together - so often I think,the death of parents brings family closer together.
    Thank you for sharing this......enjoy your week,

    Ruby

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    1. Hello Ruby!
      The weather forecast says temperature will drop to 4 degrees celsius here tomorrow morning; seven degrees difference from that of today. Autumn colors must get deeper and more beautiful. The big fireplace made by a famous sculpter and painter Taro Okamoto is named "myth of the forest". It looked simple but compelling and powerful.
      Enjoy your week too, Ruby!

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    2. I love this title,it seems very appropriate. I'm surprised that your temperatures are very similar to ours right now as there is quite a difference in latitude.

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  7. 川の流れのように生きられたご両親、その後ろ姿を追いつつ山あり谷ありの人生をこれからも助け合い感謝しながら生きていかれるであろう残された皆さま、現実と思い出が奥入瀬の流れに投影され美しいポストです。今頃は紅葉真っ盛りでしょうね。

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    1. まだ色々と忙しい事でしょうにコメント下さってありがとう。
      旅行の後ふとした時に妹が、「母も一緒に連れて行ってあげたかったから」と、母の愛用のポシェットを持ってきていたことを知りました。母が一番かわいがった妹なのがわかったように思いました。私も姉も、その妹の思いに心を打たれました。母もきっととても喜んでいたと思います。

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  8. ご両親の愛は、大きく深いですね。姉妹兄弟への素直な感謝の気持ちを述べられているのも、コスモスさんらしいと、思います。とても美しい叙情文です。
    奥入瀬の流れも豊かで秋の始まりを感じさせます。
    Have a nice week!

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    1. サラさん、ありがとう。信州すばらしかったでしょうね。寒くはなかったですか?信州や東北、北海道・・・行きたいところは一杯あって・・・写真また見せてくださいね。サラさんの写真はいつも秋晴れのようにクリアーでスカッとしてダイナミックで好きです。

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  9. I only need to look at your photos to feel calm. I would go mad -- I really would! -- if I had to live in Tokyo non-stop without the opportunity to escape into the mountains.

    PS: Your photos are further proof that autumn really is the best season. So beautiful. Thanks!

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    1. Ru, I know how you'd escape into the mountains, though your beloved sky tree can be seen every day from your place!
      It was a bit early for autumn leaves in full swing there, however, the first trip of six members was quite successful:)

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  10. Wow - what peaceful and dreamy autumn shots. That fireplace hood is amazing!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, ladyfi. I'd like to see how you'd capture this landscape through your camera.

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  11. Those were beautiful pictures-the place seems heavenly.
    The last para brought me back to the harsh reality of life.

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    1. The weather report says autumn leaves there was over, still in my mind remain the beautiful river, tress, mosses..and fun memory. "the harsh reality of life" can't be unavoidable but there's always some repose in life.
      Thank you for coming, jeeteraho.

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  12. こんばんは。奥入瀬渓流を主に歩かれたのですか。思い出深い旅の様でしたね。ご両親の介護をして姉妹の絆が深まった事はとても素晴らしい事で、とても感動しました。 ご両親もとても喜ばれていらしたのだろうと想像してます。

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    1. 2泊3日の旅はあっという間でした。奥入瀬渓流入口にあるホテルをベースにつた沼、奥入瀬渓流を散策しました。もっと歩いてみたかったなと思っています。食事がおいしいのも感激でした。男性陣のお酒も一段とすすんだようです^ ^

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  13. I think the power of nature (change of seasons, flowing water, rain) is meant to subdue our "flaming" emotions, to soothe us and round off our edges like the stream does for the jagged rocks. You've done such a beautiful job of showing us the subtle transitions from grief to acceptance of death and then embracing life. I enjoyed reading Shefi's impressions too. Thank you, Cosmos, for your wonderful posts and thoughtful comments.

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    1. I always have difficulty writing in Engish so I admire how well you express sensitively and sensibly what I want to say.
      Thank you for your beautiful wordings and beautiful comment, w2w.

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  14. こんばんは

    奥入瀬にいらしたんですね! 本当によかったですね。奥入瀬は高校二年の秋に行ったきりです。ぼんやり記憶にあるだけで、と言うのも当時は友人とのおしゃべりに夢中でろくろく景色を見てませんでした。 ああ、また行きたいなぁ! 
    ご両親に対してとてもよくなさっていたことは、これまでの記事から拝察いたしておりました。 みなさん、そろって奥入瀬を楽しむことができて、ご両親もさぞ喜ばれていることでしょう。 寒くなるようです。ご自愛くださいね。

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    1. 一度は行ってみたい所だったんです。それが今回、両親を見送りその間深まった絆をこれからも大切にしていきたいというお互いの思いも実り、いい旅になりました。世代交代をしみじみ感じます。今回は妹夫婦が担当してくれましたが、来年は我々夫婦の番です。さてどこにしようかな~と考えている所です。Saphireさんもお体お大事に。

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  15. This is a very beautiful place with lovely colors of autumn. I like the waterfall very much. In on one of the pictures it looks like it's turquoise waters amidst the white.
    I do not know how cold it is in winter time at your place.. here it is still "warm" not any snow.

    Happy weekend!:-)

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    1. Hello, Tania! I thought you liked the waterfall. ActuallyI hadn't noticed turquoise water till I saw it in this photo.It was
      beautiful and powerful. Here autumn leaves are expected to be at their best before long but in northernpart of Japan, a heavy snow was reported the other day.
      Enjoy your "warm" days, Tania!

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  16. I am glad that you finally made the trip you had dreamed of. I usually really enjoy your photos, and I am sad that for some reason my computer is not showing most of them. But I was so impressed by the magnificent fireplace by Taro Okamoto. I will look up more work by Taro Okamoto. I was intrigued by Choushi Ōtaki as although it does not look a particular tall waterfall it seems a very unusual and special one, perhaps it is the way that the water seems to fly out of it, almost as if it is bubbling. I wonder if it looks that way in real life, or only in the photographs. I will revisit your blog again in the hope that the pictures will load for me. My computer has been running very slowly recently and it might be that this is the cause of the problem with the pictures loading.

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    1. Jenny, I have the same trouble with my pc. It is very unstable and I have to nurse carefully to keep it working.
      The fall is not tall as you say, it is about 15m wide and 7m tall but the biggest one of all falls here. It is so powerful that they say it keeps fishes from swimming up to the lake above. Thank you for coming, Jenny, in spite of an inconvenience.

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  17. 私は男兄弟しかいないもので、いとこの姉妹がとても仲良くしてるのをいつも羨ましく思ってます。2年前に父を無くした時弟と看病したのですがお互い仕事で忙しく絆を深め合うまで至らなかったのは残念でした。無くなられたご両親様もcosmosさん姉妹の絆を感じ取られているのではないでしょうか。
    凄く素敵なホテルに滞在されたんですね。こういう気遣いって日本のホテルでしか体験出来ないような気がします。
    お体ご自愛ください。

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    1. 私の主人は3人兄弟の真ん中、私は3人姉妹の真ん中なんです^ ^ 主人の兄弟夫婦とも旅行しています。男兄弟ってお互いあまりペチャクチャはしないものですね。でも序列はしっかりあって、お互いその立場を尊敬し守っているのがうまく機能しているように思います。私達義姉妹が気の置けない間柄なのでその旅行もとても楽しいです。
      滞在したホテルは星野リゾートの一つでしたが、料理もおいしかったし、環境もすばらしく大満足でした!訪問、ありがとうございました。

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  18. cosmosさん、こんばんわ。

    とても遠方に向われたんですね。 さぞかし、人の気配も少なく大自然を満喫されたことでしょう。
    宿泊施設もその自然を生かして、取り込んでいる建築のようです。 素敵ですね。

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    1. 奥入瀬ファンは多いと思います。特に紅葉シーズンは人気スポットだと思います。渓流沿いに車道もあるので歩くのが苦手な方でも楽しめます。シーズン最盛期には車道は規制されるようですが。ホテルが雨具一式を滞在客のために揃えている配慮には驚きました。きっと雨も多いのかもしれません。ほんとに素敵な所でした。

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  19. Hello, cosmos.

      Lovely your works, full of joy.

      Thank you World-wide LOVE, and your Support in this year.
      The prayer for all peace.

    Merry Christmas, and A happy New Year for you and yours.
    ruma ❃

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    1. I feel grateful for your friendship and support, ruma, throughout this year.
      Wishing a happy new year for you and yours too!

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  20. Japan is beatiful and sisterhood is a great thing.
    Happy New Year, dear cosmos!

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    1. Dear tattina
      I do believe your country is beautiful as well. My daugher visited Russia this year and was deeply impressed !
      Wishing you and yours very happy New Year!

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  21. Cosmosさん Merry Christmas ! 
    今年のクリスマスには大勢の新米サンタさんから
    Sho-kunへ 素敵なプレゼントがたくさん届いたことでしょう!

    あっという間に 今年もあと数日となりましたね。
    今年も Cosmosさんから優しいコメントをたくさん頂きました事
    大変感謝しています。 ありがとございました ('-'*) thanks ♪

    Cosmosさんの日々をブログで拝見できるのを楽しみにしながら、
    何時も ご家族のご健康とご活躍を心からお祈りしています。

    Best wishes for a happy new year !




    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anzuさん、うれしいメッセージありがとうございます。パソコンを新調したゴタゴタや、乗り換えたプロバイダーのネット利用規制(契約の時、その件は良く理解していなくて)などで、ブログも控えていました。通信量をチェックしながら、またボツボツ再開していこうと思っています。
      私にはない感性をお持ちのAnzuさんの温かいコメントは、励みにもなり楽しみでした。またよろしくお願いします。
      どうぞお体に気を付けて、ご家族皆さま良いお年をお迎え下さい。

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  22. I know I am late here but I was meaning to write to you since the past so many days. Now finally, I am here.

    Looks like I had missed this post, the colors are so beautiful and the place - paradise. Your description complements the place beautifully. I am sure it turned out to be one memorable evening for you. Your bond you share with your sisters and brothers in law is so heartening to read: such relationships are a gift from the above and they are truly 'priceless'. May this year bring lots of joy, smiles, happiness for you each and every day, here's wishing you a wonderful 2014. How is Koo? I hope he is indulging in lesser mischief's now, one naughty fellow!! Happy new year to you and your family, dear cosmos. Do keep blogging, I miss you and your posts -- take care. :)

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  23. Dear Arti,
    I'm sorry I have been inactive at all in blogging for some reason but I feel so grateful to you for your kind and heartfelt words!
    At this part of the world, we've been in cold air mass, however, we haven't had snow aroud here yet.
    Coo is doing fine:) Thank you for asking. He has come to sit on my lap when I am relaxing on a sofa. It took three years for him to do so. He was so poor at fawning on us except when pestering for meals!

    How is your 2014 started? I'm sure you are having happy and fruitful days, Arti!

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  24. °♪♬♫º°

    Post super lindo. Paisagens magníficas!

    °º✿♫ Bom fim de semana!
    °º✿ Beijinhos.
    º° ✿✿ ♫° ·.

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  25. Dear Cosmos, I miss your beautiful posts and I hope you're getting along fine, and that you will feel like posting again soon!

    I hope 2014 has been good for you so far.

    ReplyDelete

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