Beyond Suigo Hokusai Park, the torii gate of Mikumano Shrine appeared on the right. I instinctively turned right here too. Since I was running without a plan, my route changed on a whim.
At this shrine, I discovered a 350-year-old giant ginkgo tree with many aerial roots that looked like breasts. An explanatory sign stated that the soil had been improved with subsidies to help restore the tree's vigor.
I tried climbing the slope to Gongen-yama Park behind Mikumano Shrine, but unfortunately, it was overgrown with spider webs. I quickly returned to the path along the river.
When I started running at 6:30 AM, the fog was so thick that even a railway bridge a few hundred meters away was hidden. Amidst this, an elderly person doing exercises called out to me, "Since it's foggy today, it's going to be a clear autumn day."
Thinking, "Is that how it works?", I continued running to Mikumano Shrine, but as I reached the boundary between the Hitachi-Tone River and Lake Kasumigaura (Nishiura) beyond it, the fog gradually cleared. Though still faint, the blue sky began to peek through the clouds.
The overlapping scenery of a faint light blue sky, grey clouds, and white clouds was quite beautiful. It was almost like a landscape painting by William Turner (British), and the gentle light soothed my heart.
As more time passed, just as the elderly person had said, the sky cleared beautifully. Red morning glories shone on the fence along the waterway. I made a mental note that if fog sets in this season, it will lead to a clear autumn day.
It feels like there are relatively many large trees around here. From a distance, they look like temples or shrines, but perhaps they are remnants of mansion forests, with giant trees standing alone among private houses. Perhaps they serve as guardian spirits for the homes.
Before I knew it, I had entered Namegata City. I arrived at "Aso Onsen Shirasaho no Yu," a day-trip hot spring facility, but it hadn't opened yet.
The neighboring Yasaka Shrine is known for the Aso Gion Umadashi Festival held in July (canceled this year due to the coronavirus). Horses are likened to Yamata no Orochi, and they clash with a portable shrine carrying Susanoo-no-Mikoto.
I turned back at Tennouzaki Park on the shore of Lake Kasumigaura, north of Shirasaho no Yu, and headed back towards Itako. This park is popular as a sunset viewing spot.
I mostly run in the early morning, but perhaps it would be nice to run while watching the sunset and then relax in Shirasaho no Yu next time.
Text and Photos by Yoshida (Community Relations Team)