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- 5th ONSEN Gastronomy Walking in Nagato & Tawarayama Onsen
5th ONSEN Gastronomy Walking in Nagato & Tawarayama Onsen
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Last updated:
Nov 16, 2019
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About the writer:
Nagato Tourism Convention Association
Yoga experience at Tawarayama Spa Stadium
On Saturday, November 9, the 5th "ONSEN Gastronomy Walking in Nagato/Tawarayama Onsen" was held.
Nearly half of the participants this time came from outside the prefecture, more than double the 150 who attended the previous event.
The starting point is the Tawarayama Spa Stadium, a multi-purpose exchange plaza in Nagato City's Tawarayama, which is also the training site for the Canadian national team for Rugby World Cup 2019.
First, participants experienced yoga in the center of the grounds to relax their minds and bodies.
It also relaxes the muscles necessary for walking long distances.
Many of the participants were doing yoga for the first time, and at the end of the experience, some went to thank yoga instructor Kanako Fujii.
Thanks to yoga, we are all ready.
Heading to the starting point in good spirits.
Start walking in search of autumn
Participants were divided into three groups and departed at different times.
The rain that had been falling steadily since the morning has stopped, and blue skies are now in the air.
We took a commemorative photo, and then we were off!
Soon after the start, we found a beautifully colored ginkgo tree.
They were seen taking pictures with cameras hanging from their necks.
Passing through a small path is the Tawarayama hot spring resort area.
Participants will proceed by finding signs and ribbons placed throughout the course.
We arrived at the first gastro point, Onsenkaku.
Upon entering, one's eyes are drawn to the beautiful table settings.
Here, we were served the famous "Tawarayama Gastro Plate" with gibier from the satoyama and seasonal autumn vegetables as an appetizer.
list of articles (e.g. in a magazine)
- Gastro Plate
(smoked deer, sesame tofu, deep-fried vegetables, chestnut chakin) - Mushroom Soup
- wild tea
- Local sake Mukatsuku (made from terraced rice Hinohikari produced in Aburatani-Mukozugu, Nagato City)
Get My Yuzukichi
As you proceed to the second experience point, you will see the Yuzukichi Field.
Here, you will experience Gastro's first "Yuzukichi mini harvest".
This is Nagato Yuzukichi, a citrus original to Yamaguchi Prefecture.
From fall to early winter, the skin turns yellow and the amount of pulp and juice increases further.
Participants harvested up to five per person using special scissors.
Many people harvest the blue and yellow berries respectively, and some even go deep into the field.
Take a break at Forest Rest
It's time to start feeling a little hungry.
The second gastropoint, Fukuoji, appeared in the middle of the road.
The smoke is rising, and I am intrigued to see what is there.
First, take a sigh of relief with a bowl of warm sweet porridge in hand.
Visitors can sit on benches to rest their feet and chat with locals while they wait for their yakitori (grilled Choshu Black Kashiwa chicken) and baked potatoes to be finished.
Those who got the long-awaited baked potatoes and yakitori were all smiles.
The temperature that day was not so low, but warm food seems to relieve the body.
list of articles (e.g. in a magazine)
- Charcoal Grilled Choshu Black Kiwi Wings
- baked sweet potato
- sweet rice gruel
- wild tea
- Local Sake Otters
(Agricultural cooperative "Hotaru Farm Tawarayama" grows the sake rice "Yamada Nishiki" which is used to make Japanese sake Otters)
Total length 9 km, new course
This new course was a continuation of the previous one. The course was 9 km long and crossed mountains along the way.
We thought the course might be a little tough, but everyone had recovered enough at the second gastro point to enjoy the walk.
Thanks to the rain, the cedar grove has a moist atmosphere.
In this quiet space, we will head to the next gastropoint while taking a forest bath.
Seafood for the first time
After crossing the mountain, there is a water point.
Quench your thirst and get ready to go one step further.
After following the path from the water supply point, we arrived at the third gastro point, Zoubusan Sainenji Temple.
Some of the trees had beautifully colored leaves, and some people stopped to admire them.
The faces of the participants who had crossed the mountains looked tired.
Nevertheless, I was very encouraged by the smiling faces of the locals who welcomed me.
At this gastropoint, you will be treated to the pride of seafood nurtured by the beautiful sea and excellent environment of Nagato City.
list of articles (e.g. in a magazine)
- Semura oyster (rock oyster)
- tiger-striped stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
- rice cooked with tawarayama rice
- Pickles in Satoyama
- wild tea
- Misuzu local sake (Junmai Daiginjo-shu made by polishing "Saito no Shizuku" up to 50%)
Enjoy delicious seafood while resting your tired feet. Sake will also be served.
Many people took a little longer break here, and some were checking the course ahead.
When they re-started, some were reluctant to leave and took pictures of the autumn leaves once more.
Although the speed of the autumn leaves was slow this year and they did not reach their peak, we hope you enjoyed the contrast between the green leaves and the red leaves.
Scenery of Tawarayama in autumn
The road to the next point is mostly flat.
We enjoyed walking in the midst of it all, finding lots of autumn.
The first thing I found was cosmos, which still remained a little.
The cosmos fluttering in the soft breeze seemed to be waving to the participants.
Next, persimmons.
At the second gastropoint, "Fukuoji," a few persimmons were kindly provided.
Because of the flat road, I think it was the conversation that led to such comments as, "That was delicious," and "I want to try that again.
As we continued on, we found a large ginkgo tree.
I think there were many couples participating this time.
It was so funny to see them walking around together, talking amiably, and we received such wonderful smiles.
This fall, both the colors and temperatures are progressing slowly.
But if you look closely, autumn was scattered all over the place.
Walking, enjoying the seasons, and conversation.
These may be the best part of the event.
Gastro's specialty reappears
Finally, the final gastropoint, Satoyama Station Tawarayama.
There were smiles on the faces of the participants as they arrived, excited to see what they would end up eating.
list of articles (e.g. in a magazine)
- Tawarayama Oden
- satoyama soba (buckwheat noodles)
- wild tea
- Local sake Horebore (ginmai ginjo-shu made from Tawarayama's sake rice "Isehikari")
Here, "Tawarayama Oden," which was very popular last time, makes a return appearance.
The flavor was so rich and indescribably delicious that we heard happy comments such as "This is delicious," "I wonder how they make this," and "I want to learn how to make this.
The specially created terrace seats were full.
It looked so nice to see them eating in the warm sunlight.
Good work and thank you
Once you leave the final gastropoint, it's time for the last spurt.
I wondered what was going on as the participants in front of me were waving at me, and then I found them waving at me from the Satoyama station.
It was wonderful for both staff and participants to be able to get to know each other in this way, even though it was only for a short time.
Feeling good about the re-start, the weather is improving, and our stomachs are full, so we naturally pick up the pace of our walk.
Just before the goal, a cute scarecrow appeared.
The small flag in his hand says "Good job," "You walked well," and "Come again.
And finally, the goal!
The bubbling smiles on the participants' faces seemed to reflect their sense of accomplishment over the 9-km distance.
I felt that the space in which "thank you for your hard work" from the staff and "it was fun" and "thank you" from the participants went back and forth meant, above all, that this event was a success.
Participants will receive a souvenir and a bath ticket at the end of the tour.
list of articles (e.g. in a magazine)
- rice pudding
- three wise monkeys (who "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil")
- Hot Yuzu Tea
At the goal location, vegetables, pickles, and small leather goods produced in the Tawarayama area are sold.
We spent free time after the goal, taking our time to talk with local people and touch their products.
During the event, many participants expressed their desire to return to Tawarayama and participate in the next event.
It was a great pleasure to see visitors again this year enjoying the autumn in Tawarayama while "exploring," "eating," and "bathing," and most of all, to see them leave the venue with smiles on their faces.
Next year's event has not yet been decided, but we hope it will be an event where we can meet again in Tawarayama and say "I'm home" and "welcome back.
