NATURE RAMBLE
WITH SAKE TASTING AND GALLERY VISIT

For a week, rain had been forecast for March 16. Whether in response to the prayers of the participants, or because we were all good men and true, the day dawned clear, proving the weather report false. Twenty-five hearty hikers, including 15 ESUJ members and 10 non-Japanese, gathered safely in Tachikawa at 10:00am. Only ten minutes from Hinatawada, our starting point, the sound of music could be heard. A festival was in full swing! On the way to the plum garden, we enjoyed seeing traditional Japanese culture including Okame, jesters, and the lion dance. It was a festival of Japanese traditional culture. Strolling along under the plum blossom, we headed for our lunch spot, again encountering a group dressed in traditional garb, this time the 12-layered kimono of the court who beckoned to us. The place turned out to be a museum, and most everyone was photographed together with the "Heian Era" representatives. Ignoring exhaustion to hurry up, we arrived at the Kaede Bridge and enjoyed our lunch in the warm sun, by the river gorge. Next up was sake tasting! This seemed to be particularly popular with non-Japanese members of our party, and several of them wished to spend more time here. As a result, the group dispersed, with some going off to a museum of ornamental hairpins (kanzashi), others to the Gyokudo Art Museum. With so many things to see, we changed the final part of our original plan to suit everyone's wishes. We all had a good walk, curing any recent lack of exercise. A final traditional sweet, anmitsu, perked us up, and we safely concluded a day filled with happy pleasure.

At first we had thought such an outing couldn't be successfully done, but now, we would like to hear everyone's opinions on outings together and suggestions for destinations. Thanks to all our wonderful participants! (Machiko Takeda)

NATURE RAMBLE
[Sunday, 16 March 2003]

1. Meeting place: the platform of Oume line bound for Okutama at Tachikawa station

2. Outing ends at: Mitake station of Oume line

3. Meeting time: 10:00 AM Please be on time !

4. Lunch : Bring your own lunch, since restaurant space is limited.

5. Walking distance : 6 kilo meters ( time: 4 hours)

6. Route :
Tachikawa st. 10:18 Hinatawada st. 11:00
Stroll along Yoshino trunk road, Lunch at Kaede bridge 12:00-13:00
Sawanoien (Sake shop) 13:00 arrival (sake tasting and shopping)
Sawanoien 14:00 departure
Gyokudo Art Gallery 14:30 arrival 15:00 (at latest 15:15 ) departure
Mitake station 15:20 Group breaks up

Note
1) Buy your train ticket for Hinatawada if you come to Tachikawa by JR.
2) A Wear walking or hiking shoes.
3) In case of rain: Outing cancelled

( Information)
Return train: Holiday Express Okutama :leaves Mitake Station at 15:41(stops at Tachikawa at 16:29) : arrives at Sshinjuku station at 16:57