Discovering More Hidden Corners, A Piece of History

First, a little summary in my mother tongue:
この前の土曜日（小生の誕生日）は横浜線を越え、これまで行ったことがなかった新治市民の森・若葉台を経て三ツ境まで踏破
とても気持ちよく、更に探求心？をかきたてられたので、5日ぶりに雨が止んだ今日（5月22日）は三ツ境から更に南を目指しました

A week earlier, I went for an 18-kilometer hike straight south from where I live. It was so refreshing, I wanted to see what scenery lies beyond the end point of that hike.
After that hike we had 5 straight days of rain, clouds, and no sunshine – but today (May 22) the precipitation subsided.
How could I miss the opportunity?

A Very “Japanese” Start

When I arrive in Mitsukyo station 三ツ境駅 to start my hike, I suddenly find myself very hungry in spite of the breakfast I had.
It’s never a good idea to hike on an empty stomach, so it’s time for a matcha tea latte and cookie. Starbucks and Tsutaya Books make a very elegant combination.

I head south from Mitsukyo and pass by numerous houses with hydrangea blossoms on the front.
There is something special about the way these blossoms brighten up a cloudy, rainy, gloomy day. Not in a gaudy way, but in a distinctively soft and gentle way.

About 15-20 minutes after departing Mitsukyo, I arrive at my first stop, Nagayamon Park 長屋門公園.
This lovingly preserved Japanese farm house is open to the public, with free admission.

I find a pond to the left of the house, equipped with a quintessentially Japanese accessory called the shishi-odoshi 鹿威し (“scaredeer”).
More on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shishi-odoshi
Turn up the volume and see how the flowing water pushes down the bamboo to create that soothing sound.

Thoughts, Thoughts

I do sometimes come across not-so-pleasant scenes during this kind of hike.
I had planned on stopping by a farm selling fresh ice cream, but with the latte and cookie in my tummy I pass it up and take a different path.
Between my 3rd and 6th kilometers I wander into an agricultural area dotted with numerous waste dumps. No mood for photography.

Then I start thinking about how I am one of the millions of people who throw things away – things that end up in landfills and dumps.
The other day, I took to the repair shop a UK-made backpack which I bought in Penang more than 4 years ago. The shop manager quoted a price for zipper replacement which was about the same as the purchase price of the backpack, but I went ahead and prepaid the fee.
It is tempting to throw away and get a new pack, but I chose to keep repair technicians in business and lessen our consumption of precious resources.

Hidden Gem of History

After a half hour of not-so-pleasant territory, it’s nice to go down a “flower staircase” and enjoy the view as I cross from Seya Ward 瀬谷区 into Izumi Ward 泉区.
Bees and moths are busy doing their rounds.

I descend into a river basin and find another impressive-looking piece of architecture called the Nakamaru Farm House 中丸家長屋門.
This is an active farm house, and NOT open to the public beyond the information signage at the entrance.

The signs indicate that Sadaemon Nakamaru, an ancestor of the current owner, was baptized into the Christian faith in 1885 by an American Reformed missionary named James Hamilton Ballagh. This estate used to have a church onsite between 1886 and 1897.
Ballagh, who served in this country from 1861 (when the shogun was still in power) to 1919, was one of many missionaries who devoted their lives to bringing the Gospel to Japan. During this time the Lord used him to establish the Yokohama Kaigan Church, Japan’s very first Protestant church, in 1872.
You can read more on Ballagh and his mission at the Rutgers University website: https://sites.rutgers.edu/rutgers-meets-japan/james-ballagh/
Or on the Yokohama Kaigan Church website: https://www.kaiganchurch.or.jp/history-of-yokohama-kaigan-church/

Keeping It Clean

Continuing down the river after a short water stop. Howdy, Mr Turtle?

The owners of this home sure know how to make a back street beautiful!

Passing by Nakata Elementary School 中田小学校 which has decorated its fences with posters reminding us to help keep the school and streets clean.
One poster portrays various forms of litter making life miserable for various forms of life.

I hope someone will harvest these cabbages soon – better to end up in human mouths than in crows’ beaks!

Time for lunch at Denny’s next to the city subway’s Odoriba station 踊場駅.
This cheese baked rice with shrimp is a far cry from Lung Mun Cafe in Hong Kong, but still very satisfying for this hungry boy.

Continuing down the back streets of Totsuka Ward 戸塚区 and into Totsuka Park 戸塚公園 . Signs indicate that this is a good place to watch fireflies at night – and remind us to keep quiet because houses are right nearby.

Don’t worry – the bag at right belongs to a gentleman who was picking up the litter that others left behind.

More vertical topography as I descend from Totsuka Park. It’s encouraging to find a church on a main road, as opposed to a back street – but I hope the traffic is not too heavy during worship services.