Visited a friend of mine to relax in the area of Mt. Yatsugatake. Took a few slow, local trains using holiday discount ticket, but an accident in Musashi-Koganei affected the trains' schedule although I was near Hachioji to Takao and going further away, so it didn't make sense to me why trains stopped. The autumnal colors are just coming in to the pictured pond with the altitude of about 1400 meters, and they should completely change the view in a week.
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| The moon and a bird up in the sky over the Lake Misuzu |
富士見高原に行くとカートで見晴らしの良い公園に行けるとの情報に誘われて出かけてみた。4人乗りのカートが2100円/1台の料金。歩くのとさほど変わらない速度でゆっくりと進むひたすら自動運転で、カーブ13本の坂道を25分くらいかけて山頂の見晴台に到着。土日祝日は高原リゾートのリフトもあるようで、多分そちらの方が速そう。晴天に恵まれ、左手の富士山から右に甲斐駒のさらに先まで見渡せる大パノラマは圧巻だった。この公園は見晴台が3箇所あり、さらに彫刻アートが数多く置かれているのだが、案内や情報整備が支離滅裂でセンスに欠けるという感じなのが残念だ。
We drove to Fujimi-Kogen being inspired by the information about a splendid view available in Fujimi-Kogen where you take a cart to the uphill garden. Each cart for max 4 people cost 2100 Yen, and it automatically climbed very slowly, almost comparable to walking, taking 25 minutes or so until you reach the hilltop after 13 slope curves. Another option of transportations is the ski-lift available in the weekends that would be faster.
The weather was superb and views were gorgeously panoramic with Mt. Fuji on the left scanning through Mt. Kai-Kona on the right and beyond. There were 3 different buena vista points and many sculptures like an outdoor museum in this garden, but the system and the displays for information were totally disorganized lacking sense of intelligence which was unfortunate.
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| A gorgeous, panoramic view from Fujimi-Kogen |
日曜日に野辺山駅から小海線を北上、小諸経由で軽井沢へ、そこからバスに乗って北軽井沢のハイランドパークに向かう。目的は杜のクラフトフェア、小さな工房が集まって作品展示と即売のイベントだ。ここには誰も大成功を収めた作者はいないと思うが、素敵な作品もチラホラと並んでいるので、気に入ったものを少しでも購入すれば彼らへの一助にはなるだろう。
On Sunday, I took trains again to the north from Nobeyama with the highest altitude of all stations in Japan, to Karuizawa via Komoro, and then took a bus to Asama Highland Park where a craft fair was taking place with numbers of small craftsmen and design houses of wooden works, potteries, glassware, lacquerware, knittings, and etc. None of them seemed quite successful in business, but there are some nice products, and I felt happy buying few things which eventually assist their life as artist.
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| Train at the highest Nobeyama Station |
木曽の漆工房琳は上松技専出身の職人さんで、魅力的な漆皿やお椀が並んでいた。
茶碗の方は金属色の陶器類を多く手掛けているロクロウtheえもん。九州から京都、九谷などで修行を積んで今は埼玉県美里に窯を構えているそうだ。購入した茶碗、実は夫婦茶碗の大きい方の片割れ。小さい方は使わないだろうと敢えてセット購入しなかった。気に入ったら、このサイズを複数注文がベターと考えた。落ち着いた中間色と優しい水玉に心が和む。
This time, I bought a pair of lacquer chopsticks for 1000 Yen and a rice bowl for 1400 Yen, both of which looked an absolute bargain.
The artist guy of Rin Lacquer Atelier is a graduate from Agematsu Craftsman School, and displayed nice plates and bowls.
Rokurou-the-Emon seemed specialized in metallic finish of earthenware having accumulated experience in Kyushu, Kyoto and Kutani, and now runs a kiln in Misato, Saitama. This bowl I got was attractively relaxing with its mild earthy color and gently soft dots, which was actually a half portion of a large and small pair: I couldn't think of practical use with the smaller one, and thought ordering more of the larger would make more sense to me if I feel happy using it.
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