Nirasaki-juku
Ryuoh station
I get off the train at Tatsuo Station, designed by Tadao Ando.
Ryuoh Station Fujisan Gate
When I went out the south exit, this was called the Fuji Gate. Fuji, a straight line distance of about 40 kilometers. Isn’t that a bit overwhelming?
By the way, the north exit is called the Shosenkyo Gate.
Statue of Yamagata Daini
As I exited the station, I saw a statue of Yamagata Daini. Who is he?
He was a university scholar in the mid-Edo period, born in Shinohara, about 1.5 km south of Ryuo Station. He opened a cram school in Hatchobori, Edo, where he taught medicine and military law.
Daojin, 45cm in diameter
There was a large roadside deity, 45cm in diameter. The name “衢神” seems to be written on the stand. I don’t know how to read it. The word “衢” means “street” in Japanese. It is also pronounced “ku”. The explanatory board says that it was the location of a mutual-help meeting council. I wonder if this is a reference to the “mujin” of Yamanashi culture?
Yamanashi Prefectural Integrated Power Generation Control Center
Near Akasakadai General Park, I found the Yamanashi Prefectural Power Generation General Control Station (Clean Energy Center).
On its premises, there were several water turbines for power generation on display that were no longer in service, so I took a tour of them.
Pelton water turbine
This is a Pelton waterwheel. The bucket receives the water released from the nozzle and turns it. Since the water becomes one atmosphere when it is released into the air, no energy from pressure is expected. Instead, energy from speed is important, so it is used for hydroelectric power generation with a high drop.
Francis water turbine
This is a Francis waterwheel. Since the water near the waterwheel does not come into contact with the outside air, it is possible to use energy from pressure. In other words, multiplying the pressure by the volume results in the dimension of energy, so even if the increment of pressure is small due to a low drop, a large volume of water can result in a large amount of electrical energy.
The lower part of the four bars on the left side of the waterwheel is equipped with guide vanes, which are used to adjust the water volume. Also, although it is difficult to see in the photo, the area near the connection between the runner vane and the lower frame has been cut away by cavitation.
It was interesting to make various discoveries because the exhibit featured real machines that had actually been used.
Moss phlox (Phlox subulata)
When I returned to Koshu Kaido after my studies, the moss phlox blossoms were in beautiful bloom.
A view of the Southern Alps
I didn’t take any pictures, but in Shimo-Imai, many houses faced the Koshu Kaido and were built with the long side of the house perpendicular to the Koshu Kaido. I wonder if this was a remnant of the so-called “strips of land” layout.
Chuo Line
Passing through the Chuo Line. The sidewalk is quite magnificent.
Private house with Namako wall
About 500 meters past Shiozaki Station, I found a house with namako walls!
I could see the mountains of the Southern Alps behind me, which made me feel like I was walking along a highway.
Among the white mountains, the whitest one is Mount Kannon, just to the left is Mount Yakushi, and a little further to the right is Mount Jizogatake, which are called the Phoenix Three Mountains.
Shiokawa Bridge under maintenance
I crossed the Shiokawa River on the Shiokawa Bridge. The bridge was under maintenance.
I wondered why Yamanashi, a prefecture without a sea, had names of places and rivers with “salt” in them, such as “Shiozaki” and “Shiokawa.
Apparently, in the case of the Shiokawa River, there is a salty spring that flows along the banks of Lake Mizugaki upstream. If that’s the case, could it be that Shingen didn’t need Uesugi Kenshin to send him salt? I would like to go there next time to investigate.
In the west of this area, there should be a fan-shaped area called Midai-gawa Senjochi, but I couldn’t find it.
Kajikazawa Yokocho
It seems that the street passing through Funayama Bridge is called Kajikazawa Yokocho. Although both here and in Kajikazawa are along the Fuji River (Kamanashi River), they seem to refer to a road (Fujikawa Kaido?) instead of the river. So even though they are less than 20km apart, they are still alleyways.
Nirasaki-juku
I had thought that Nirasaki was not a very big town because you can hardly see the streets when you pass by on the Chuo Line.
But I was wrong. It was a prosperous town along the Koshu Kaido.
Trace of Nirasaki-juku Honjin
Nirasaki Heiwa Kannon
I found the remains of Honjin and a Kannon (Goddess of Mercy).
Stone monument of 16 stones
Near the intersection of Hitotsuya, we found a stone monument with 16 stones. It is said that the sixteen stones are the huge stones that Takeda Shingen used to fortify Kawarabe Village (now Nirasaki City) during the flood control work he carried out to protect it from the flooding of the Kamanashi River. However, I couldn’t find any around the monument. The large stone located a little farther away may be the Jurokuishi.
Regardless of whether Shingen did flood control or not, the other side of the Kamanashi River is named Takeda. It is said to be the birthplace of Takeda, with the remains of the mansion of Takeda Nobuyoshi, the first head of Takeda. Therefore, it seems to be a land that was definitely cherished.
carp streamers
As we passed Shimpu Castle, I saw many carp streamers swimming in the air.
Behind the carp streamers is what looks like a mountain, Shichiriwa. It is a plateau formed by the debris flow of the collapsed Yatsugatake Mountains. The tip of the rock is pointed and looks like the tip of a garlic chive, hence the name Nirasaki.
Power poles occupied by plants
Near Anayama, the power poles were occupied by plants. As expected, the distribution lines have been removed. But why did it have to go this far?
Tokushima weir
I crossed the Kamanashi River at the Anayama Bridge, and about 600 meters down the road, I found the Tokushima Weir, which was full of flowing water.
Looking at the map at hand, it was about 500 meters to the water intake, so I decided to go there.
On the way, I was greeted by a high school girl who said, “Hello.” I rushed to greet her, but I was surprised because I had never encountered such a thing in Tokyo.
Monument of Toku Shu Jun
As I approached the water intake, I saw a stone monument with the words “Toku Shu Jun” written on it. I guess it means that Tokushima weir enriches the people.It was written by Mr. Shin Kanemaru, an influential politician from the area.
Near the water intake of Tokushima Weir
This is a picture of the area near the water intake. I wasn’t allowed to get any closer, probably because of the danger of too much water.
When I came back, I found out that Tokushima Weir is the largest agricultural canal in Yamanashi Prefecture, which was started by Tokushima Hyosaemon and is 17 kilometers long. “The local people have benefited greatly from the weir, as it made it possible to cultivate the land in the drought area, which was said to “burn even on a moonlit night.
Rocket?
About 600 meters from Tokushima Weir, I found it. Is it a rocket? In English, we sometimes compare very difficult things to rocket science. It seems that there is a person in Yamanashi who is doing rocket research. (Probably not, but I don’t know what it’s for.)
Hinoharu Station
Just before the Omugawa Bridge, I reached the place where I walked at the end of last year, so that’s it for today’s road trip. I turned right and headed for Hinoharu Station.
Cherry blossom
I found cherry blossoms in bloom just before Hino Spring Station. At an altitude of about 600 meters, they were in full bloom at this time of the year, the end of April.
Walking data
Course: JR Chuo Line, Ryuoh Station -> Nirasaki-juku -> JR Chuo Line, Hinoharu Station
Distance: 24.7km
Time: 6h13m
