When I was in elementary school, I heard that the meaning of the lyrics of the song “Kimigayo” was “small stones come together to form a big rock, until moss grows on it. I thought, “You’ve got to be kidding. Rocks break up in rivers to become stones and sand, but how can it be the other way around?
But conglomerate rocks are formed when pebbles are deposited in the ocean or rivers and compressed by gravity, aren’t they? What kind of force is acting to make them stick together? Covalent bonds? Ionic bonds? Van der Waals? Oh well, I’ll look into it next time.
So, when I reached a certain age, I became interested in geology and biology, and found it interesting. For the past few years, I have bought a repeater’s pass for the National Museum of Nature and Science (Kahaku) and visit the museum whenever I feel like it.
The annual fee for a repeater’s pass is 1,030 yen. It’s a bargain. The permanent exhibition costs 620 yen, so if you go twice, you can get your money’s worth. By the way, the Disneyland Annual Passport costs 63,000 yen, and the 1-Day Passport is 7,400 yen, so you need to visit 9 times to get your money’s worth.
However, I noticed that my Kahaku repeater’s pass had expired. I was googling for a museum where I could enjoy natural science, and the Ibaraki Nature Museum caught my eye. The museum is accessible by bus from Atago Station on the Tobu Urban Park Line (so-called Noda Line) and Moriya Station on the Tsukuba Express. However, there are less than one bus every hour! Looking at the map, I decided to walk the 6.5 km straight line from the nearest station, Kokinu, as it seemed like a reasonable walk.
Kanto Railway Joso Line
Kanto Railway Joso Line Moriya Station ticket gate
At Moriya Station, I transferred from Tsukuba Express to the Kanto Railway Joso Line.
I had heard of the Joso Line since I was a student. I wanted to ride it once, didn’t I?
Kanto Railway Joso Line is not electrified
A train is coming in. The car looks new. But there are no overhead wires. I didn’t know it was non-electrified.
Visit the Ibaraki Nature Museum
Artistic pedestrian bridge stairs
When I got off the train at Koninu Station, I found a very artistic staircase attached to the pedestrian bridge that crosses Route 294. I wonder if it was designed by a famous designer.
Kinugawa River sign and Tamadai Bridge
I crossed the Kinugawa River at Tamadai Bridge.
Kinugawa Onsen is located in the north of Nikko, so it feels strange to see the Kinugawa River flowing to the suburbs of Tokyo. According to Wikipedia, the Kinugawa River is the longest tributary of the Tone River.
Kuru Kuru Park, Winter Park
I found the biggest catch of the day at Kinu no Sato in Uchimoriya Town! It’s granite, isn’t it? It’s not made of pebbles, it’s a deep-seated volcanic rock…
It’s not that, it’s the writing on it.
Isn’t the word “Mitsukaido City” faded? Did they try to bleach it to make it less conspicuous, since Mizukaido City was changed to Joso City in 2006? If so, it is clearly legible.
The other characters are more interesting. What is the origin of the phrase “Kurukuru Park”? Why “winter park”? Shouldn’t we come here in the middle of summer? (A quick Google search after returning home didn’t answer my questions.)
An ancient plaza where fossils can be excavated
When I came near the Nature Museum, I saw this facility full of stones. (After entering the museum, I found out that it was an “ancient plaza” where you can dig up 125,000-year-old shell fossils.)
The restored Sorimachi Lock Bridge
There was also this venerable-looking building. I wondered what it was? (After returning home, I found out that it was a restored Sorimachi Locks Bridge.
The scenery exceeded all my expectations as a visitor with no prior knowledge, and I really enjoyed it.
Sugaonuma Swamp with no visible lake surface
The Sugaonuma swamp was so thick with reeds that you couldn’t even see the surface of the water.
I really enjoyed the inside of the Nature Museum. I would like to go there again. I don’t dare write about the inside of the museum.
To Shimizu Koen Station
On the way back, I headed to Shimizu Koen Station, which is about the same distance as Koninu.
Animal Footprints Found in Nakayahagi
In a field in Nakayahagi, about 1km from the museum, I found animal tracks. I think the one in the foreground with the clearest shape is a raccoon dog or a dog. It is large, so I guess it is a large dog like a Labrador retriever. What is that stretching vertically across the screen? Since the fingers seem to be close together, is it a fox? From the distance between its legs, it is clearly running, isn’t it?
The sidewalk section of the Mabuki Bridge, photographed symmetrically
Crossing the Tone River at the Meibuki Ohashi Bridge. I was able to take a symmetrical photo. I’m glad about that. I think I can use it to study perspective.
An old border sign between Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures
This is the border between Ibaraki and Chiba prefectures. This is a very old-fashioned display.
A manhole in Noda City depicting a zelkova, an azalea, and a lark
This is the manhole design of Noda City. The city’s trees, flowers, and birds are zelkova, azalea, and lark, respectively, so I guess those are the designs. However, I don’t think larks are perched on trees, but in meadows or high in the sky.
Shimizu Koen Station Free Passage East Exit
I arrived at Shimizu Koen Station.
This is the east exit on the opposite side of the park. There used to be a locomotive in the park, and I used to look forward to sitting in the cab of it. I haven’t been there for about 30 years now. But today, I’m going home quietly without going to Shimizu Park.
Walking data
Course : Kanto Railway Joso Line Koninu Station -> Ibaraki Nature Museum -> Tobu Urban Park Line Shimizu Koen Station
Distance : 20.1km
Time : 5h50m (including time to visit the museum)
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