I visited the secret Nosegawa Onsen. It is located in the mountainous Nosegawa Village, which is located between the two world heritage sites of Koyasan and Kohechi of Kumano Kodo. Nosegawa Village rarely exceeds 30 degrees Celsius even in the middle of summer, and it is said to be the last unexplored area. When I was walking along the mountain path, I felt refreshing sweet scent coming. It’s Suikazura. Although it is sometimes seen in the home gardens in the city, its flowers have already fallen in the midsummer. I took it with my smartphone. I have always been fascinated by the flower that has the tone of the sound of su-i-ka-zu-ra and the form of a character with the kanji “忍冬”. When you inhale the root of a flower, it tastes like honey and smells is moist.

秘湯野迫川温泉を訪ねました。高野山、熊野古道小辺路(こへち)の2つの世界遺産に介在する山深い野迫川村にあります。野迫川村は真夏でも気温３０度を超えることは滅多になく、最後の秘境と言われています。山道を歩いていると爽やかな甘い香りが漂ってきます。忍冬です。街中の庭先にも時々見受けますが、こんな真夏にはもう花は落ちています。思わずスマホで撮りました。スイカズラと言う音の響きといい、「忍冬」という漢字といい、昔から気にかかる花です。花の根元を吸うと蜜の味がし、匂いもうっとりします。