Kogarashi blown down from the Hira Mountains on the opposite bank crosses Lake Biwa and sprays on Chomeiji-san at an altitude of 333 m.  On the hillside, around 240m above sea level, there is Chomeiji Temple, which is the 31st temple in 33 places in Saigoku.  Climb the 808 long stairs leading from the foot of the mountain to the main hall, and you will have a panoramic view of Lake Biwa.  The color of the autumn leaves is exceptional in the cool and clear air.  Lake Biwa is one of the 20 ancient lakes in the world, second only to Lake Baikal in Russia and Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.  Prince Shotoku is said to be the founder of Chomeiji Temple, but it seems to have been an older sacred place born from the worship of nature in Japan.

対岸の比良山系から吹き下ろした木枯らしが琵琶湖を渡り、標高333mの長命寺山に吹き付けます。その山腹、標高240m辺りに西国三十三カ所第31番札所の長命寺があります。麓から本堂に至る808段の長い階段を登りきると、琵琶湖が一望に見渡せます。ひやりと澄んだ空気の中、紅葉の色は格別です。琵琶湖は世界古代湖20のなかのひとつで、ロシアのバイカル湖、タンザニアのタンガニーカ湖に次ぐ湖です。長命寺も聖徳太子が開祖と言うことですが、もっと古く、日本の自然崇拝の中から生まれた聖地だと思われます。

Winter cherry blossoms are in bloom while the other trees around are turning red.  The number of flowers is larger than usual, but not gorgeous as spring.  Of course.  Cherry blossoms are valuable only because they bloom in spring, and the cherry blossoms that bloom among the falling leaves are just only a sideshow.  However, it is winter cherry blossoms that also make you feel somehow charms.  Uba-Zakura is a common name for cherry blossoms that bloom before the leaves come out. And because it means that there are no leaves, which means “no teeth”, it means a woman who still retains her beauty and sensuality even after she is in old.  I think it was Yakumo Koizumi, but he said that the cherry blossoms are called “nanny cherry blossoms” because they bloom wonderful flowers with a color like breast milk before the leaves come out. Aha!

辺りの木々が紅葉する中、冬桜が花を咲かせています。例年になく花数も多いのですが、やはり春の華やかさはありません。当たり前です。桜は春に咲いてこその桜で、散り行く落ち葉の中で咲く桜は余興にしか過ぎません。しかし、どことなく色香を感じさせるのも冬桜です。まさに姥桜です。姥桜とは葉が出るより先に花が開く桜の通称で、葉がないことを「歯無し」に掛けた語ということで、女盛りを過ぎても、なお美しさや色気が残っている女性の意味に使われます。確か小泉八雲だったと思いますが、桜は葉が出る前に、母乳のような色の見事な花を咲かせるから、これを「乳母桜」と呼ぶんだと言っています。合点です。

Kinmedai (Splendid alfonsino) is in season now.  This is because it is the most greasy from December to February.  Kinmedai has a beautiful crimson color, but when swimming in the sea, it is a pale crimson color and becomes darker after death.  It is mainly caught off the Pacific coast of Izu, Choshi, and Shikoku, but Shizuoka Prefecture is the largest producer of Kinmedai in Japan.  Fishing is especially popular in the Izu region, and the three major brands of “Susaki’s day-turning Kinme,” “Inatori Kinme,” and “Ito’s local Kinme” are famous.  Kinmedai is a white body  fish that is high in protein relative to the amount of fat and cholesterol and is easy to digest, so it is an important source of protein that is also gentle on the gastrointestinal tract.  However, Kinmedai has become a high-class fish in recent years, and it is not until January that it is available in general stores.

今、金目鯛が旬です。12月から2月にかけて最も脂がのっているからです。金目鯛は美しい紅色をしていますが、海の中で泳いでいる時は淡い紅色で、死後色が濃くなります。伊豆沖や銚子沖、四国など主に太平洋側の各地で漁獲されますが、静岡県が金目鯛の水揚げ量日本一の産地です。特に伊豆地方で漁が盛んで、「須崎の日戻り地金目」「稲取キンメ」「伊東の地キンメ」の3大ブランドが有名です。金目鯛は白身の魚で、脂肪分やコレステロールの量に対してタンパク質が多く、消化もしやすいので、胃腸にも優しい重要なタンパク源です。ただ金目鯛は近年すっかり高級魚になってしまって、一般の店頭に並ぶのは1月を過ぎてからです。

At the foot of Mt. Kongo, which is the only one in Osaka that exceeds 1,000 meters, there is also the only village in Osaka, Chihayaakasaka Village.  Chihayaakasaka Village has the smallest population, less than 5,000.  Located on the prefectural border with Nara, it is known as the birthplace of Masashige Kusunoki, who supported Emperor Go-Daigo during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.  It is a historical and tourist village surrounded by nature such as Mt. Kongo where it is said that En-no-gyoja trained and the rice terraces of Shimoakasaka, and the catchphrase is “Japan’s No. 1 Marginal Village”.  There are plenty of vegetables and fruits in each season, and many shoppers come from the surrounding towns in search of them.  It is also the production center of persimmons, and now you can see weeping persimmons here and there as shown in the photo.

大阪で唯一1,000メートルを超える金剛山の麓に、これまた大阪で唯一の村、千早赤坂村があります。千早赤阪村は、人口が最も少なく、5,000人足らず。奈良との県境にあり、南北朝時代に後醍醐天皇を支えた楠木正成の出身地として知られています。役行者が修行したと言われる金剛山や下赤坂の棚田などの自然に囲まれた歴史と観光の村で、キャッチフレーズは「日本一の限界集落」。四季折々の野菜や果物が豊富で、それを求めて周りの街々から沢山の買い物客がやってきます。柿の産地でもあり、今は写真のように、枝垂柿があちらこちらでみられます。

From Kurama Station, the end point of the Eizan Electric Railway, go through Kurama Temple, walk along the foot of Mt. Kurama, and walk down to the Kibune River.  Kibune Shrine is across the river.  Izumi Shikibu, a poet from the Heian period, visited Kifune Shrine to heal the change of heart of her husband, Michisada Tachibana.  And she dedicated a waka poem to the god of Kibune, hoping for a reconciliation with her husband.  Then there was a reply from God saying that the wish would surely be fulfilled, and as God tells her, she was able to regain her husband’s love. To share good luck, it is said that lifelong happiness can be obtained by writing a wish in the “matchmaking sentence” of the shrine and praying to the god of worship.  On the way down the Kibune River, there are many restaurants and inns with riverbed tatami mats, which are visited by many tourists in the summer.  Now that the leaves have fallen, the hidden inn is completely visible from the bare trees.

叡山電車の終点、鞍馬駅から鞍馬寺を経て、鞍馬山の山裾を沢伝いに歩いて降りて行くと貴船川にでます。その川向かいに貴船神社があります。平安時代の歌人、和泉式部が夫、 橘道貞の心変わりを癒そうと貴船神社に参詣し、「もの思へば  沢の蛍もわが身より あくがれ出づる 魂かとぞ見る」と復縁を願ったところ、貴船の神から「奥山にたぎりて落つる滝つ瀬の玉散るばかりものな思ひそ」と返歌があり、夫の愛を取り戻すことができたという言い伝えがあります。その故事にあやかって、神社の「結び文」に願い事を書き、祭神に祈願すると生涯の幸福が得られるそうです。貴船川を下る道筋には川床座敷を用意した料理屋や料理旅館が何軒もあり、夏には多くの観光客が訪れます。今は落葉も終わり、丸裸の木々からは隠れ宿も丸見えです。

Two years ago, Japan (Osaka) was selected as the host country for the 25th World Expo at the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) General Assembly held in Paris on November 23, 2018, before dawn on the 24th of Japan time.  This is the first large-scale Expo since Aichi in 2005, and the first in 55 years since 1970 in Osaka.  The theme of the 25th World Expo is “Designing a future society that shines with life”.  The concept of making it a “Experimental site where you can experience cutting-edge technology” where you can experience artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) was raised.At that time, the “Tower of the Sun” was lit up in bright red as shown in the photo. Two years later, on December 3, 2020, the “Tower of the Sun”, which was lit up in red again, had the “Celebration 2025 Expo Decision” disappeared.  This is because an “emergency situation” was declared due to the rapid increase in the number of severely ill patients with the new coronavirus.

２年前の2018年11月23日、日本時間24日未明にパリで行われた博覧会国際事務局（BIE）総会で、25年万博開催国に日本（大阪）が選ばれました。大規模な万博としては05年の愛知以来で、大阪では1970年以来55年ぶりの開催です。25年万博のテーマは「いのち輝く未来社会のデザイン」。人工知能（AI）や仮想現実（VR）などを体験できる「最先端技術の実験場」にするコンセプトが掲げられました。その時真っ赤に灯ったのが写真の「太陽の塔」です。2年後の20年12月3日、再び赤くライトアップされた「太陽の塔」には『祝 2025万博決定』が消えています。新型コロナウイルスの重症患者の急増で「非常事態」が宣言されたからです。

In the remote highlands of Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, there is “Kojin no sato Soba-dokoro”.  The Kasa district, which is located at the base of “Kasayama Kojin” at an altitude of 400 to 500 m, is located in Oku Hase and is blessed with abundant nature such as a climate and climate suitable for making buckwheat.  You can enjoy freshly ground, freshly struck , and freshly boiled soba noodles in each season.  Especially, during this time of deep autumn, many soba lovers come from all over the country in search of new soba.  This deep mountainous area hides the unknown and deep history of ancient Japanese beliefs, and is said to be the birthplace of the “Kojin faith” that dates back 3,000 years. And there remain still stories of famous historical figures such as Prince Shotoku, En-no-Gyoja, Emperor Shomu and Kobo Daishi.

奈良県桜井市の人里離れた高原地帯に「荒神の里笠そば処」があります。標高400～500ｍの「笠山荒神」のたもとに位置する笠地区は、奥長谷に位置し、蕎麦作りに適した気候、風土など豊かな自然に恵まれていて、栽培した蕎麦の実を使い、挽きたて・打ちたて・湯がき立てと、四季折々の蕎麦を味わうことができます。中でも、秋の深まったこの時期には、新蕎麦を求めて全国各地から多くの蕎麦好きが押し寄せます。山深いこの地は、日本古代史の知られざる深い信仰の歴史が隠されていて、3000年前に遡る「荒神信仰」の発祥の地とも言われ、聖徳太子、役行者（えんのぎょうじゃ）、聖武天皇、弘法大師ら、歴史上の著名な人物の逸話が残っています。

Mt. Fuji is finally ready for winter.  The whole area is surrounded by autumn leaves, and the head is covered with a thick shade cloud that is not a beret.  From now on, the snow cover will gradually spread to the base, and if it covers almost 90% of Mt. Fuji, winter will be at its peak.  Spring, summer, autumn and winter, emotions and sorrows, Japanese people feel the seasons with Mt. Fuji and live with laughter.  There are many Mt. Fuji in local areas, and they imagine Mt. Fuji in the distance.  Now, the city is full of jingle bells, and department stores and convenience stores are full of advertisements for osechi dishes.  It may seem like a hasty, but in this way the Japanese have lived with dreams and hopes for the future.  Nippon, do your best !

富士山もいよいよ冬支度。周り一面は紅葉に囲まれ、頭にはベレー帽ならぬ、厚い笠雲を被っています。これからは、冠雪が徐々に裾野まで広がり、ほぼ９割がた富士山を覆うえば冬もピークです。春夏秋冬、喜怒哀楽、日本人は富士山とともに季節を感じ、泣き笑いして生活します。地方地方には多くの何々富士があり、遠く富士山を偲びます。今、街はジングルベルが鳴り響き、デパートやコンビニにはお節料理の広告で満艦飾です。慌ただしそうですが、こうして先に夢と希望を持って、日本人は生きてきました。ニッポン、頑張れ！

The autumn leaves are in full bloom.  This year is especially beautiful.  November was a record-breaking heat, and the autumn colors tended to be delayed, but when the temperature reached normal levels from the end of the month, I felt that it had progressed all at once.  Daigoji Temple in Kyoto, which I stopped by for a moment , is also full of autumn colors.  It’s one of the most famous spots for autumn leaves in Kyoto, but it’s really beautiful. Though I thought I’d stopped by for a moment, before I knew it, I was staying longer.  On my leaving the place, when I was been fascinating by the autumn leaves near the mountain gate, a person who was mistaken for Santa Claus came in.  A bright red coat and a white collar.  If the person puts a white beard on a red hat, it’s a real Santa Claus. Looking closely, it was a decent older woman.  By the way, it’s already December.  She was in a wonderful dress, whether she was conscious of such the thing or matched it with the autumn leaves.

紅葉がすっかり見頃です。今年は特に美しい。11月が記録破りの暑さで、紅葉も遅れがちでしたが、気温も下旬から平年並みになると、一気に進んだ感があります。ちょっと立ち寄った京都醍醐寺も紅葉一色。京都でも一二を争う紅葉の名所ですが、さすがに美しく、ちょっと立ち寄ったつもりが、いつのまにか長居をすることになりました。帰り際、山門近くの紅葉に見惚れていると、サンタクロースと見紛う人が入って来ました。真っ赤なコートに白地の襟。赤い帽子に白髭をつければ、まさしくサンタクロースです。よく見るとそこそこのお歳の女性でした。そう言えばもう12月。そんな事を意識したのか、紅葉に合わせたのか、素敵な出立ちでした。

The “Sagano Torokko Train” runs along the Hozu River, upstream of the Oigawa River, which spans the Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama, Kyoto.  The “Torokko Train” is an art-deco-style 5-car train that is pulled by a diesel locomotive. It takes 25 minutes to travel 7.3km one way from Torokko Saga Station to Torokko Arashiyama Station to Torokko Hozukyo Station to Torokko Kameoka Station, running through the Hozukyo Gorge.  Only one passenger car is connected to the open vehicle “The Rich” without window glass, and you can enjoy a large panorama of Hozu Gorge.  You can enjoy the scenery of the Hozu Gorge in each season, with cherry blossoms in spring, fresh green in summer, colored leaves in autumn, and snowy scenery in winter, but autumn leaves are the best choice.

京都嵐山の渡月橋がかかる大堰川（おおいがわ）の上流、保津川に沿って走るのが「嵯峨野トロッコ列車」です。「トロッコ列車」は、ディーゼル機関車に引かれるアールデコ調の5両編成の客車で、トロッコ嵯峨駅～トロッコ嵐山駅～トロッコ保津峡駅～トロッコ亀岡駅までの片道7.3ｋｍの距離を25分間かけて、保津峡を走り抜けます。客車には1両だけ窓ガラスのないオープン車両「ザ・リッチ号」が連結されていて、保津峡の大パノラマが楽しめます。春は桜、夏は新緑、秋は紅葉、冬は雪景色と、四季折々の保津峡の景色が楽しめますが、やはり一押しは秋の紅葉です。