九割そば - kuwari soba

Last week end I was driving on the one direction road which go through Doushimura 道志村 (Doushi-village) and I saw boards and flags showing そば and I stopped.

The river is clear and already few fishermen are on place. The visitor has to walk accross the river and can see the restaurant. Some exhibition hall and concert hall show that there must be some interesting activities around the place.

Anyway the restaurant looks recent, clean in its architecture and the opened windows let the fresh air coming from the river. The full japanese menu is small. Hot soba one one page, cold ones on the opposite. I choose the Tsuke-Ebiten-Soba (Shrimp tempura). Coming a bit late, some sets are not available anymore. I guess the handmade soba wre not fully ready when I order because it took a bit of time. Sitting on the terrace, it is pleasant to wait.

The shrimp is big, nice texture. Not like the ones that melt in your mouth because of the freeze. The handmade soba are good too. 1200¥ and taste really good. You have some soba-cha for drink.

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Oyama

Oyama is a mount located in Isehara city, in the Tanzawa Natsional Park. I went there myself few years ago for a little walk through the hiking course. There is few events there and the main one is the Tofu festival held in end of February, around the last week end. Next matsuri will be soon, end of August. (28th~29th). It is a mikoshi (people carrying a shrine on their shoulders)

Oyama has 3 levels. Lower level with all the restaurants and shops. You can have a tofu based lunch or diner after your hicking. They close early on the Low season. 4~5pm if I remember well.

You have also a cable-car station. It will bring you to the second level where you can find a temple, the Ōyama-dera. The cable-car has a sub-station in the middle but you only have access to some hicking tracks. Nothing else.

To reach the Top Level, you will have to walk. It is not that hard. I did it with a 1yo baby on my back. Dirt and big stones so do not come with high hills like the basic japanese dating girl. From the top, you will have a clear view through the shonan area to Yokohama. You can see the Fuji from the other side. The shrine on the top end, Ōyama-Afuri Jinja, has nothing impressive, even disapointing. Do not come for this. Come to enjoy the walk and the nature.

Take the Oyama Cable Station-bound bus from the North Exit of Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line and get off at the last stop (30 minutes)
If you come by car, you will find some "private owned" parkings for 1000~1500¥/1day. (I went in December). Forget the baby car, stairs start from the first shops.

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Tourist Info

Oyama, Tanzawa

Nanasawa Onsen

Un bout de vallee ou l'on trouve moult ryokans, fameux pour leur onsen.Apres petite inspection, ce ne sont pas, pour la plupart (pas encore tout inspecte), des sources naturellement chaudes. L'eau est rechaufee mais possede les divers mineraux qui font leur renommee. Relaxation assuree.

Kotaku-ji, petit temple bien sympathique. Le jardin est aussi bien entretenu et permet quelques belles photos respirant la nature. Il se trouve juste au-dessus d'un ryokan dont j'ai perdu le nom pour l'instant.
On y trouve aussi un arret de bus municipal, deux ou trois bus dans la journee.





Un autre petit temple dedie a l'amour. Un autre lovers' spot pour les randonneurs. Le coin est repute pour ses pistes de randonnees et ses campings dans la reserve protegee de Tanzawa. Pour les amoureux de la nature et du calme : l'acces au camp est interdit aux voitures.






Petit restaurant qui a la particularite de vous proposer d'attraper votre dejeuner. Plusieurs bassins, plusieurs especes et pas de difficulte particuliere vu la densite de poissons. Quelques barbecues pour que vous puissiez vous-meme faire vos grillades. Comme les shabu-shabu, okonomiyaki ou yakiniku, vous payez et c'est vous qui faites tout.


Plus on marche, plus la marque de l'homme se fait rare. Ici des champs de the a la decoupe millimetree.




Nanasawa Onsen est suremet le plus populaire de tout les ryokans du coin. D'un point de vue negatif, c'est un peu neglige par endroits. Le rafistolage a deux sous dont les japonais sont friands fait perdre de son charme au lieu. Des tuyaux qui depassent, de la rouille un peu trop visible, des canapés moisis dans le jardin... D'un point de vue positif, ce n'est pas si cher, l'acces est facile et un de leur bus peut venir vous chercher a la gare. La journee seulement ou une nuit en chambre ou bungalow.



Ce petit temple qui se veut encore un n-ieme lovers' spot participe au cote kitsh de Nanasawa Onsen.

Nanasawa Onsen