【２０１３年５月１５日】 中山風穴 を訪ねる（ May 15, 2013: Visited Nakayama Cold Wind Caves）
昨夜泊まった 針生 の 民宿 の話では、原発事故以前は、冬はスキー客、春は学校の農業体験客、夏も学校の林間学校客で、一年中客がいた。現在は、冬のスキー客のみになり、学校関係は、風評被害などで客が途絶えているとのこと。原発事故の風評被害の影響は大きい。
I heard from a manager of the private inn I stayed last night that they had been busy all round a year with ski visitors in winter season, farm training school visitors in spring, and summer school visitors in summer, before the nuclear accident. Today, they only have ski visitors left. School visitors avoided Fukushima by harmful rumors. Nuclear accident caused tremendous damage by harmful rumours here.
本日は、 針生 （はりゅう）を出発し、下郷町 の 中山風穴 （ふうけつ）を訪ね、芦ノ牧温泉 に泊まる。
Today, I left Haryu and then visited Nakayama Cold Wind Caves at Simogo Town. Then I stayed at Ashinomaki Onsen.
経路は、下の地図を参照。（経路と標高は、ＧＰＳログデータによる。地図は、クリックで拡大できます。）
The actual route is shown in the map below. (The route and altitude data are from GPS log data. The details of the map can be seen by clicking the map.)
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中山風穴 は、地表の洞穴から冷風が吹き出しており、夏でも周辺の温度を低く抑えている。このため、通常は見られない高山植物が標高５００ｍ程で見られる。正式には、「 中山風穴地特殊植物群落 」として、国の天然記念物に指定されている。
At Nakayama Cold Wind Caves, cold air was coming out of caves in the surface of the ground, thus air temperature was lower than usual ever in summer. Because of this some kinds of alpine flowers could be seen in lower altitude of about 500m. This area was officially called "Group of special plants at Nakayama Cold Wind Caves" and had been designated as National Natural Treasure.
下郷 （しもごう）町の中心から国道１１８号を北上すると、写真の 中山風穴 の 弥五島 （やごしま）口の入口が現れる。車用の舗装道路の入口は、もっと先にあるが、徒歩や自転車は、弥五島口 が良い。入口から入ると、写真のような道が続きます。
As I went north on the National Route 118 from the center area of Shimogo Town, I found Yagoshima entry point for Nakayama Cold Wind Caves as shown in the picture above. Although entry point for cars with paved road could be found a little ahead, I thought this Yagoshima entry was better for on foot and bikes. As I went ahead, the road as shown in the picture above followed.
そのうち、写真のような 風穴 に出会い、この付近の空気はひんやりする。また、主な風穴の近くには、写真の標識が立っており、見られる花の説明もあります。
Soon after, I could find cold wind caves as shown in the pictures above and could feel cold air around them. There also stood sign board as shown in the picture which explained kinds of special flowers around here.
私が確認できた花を紹介します。まず、キバナイカリソウ （黄花錨草）です。
I will show the kinds of flowers I found today. First one was Epimedium koreanum.
次が、アイヅシモツケ （会津下野）。
The next one was Spiraea chamaedryfolia var. pilosa.
その次が、ベニバナイチヤクソウ （紅花一薬草）です。まだ、つぼみでした。
The next one was Pyrola asarifolia subsp. incarnata. I could find only buds.
キンポウゲも、写真のようにきれいに咲いていました。
I also could find beautiful Ranunculaceae.
中山風穴 を後に国道１１８号を北上し、途中、写真のように、下郷トンネル手前から右に折れると、「 大川・喜多方サイクリングロード 」の前段階に入り、このまま 芦ノ牧温泉 へ出る。この道は、車も通れるが、ほとんどいない。更に、写真のように 若郷湖 や 阿賀川 （ 大川 とも言う）の景色も良いです。
As I left Nakayama Cold Wind Caves and went north on the National Route 118, I found branch road on the right just before the Shimogo Tunnel as shown in the picture. This road went to Ashinomaki Onsen and then was connected to Okawa-Kitakata Cycling Road. I could find few cars on the road and could go through scenic views of Lake Wakasato and Aga River (or Okawa River).
今夜の宿は、芦ノ牧温泉 の 仙峡閣 で、 去年９月にも泊まったことのある、日本秘湯の会 会員宿です。自噴の源泉を所有しており、新鮮・良質な温泉に入れる。
Tonight I stayed at Senkyokaku Inn of Ashinomaki Onsen. This inn was a member of Japan Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns. I also stayed here last September. This inn had its own hot spring source, thus visitors could enjoy fresh and excellent bath.
なお、明日は、大川・喜多方サイクリングロード で 会津若松 まで行き、そこから磐越西線に乗り、輪行で帰宅します。このため、今月のレポートは、ここまでとなります。次回は、６月中旬を予定しています。
Tomorrow I will pedal to Aizuwakamatsu City and pack my bike and return home by JR Ban-etsu East Line. Thus this will be the last report this month. The next report is being planned from middle of the next June.
下の▶3を押すと、バックグランド音楽（花は咲く）が流れます。
You will listen to background music "Flowers will bloom" by clicking the ▶3.
▶3
I heard from a manager of the private inn I stayed last night that they had been busy all round a year with ski visitors in winter season, farm training school visitors in spring, and summer school visitors in summer, before the nuclear accident. Today, they only have ski visitors left. School visitors avoided Fukushima by harmful rumors. Nuclear accident caused tremendous damage by harmful rumours here.
本日は、 針生 （はりゅう）を出発し、下郷町 の 中山風穴 （ふうけつ）を訪ね、芦ノ牧温泉 に泊まる。
Today, I left Haryu and then visited Nakayama Cold Wind Caves at Simogo Town. Then I stayed at Ashinomaki Onsen.
経路は、下の地図を参照。（経路と標高は、ＧＰＳログデータによる。地図は、クリックで拡大できます。）
The actual route is shown in the map below. (The route and altitude data are from GPS log data. The details of the map can be seen by clicking the map.)
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中山風穴 は、地表の洞穴から冷風が吹き出しており、夏でも周辺の温度を低く抑えている。このため、通常は見られない高山植物が標高５００ｍ程で見られる。正式には、「 中山風穴地特殊植物群落 」として、国の天然記念物に指定されている。
At Nakayama Cold Wind Caves, cold air was coming out of caves in the surface of the ground, thus air temperature was lower than usual ever in summer. Because of this some kinds of alpine flowers could be seen in lower altitude of about 500m. This area was officially called "Group of special plants at Nakayama Cold Wind Caves" and had been designated as National Natural Treasure.
下郷 （しもごう）町の中心から国道１１８号を北上すると、写真の 中山風穴 の 弥五島 （やごしま）口の入口が現れる。車用の舗装道路の入口は、もっと先にあるが、徒歩や自転車は、弥五島口 が良い。入口から入ると、写真のような道が続きます。
As I went north on the National Route 118 from the center area of Shimogo Town, I found Yagoshima entry point for Nakayama Cold Wind Caves as shown in the picture above. Although entry point for cars with paved road could be found a little ahead, I thought this Yagoshima entry was better for on foot and bikes. As I went ahead, the road as shown in the picture above followed.
そのうち、写真のような 風穴 に出会い、この付近の空気はひんやりする。また、主な風穴の近くには、写真の標識が立っており、見られる花の説明もあります。
Soon after, I could find cold wind caves as shown in the pictures above and could feel cold air around them. There also stood sign board as shown in the picture which explained kinds of special flowers around here.
私が確認できた花を紹介します。まず、キバナイカリソウ （黄花錨草）です。
I will show the kinds of flowers I found today. First one was Epimedium koreanum.
次が、アイヅシモツケ （会津下野）。
The next one was Spiraea chamaedryfolia var. pilosa.
その次が、ベニバナイチヤクソウ （紅花一薬草）です。まだ、つぼみでした。
The next one was Pyrola asarifolia subsp. incarnata. I could find only buds.
キンポウゲも、写真のようにきれいに咲いていました。
I also could find beautiful Ranunculaceae.
中山風穴 を後に国道１１８号を北上し、途中、写真のように、下郷トンネル手前から右に折れると、「 大川・喜多方サイクリングロード 」の前段階に入り、このまま 芦ノ牧温泉 へ出る。この道は、車も通れるが、ほとんどいない。更に、写真のように 若郷湖 や 阿賀川 （ 大川 とも言う）の景色も良いです。
As I left Nakayama Cold Wind Caves and went north on the National Route 118, I found branch road on the right just before the Shimogo Tunnel as shown in the picture. This road went to Ashinomaki Onsen and then was connected to Okawa-Kitakata Cycling Road. I could find few cars on the road and could go through scenic views of Lake Wakasato and Aga River (or Okawa River).
今夜の宿は、芦ノ牧温泉 の 仙峡閣 で、 去年９月にも泊まったことのある、日本秘湯の会 会員宿です。自噴の源泉を所有しており、新鮮・良質な温泉に入れる。
Tonight I stayed at Senkyokaku Inn of Ashinomaki Onsen. This inn was a member of Japan Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns. I also stayed here last September. This inn had its own hot spring source, thus visitors could enjoy fresh and excellent bath.
なお、明日は、大川・喜多方サイクリングロード で 会津若松 まで行き、そこから磐越西線に乗り、輪行で帰宅します。このため、今月のレポートは、ここまでとなります。次回は、６月中旬を予定しています。
Tomorrow I will pedal to Aizuwakamatsu City and pack my bike and return home by JR Ban-etsu East Line. Thus this will be the last report this month. The next report is being planned from middle of the next June.
下の▶3を押すと、バックグランド音楽（花は咲く）が流れます。
You will listen to background music "Flowers will bloom" by clicking the ▶3.
▶3
【２０１２年９月１８日】 大内宿 、 塔のへつり 、そして 湯野上温泉 へ（ Sept. 18, 2012: To Ouchi-juku, Tounohetsuri, and finally to Yunokami Onsen ）
二岐温泉 から下り、国道１１８号と１２１号で、 湯野上温泉 へ。途中、塔のへつり と、 大内宿 に寄る。二岐温泉 からの下りのあと、標高６５０ｍにある 大内宿 への往復１０ｋｍのアップダウンでした。
Today, I descended from Futamata Hot Spring and by Route 118 and 121 went towards Yunokami Onsen. On the way, I also visited “Tounohetsuri”, and “Ouchi-juku”. After the downhill from Futamata Hot Spring, there was 10km hill climb and downhill to and from Ouchi-juku.
国道１１８号では川沿いを下り、写真は途中の光景です。最初の蝉トンネルは、約１ｋｍですが、自歩道がなく、路側帯も荒れているので、安全に気を付けて走る必要があります。トンネルを抜けたあとは、良い景色の中を快適に走りました。
On the Route 118, I went down along the river. Three pictures are shown. The first one was Semi Tunnel which was about 1km long, but had no side lane for bike and I had to take best care of safe pedaling. After the Tunnel, I could enjoy pedaling through the views such as the next two pictures.
国道１２１号に入り、南に少し行くと、写真の 湯野上温泉駅 があります。会津鉄道 の駅で、日本で唯一の 茅葺き の駅です。
After entering the Route 121, and going south for a while, I found Yunokami-Onsen Station shown in the picture above. This was the railway station of Aizu Railway, and it was the only Station house which had thatched roof in Japan.
更に南に少し行くと、国の天然記念物の「 塔のへつり 」がある。写真の案内板の右を下ると、川の浸食によりできた奇岩・絶壁が現れます。
I went south furthermore, and found “Tounohetsuri” which was designated as National Natural Monument. The first picture was the entrance sign, and going down from here, I could find the several strangely shaped walls of rocks standing on the river as shown in the next picture. These walls of rocks were the products of river eating away the huge rocks.
塔のへつり のすぐ手前に、写真の「 下郷町物産館 」が国道１２１号脇にあります、ここのざるそばが、下郷の地粉の手打ちそばで実においしいでした。
Just before the “Tounohetsuri” above, there was the “Shops for Shimogo Town products” beside the Route 121 as shown in the picture above. The zaru soba made from Shimogo Town buckwheat was being served here, which was extremely delicious for me.
最後に 大内宿 に行きました。ここは、標高の高い場所にある江戸時代の宿場町の姿が残っており、国指定の保存地区になっています。現地に入ると、写真のような別世界が現れます。訪れる価値が非常に高いと思いました。
Finally, I visited “Ouchi-juku”. This was an old post town of Edo Era still existing as it was, in the high altitude plain, and this area was registered National Important Preservation District. When I entered the area, I really felt as if I had entered the completely different world as shown in the two pictures above. I believe this is an extremely valuable place to visit for many people.
今夜の宿は、写真の 民宿 ひらのや 。源泉が高温のため加水してありましたが、かけ流しで、湯野上温泉の品質を十分に味わえました。自転車は、玄関内のスペースに有難く安全に置かせてもらえました。
Tonight, I stayed at personal lodge called “Hiranoya” shown in the picture above. Since the natural hot spring was very hot, some water was being added to the bath, but still I could enjoy the high quality of Yunokami Onsen here. They kindly recommended keeping my bike inside the house safely.
Today, I descended from Futamata Hot Spring and by Route 118 and 121 went towards Yunokami Onsen. On the way, I also visited “Tounohetsuri”, and “Ouchi-juku”. After the downhill from Futamata Hot Spring, there was 10km hill climb and downhill to and from Ouchi-juku.
国道１１８号では川沿いを下り、写真は途中の光景です。最初の蝉トンネルは、約１ｋｍですが、自歩道がなく、路側帯も荒れているので、安全に気を付けて走る必要があります。トンネルを抜けたあとは、良い景色の中を快適に走りました。
On the Route 118, I went down along the river. Three pictures are shown. The first one was Semi Tunnel which was about 1km long, but had no side lane for bike and I had to take best care of safe pedaling. After the Tunnel, I could enjoy pedaling through the views such as the next two pictures.
国道１２１号に入り、南に少し行くと、写真の 湯野上温泉駅 があります。会津鉄道 の駅で、日本で唯一の 茅葺き の駅です。
After entering the Route 121, and going south for a while, I found Yunokami-Onsen Station shown in the picture above. This was the railway station of Aizu Railway, and it was the only Station house which had thatched roof in Japan.
更に南に少し行くと、国の天然記念物の「 塔のへつり 」がある。写真の案内板の右を下ると、川の浸食によりできた奇岩・絶壁が現れます。
I went south furthermore, and found “Tounohetsuri” which was designated as National Natural Monument. The first picture was the entrance sign, and going down from here, I could find the several strangely shaped walls of rocks standing on the river as shown in the next picture. These walls of rocks were the products of river eating away the huge rocks.
塔のへつり のすぐ手前に、写真の「 下郷町物産館 」が国道１２１号脇にあります、ここのざるそばが、下郷の地粉の手打ちそばで実においしいでした。
Just before the “Tounohetsuri” above, there was the “Shops for Shimogo Town products” beside the Route 121 as shown in the picture above. The zaru soba made from Shimogo Town buckwheat was being served here, which was extremely delicious for me.
最後に 大内宿 に行きました。ここは、標高の高い場所にある江戸時代の宿場町の姿が残っており、国指定の保存地区になっています。現地に入ると、写真のような別世界が現れます。訪れる価値が非常に高いと思いました。
Finally, I visited “Ouchi-juku”. This was an old post town of Edo Era still existing as it was, in the high altitude plain, and this area was registered National Important Preservation District. When I entered the area, I really felt as if I had entered the completely different world as shown in the two pictures above. I believe this is an extremely valuable place to visit for many people.
今夜の宿は、写真の 民宿 ひらのや 。源泉が高温のため加水してありましたが、かけ流しで、湯野上温泉の品質を十分に味わえました。自転車は、玄関内のスペースに有難く安全に置かせてもらえました。
Tonight, I stayed at personal lodge called “Hiranoya” shown in the picture above. Since the natural hot spring was very hot, some water was being added to the bath, but still I could enjoy the high quality of Yunokami Onsen here. They kindly recommended keeping my bike inside the house safely.
