【2012年10月20日】 白河市 の 白河の関跡 、 南湖公園 、そして 白河だるま ( Oct. 20, 2012: Visited old Barrier of Shirakawa, Nanko Park, and Shirakawa Daruma Dolls at Shirakawa City )
Today, as a back home route, I left Shinkashi Onsen and went back to Shirakawa City and visited some places around there. As shown in the GPS log below, after the long downhill from Shinkashi Onsen, the rest of the route was nearly flat.





白河市内では、国指定史跡を2件訪ねました。最初は、写真の 白河の関跡 です。次の写真がその説明。関所の奥の登った所に、3枚目の写真の 白河神社 があります。 白河の関跡 の向かいに、4枚目の写真のおいしい 白河ラーメン の店があり、昼近くになるとお客で混雑します。
I visited two of the National Historic Sites. The first one was the site of old Barrier of Shirakawa as shown in the first picture. The next picture explains the site. There was Shirakawa-jinja Shrine in the deep and upper area from there as shown in the third picture. Across the road, there was a restaurant which serves good Shirakawa Ramen and was clouded with customers.


2番目の国指定史跡は、 南湖公園 。写真は、その風景です。ここも紅葉で有名ですが、まだ早いでした。その次の写真の通り、福島県 の 遊歩道50選 の一つになっています。
The second National Historic Site was Nanko Park. The above (top) picture shows the views there. This park was also famous for its autumn color view; however it was still early for the season. The next picture shows that this park had been designated as one of the best 50 promenades.

白河市 は、 だるま の生産でも有名。市内には、写真のような老舗のだるま製造・販売業者がいくつかあり、小売りもしてもらえます。店の奥の製造スペースで絵付けなどやっていました。
Shirakawa City was also famous for its production of daruma dolls. I could find some long-established daruma manufacturers and sellers as shown in the picture above. These shops also do retail. They had manufacturing space inside the house and I could see workers painting darumas.
【2012年10月19日】 甲子温泉 大黒屋 へ( Oct. 19, 2012: Visited Daikokuya at Kashi Onsen )
Today, as a back home route, I left Aizutajima and climbed the long hill from Shimogo to Kashi Tunnel and the goal today was Shinkashi Onsen. Since I could go through the Kashi Tunnel by around 10:30 am, I stopped at Kashi Onsen.


8割程登ったところに、往路で紹介した道の駅 しもごう があります。エネルギー補給に、写真のミルキーソフトを試したが、これがおいしかった。
There was the Road Station Shimogo which I referred to before at about 80% of the climb. To supply the energy I tried the milky soft ice cream as shown in the picture above, and this was delicious.



道の駅 しもごう を出て、 甲子トンネル までの残りの登り道の写真を3枚。紅葉が進みつつありました。
Three pictures show the views along the uphill road towards Kashi Tunnel. The autumn red was going ahead.



甲子トンネル を抜けて、 安心坂トンネル の手前に、 甲子温泉 の唯一の温泉宿の 日本秘湯の会 会員 大黒屋 への分岐道がある。ここに立ち寄りました。最初の写真が玄関。次が、河原(阿武隈川の源流)に近い 大岩風呂 への通路で、その先に写真の入口があります。この 大岩風呂 は、超大型で、酸ヶ湯温泉の千人風呂を彷彿とさせます。湯は、ぬるめの単純泉でしたが、自然のままの掛け流しで、新鮮な良い湯でした。
After going through the Kashi Tunnel and just before the next Anshinzaka Tunnel, there was a branch road to Daikokuya Inn which was the only inn of the Kashi Onsen, and which was also a member of the Japan Association of Secluded Hot Spring Inns. I stopped here. The first picture shows the entrance. The second one shows the path to the giant rock bath which was located near the river, and the third picture shows the entrance for the giant bath. This giant rock bath was so huge that I remembered the famous bath for a thousand people of Sukayu Onsen. The hot spring was simple spring with ordinary temperature. It was a spring just pouring out naturally, thus being very fresh and wonderful.

本日の宿は、 新甲子温泉 のみやま荘。ここは、往路で泊まった五峰荘と姉妹宿で、源泉も同一です。但し、甲子温泉とは、全く異なる硫酸塩泉です。
I stayed at Miyama Inn of Shinkashi Hot Spring today. This was the sister inn of Gohousou Inn which I stayed last week. The spring was sulfate spring which was completely different from the Kashi Onsen.
【2012年10月18日】 会津田島 で( Oct. 18, 2012: At Aizutajima )
Today, since it was a rainy day and I also had to refresh for the hill climb from Shimogo to Kashi Tunnel tomorrow, bike tour was suspended. I hung around Aizutajima town area. This refresh day had been already incorporated into my original plan.


会津田島駅 から、 会津鉄道 と 野岩鉄道 に乗ってみました。写真は、乗った電車で、福島県 側を 会津鉄道 、栃木県 側を 野岩鉄道 と呼びますが、乗り換え無しの直通です。車内は、2枚目のように、輪行のスペースもあります。乗った電車は、会津マウントエクスプレス と呼び、普通料金で、社内は特急なみのリクライニングシートで快適でした。
I took a train of Aizu Railway and Yagan Railway from the Aizutajima Station. The picture shows the train. They call Aizu Railway on the Fukushima Pref. side and Yagan Railway on the Tochigi Pref. side. However, the train was the same without transfer. The second picture shows inside the train and I could find the space for bike pack. The train I took was called Aizu Mount Express which had comfortable reclining sheets like limited express but with usual fare.

宿の近くに、写真の 旧南会津郡役所 があります。ただし、内部の見学は来年初めまで、できない。
I found the old Minami-Aizu County Office shown in the picture above near my inn. The inside tour was now being suspended until the beginning of the next year.