When you do not want to drive a car, nor ride a bicycle and when there is no railroad available the best means to travel through Shizuoka Prefecture is the bus. And it can prove cheaper as well!
This time, still starting from Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Station North Exit Bus Platform, I went north along the Ikumi Line/Ikumi Sen/伊久身線 up in the mountains till the last station called Ikumi (different Japanese characters: 伊久美).
Note there is only one bus every hour!
My bus!
Although smaller than tourist buses, such vehicles have very large windows for perfect views!
The trip altogether last an hour and runs along the Ooi River for about 20 minutes!
This particular line is heavily subsidized by the municipality to help tea farmers up in the mountains and the whole trip costs only 200 yen!
The city is also taking care of some splendid lawn banks!
Turning along the Ikumi River a tribute of the Ooi River!
It becomes pretty narrow at times!
It runs across narrow farm lands!
in some areas it becomes a torrent between steep slopes!
Some spots are very popular for camping, bathing and BBQ’s!
The green tea grown on these mountains is among the best in Japan!
These propellers help regulate the air and temperature for the tea leaves!
Almost arrived!
Only 200 yen!
My bus at the last stop up in the mountains!
This very last stop is in Nihama!
Now, let’s walk and ride again!) all the way back to Shimada City to discover the sights!
What’s over there?
A splendid kura/蔵/Traditional Japanese warehoues in a perfect state!
You will find some of the very old abodes of the local farmers!
Green tea farms!
A very ancient western-style house buit during the Meiji Era which now serves as a community center!
It definitely warrants the appellation of a cultural asset!
Look at that roof!
Walking along the river…
Green tea everywhere!
More green tea!
What are they doing?
Catching ayu trouts!
A sign to warn drivers that they are passing by an elementary school!
It was a sweltering day and I would have welcomed a dip!
Plenty of fish there, too!
The local tea cooperative processing plant!
The roof is green with tea particles!
A wild boar hunters’ lodge!
The area is plagued with wild boars, deer and wild monkeys who feat on the farms!
Some of the local farmers are still obviously well off!
A double traditional house!
With its rare and expensive linking hall!
More modest traditional Japanese farmhouses!
No, this house is not abandoned!
It is a community agricultural equipment shed!
Another ayu trout angler!
The next bus stop!
The last post office which also probably serves as a bank!
The last Police box/”koban”!
I had a great talk with this gentleman farmer!
He even gave me some frozen wild boar meat!
We talked in front of his home while I was waiting for the next bus!
A tiny house shrine!
I discovered this house along the river decorated with wind toys!
Beside the bus stop next to the house stood a local Shinto shrine!
The shrine was called Ooi Uami Shrine dedicated to the Ooi River in Uami District!
It concealed a far more ancient and minuscule shrine!
There are many Shinto shrines all along the Ooi River indeed!
The Hachiman Shrine in Kawaguchi!
Another bigger one!
The Kanza Ooi Shrine!
An even bigger one as I got nearer back to the center of Shimada City!
The Sonsha Ooi Shrine!
And even a small one “floating” on a small river!
But I couldn’t find its name!
Where shall I go next?
RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES
So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents
SHIZUOKA TOURISM 