Some years ago, I happened on a tiny valley bordered by a forest near Reitaku University campus. At that time the place was known as ふくろうの森 Fukuro no Mori, or Owl Forest. When I went looking for the forest last weekend, I got hopelessly lost because the name has changed to Sakaine Shitada Forest. Through a little stand of sugi trees, a path leads down to
the Boy Scouts camp, and then across a meadow bordered by a forested hillside, and to the marshy bit at the bottom of the little valley. The forest park is very active, with rice paddy planting for kids, bird and bug watching.
When I arrived in the meadow, there was an old man and a little boy watching the leaves pass under the bridge over the brook, and an old couple sitting on a park bench. As the late afternoon sun descended through the trees, the woman sang the two verses of うさぎおいしかのやま… Usagi oishi kano yama, the nostalgic and beautiful lullaby which is often used as a civic chime in Kashiwa. The tune and the lyrics take on their real character when sung softly by an old lady illuminated by the setting sun surrounded by autumnal colours… 
Filed under: Kashiwa, Parks, nature | Leave a Comment »
ure upside down. You get the point.
This afternoon, in Noda City, we had a powerful hunger on us. It could only be satisfied with curry rice.
Tim made a valiant attempt to eat his chahan, but in the end, had to ask for a doggy bag, a not uncommon occurance at Yayoi. Lots of other diners do the same. There was enough in the takeout pack to feed two people!
Last weekend, we went to The Big Winner, an American diner caught in time. On the old Mitsukaido, just a 5 minute walk from the east exit of Kashiwa Station, you’ll see the front end of a Cadillac on the building front. Inside is a 1960s jukebox filled with vintage vinyl 45s, collectable mugs, and vintage Coca Cola paraphernalia fill the shop. The burgers remind me of elementary school Hot Dog Day fare – build-your-own burgers, hot dogs all dressed, cherry Cokes, and ginger ale floats.
Last night, we rented bikes from Kashiwa’s east exit bike depot, whooped all the way out to the Teganuma Ohashi Bridge to the east, over the bridge, through Teganuma Park on the Abiko side, and stopped for dinner at グルメ回転すし勢 Gourmet Kaiten Sushi Hazumi right across the road from Teganuma.
I’ve seen these bikes around town, the ones emblazoned with the Kashiwa Reysol mascot.