閑谷学校

In late autumn, the cold has come with strong wind from Northern China. Leaves of maple and ginkgo tree turned its color to red and yellow in each. Maybe, to be feeble and faint sunlight day by day makes me hurry to go to Shizutani School, where is famous of autumn colored leaves.

It was in summer about 40 years ago that I had come to be here in Shizutani School for the first time. Getting off railway station at Yoshinaga, we began to walk toward Shizutani School on the bumpy uphill road. It was a hot summer day. I had to carry a heavy knapsack on my back for about 3 miles. Drops of sweat had been falling down from my forehead continuously. When I found a tunnel in my way, it was a great relief.

This picture shows the tunnel.

Passing through the tunnel, there is full of autumn leaves and you would know the arrival to Shizutani School, surrounded with stone wall.

Walking down along the stone wall, you could find the main gate, which is not allowed to pass, probably due to collect entrance fee. There sites a entrance gate to the right side.

In front of the main gate, it was held an autumn festival and dancers were spinning with fluttering their hands in korean traditional clothes (probably) on the grass. There is a car parking beyond them.

We came here for camping 40 years ago, and had spent a night just beyond the grass. It reminds me of the magnificent campfire and delicious curry with rice even now.

Just before nightfall, we had been down by the moutain stream nearby. Water was trickling over the rocks and falling down to a shallow pool. We washed rices, onions, carrots and so on for supper.

Walking up along the moutain stream for about 1500ft., there is a cabin, called Kouyoutei; for tea ceremony within maple trees of yellow-colored leaves; that is surrounded with full of autumn leaves.

帰り道、一陣の風が吹き抜けると、黄色く色づいた木々の葉は空高く舞い上がり、さながら黄色の雪が舞っているよう。足元では落葉した赤い葉が川の流れのように動いていました。

より大きな地図で Shizutani School を表示