visited otonashi water park two seasons ahead : November 11 2024

got excited for today's nightwalking activity. my plans were as fluid as the waves of the pacific, it changed as i was walking. when i went out, i initially thought of going south, the usual ueno bound route. when i was outside the apartment, i thought of going west first before going south. and so i did went west. before i even reached nishi nippori station, my bladder was already screaming for release. i had to find a toilet at the soonest or i might pee in my pants; that would be too unsightly and my shoes would die with that ordeal.

on my quest to find a toilet, that has become the priority. i have completely forgotten which way i should have gone, my find was just filled with one thing alone. and now that i am trying to find one, i couldn't find any. this felt like i was toyed by some super power. where i couldn't see with my eyes, i tried searching with my nose. (i just wanted to add that there, i'm no dog to have the capabilities to do that.)

i finally found one on top of a hill, in suwa shrine. i have featured this place before in one of the summer festivals. it was such a colorful event, but now that the festivities are over, the dark night is nothing but dark. there were occasional smokers here and there, and those spirits hanging around. good thing that i do not possess that ability to sense non-living beings. you can just read about the festivities below.

to honor the gods and to celebrate with the dead : August 25 2024

i just took a picture of my way back from atop the hill.

so back to my journey, now that i have relieved myself my brain started ticking. i decided to go visit a water park near oji station. i have been there before, but this is my first time walking towards the destination. as i was walking, i started to feel drizzles. checked my phone and the weather definitely said of a 1% chance of rain. how lucky must i be! i was rained on with just a 1% chance! super lucky! i really hoped it would stop soon, 1% chance is too small for it to rain fully. it was enough to get my hair moist, and it was enough to get my blood pumping to walk briskly. and of all places, the route i took was pretty barren. i couldn't find any park with roof where i could wait it out. if it were just a normal day, i would have gone down this steps and see what is down there.

luckily, the drizzling stopped after 10 minutes. it was enough to make the pavement shine like silver (i hope you got the reference). and i was now in this part of town with lots of trees. these were parks, the first one is already close for the day, the second had no fence. but these were not what i am after, so on i proceeded.

otonashi water park (音無親水公園)

this is my goal for today. i have written something about this in the post below and i would have wanted to feature more about this park.

flashes of moments : September 7 2024

so from the main road, i went down these steps towards where the river once was.

these trees are all sakura trees by the way, so just imagine how beautiful this would look like in the spring. in the edo period, the area was a hangout spot for local landlords, and was very much known for its beauty. it was even featured in the works of a great ukiyo-e (woodblock print) master, utagawa hiroshige as one of his collection of one hundred famous views of edo.

this picture was of the dried up water bed, it was closed of to public at night. probably in the spring when the sakuras are in full bloom, all the trees would probably be lighted up and the bottom river bed will be opened even at night. that is pure speculations on my part, but i have seen pictures of that view in the net.

now in autumn, the sakura leaves are still intact, it is early autumn after all. but soon by winter time, all of these leaves will fall off and by spring, the trees will be sprinkled with pinkish white blooms. oh i wish to witness that sight. although small in size compared to other parks, this is actually selected as one of japan's top 100 city parks.

and just at the end of this view is the oji station, very convenient to visit. i just don't know if picnics are allowed in here i think they are during hanami (sakura viewing) season.

this ended my short but sweet walk. i would probably visit this park in the winter when all the leaves have fallen, and of course in the spring when everything will be festive.

as always, AMPING KANUNAY!