Poor Rhod. We were off on another of my historical trips. I really wanted to see where Emperor Kanmu had moved the capital to in 784, before deciding upon Kyoto as his final choice. We hopped on and off the train and walked through a small Japanese suburban town, no different from a million other small towns around the country. After living in the city, it is always a little odd to disembark in small settlements as it brings home the truth that we are in a foreign country, and also makes things feel a lot more like a holiday than sightseeing in more familiar Kyoto.
A small stroll to the north brings you to a large lake with a wooden 'friendship' pier (not really a pier I suppose as it connects two points and thus is a bridge) weaving in and out from the bank. Although azalea bushes bloom in their dozens come April (all 150 years old), for now the hills are a patchwork of colour and the Hachijoga-ike pond an odd blend of muddy hues. Despite the autumn season, there were only a few families about and it was nice to stroll without feeling hurried or crampt.
