Shin took a half-day off today, met Mei-Shun at Tokyo Station in early afternoon. They went up by an escalator, window-shopping winter items, toward restaurant floor of a department store. Hmm, tempura looks the best for lunch. He ordered 3-course ones including rare 大浅利=oh-asari, a shellfish much bigger than normal size. And 大山=oh-yama sake for his wife who won’t drive after this.
Why in an iron pot?
Great to see you again (maybe), Your Highness. Last time Mei-Shun visited your place in the garden of an Italian restaurant, 神楽坂, it seemed red guards did not count so many. It is because of your promotion, isn’t it? Please kindly take her words of congratulation. There are a lot of sweet cats here including Mr. Zai as follows, your safety must be insured as much as possible.
Thank you so much for your invitation, Kaori-san. It is the first time for Mei-Shun to visit Mr. and Mrs. M’s home in Tokyo, with 石神井公園 Park taking just a few minutes to walk. Shin often enjoyed driving to there with his wife on weekends when they lived in 杉並 Ward. Rowing a boat on the pond, 三宝寺池 beyond a roadway has never been their goal.
The other day, Mei-Shun had a narrow escape in home bathroom. When she stirred bathtub with a pail, she found it too cold to go into –thanks to her custom to wash herself before relaxation in warm water. It seems a kind of manner, that Shin totally agrees as well. He took a nap while his wife enjoyed wide public bath at 竹泉荘, so used a tiny shower and bathtub space within their room before bathing in balcony.
Hello, wild ducks. Shin and Mei-Shun are so happy to see you again on 乙戸沼. They visited the park on weekend, found gingko trees serve golden lanes. And the fountains to air the pond water, while one of them distorted too much to make an upside-down parasol. Camellia-sasanqua trees already bloom in white, light and bright pinks. Oh, young trees arrived to replace older ones.
They seem to prepare for Christmas, New-year Day and even St. Valentine’s Day. Shin and Mei-Shun drove to a park to see 霞ヶ浦, Kasumigaura lake on weekend, found them lit up in trial. Well, it might not be too soon because White Christmas, the wife’s favorite rose, beautifully blooms in her mother’s garden. Could you give some comment, Mr. Watermill, looking your partner windmill there?
竹泉荘 has beautiful 有田焼 dishes served at 竈神=Kamajin, their only and the best restaurant, while lovely glasses were also available for sake. Mei-Shun chose one for dinner, felt quite interested in a souvenir shop next to a small gallery. Shin did as well, visited there in early morning. They decided to bring home a pair of chopsticks rest shaped like flowers with different number of petals.
Instead of strolling around in the morning, a concierge recommended Shin and Mei-Shun to go up to the top floor where no guest stayed by chance. Compared to the 2nd floor for them, 5th was over the top of woods with Mt. Zao shining in morning light on eastern face, whose glow of foliage in the middle of autumn would be wonderful only to imagine.
Mt. Aoso
Shin chose a suite room with a private garden spa at 竹泉荘. Natural hot water here has no color, no scent while its alkaline component might stimulate a bit your small cut or scratch by fluffy pets. It keeps you warmed for long time, would not need any makeup if bathe in the morning. Mei-Shun put on sneakers expecting to walk around the hotel, yet disturbed by an unexpected guest — a wild bear!
Shin gave Mei-Shun a surprise gift: they went on one-night trip to 遠刈田温泉. They have several nice hot springs listed, while it is always exciting to visit another place for the first time. 3-hour drive was quite comfortable on a weekday, brought them at 竹泉荘 around 16 o’clock. The husband took a nap, the wife enjoyed wide public bath before tasty dinner.
meishunkikunoe 