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Exploring Forests with Professionals ~Nature and Activities in the Hida Region of Gifu~ Chapter 2 Gallery

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Exploring Forests with Professionals ~Nature and Activities in the Hida Region of Gifu~ Chapter 2 Gallery

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Certified guide of Amo Prefectural Natural Park, Katsumi Iwasa. After a long career as a teacher, he took on this role.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> It was mid-September and raining on the day of the shoot, but the forest's colors appeared even more vivid than on a clear day.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Entering the Amo forest from the parking lot.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Arriving at the site of the old Amo Pass after about 10 minutes.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Clustered in the center left are the husks of beech nuts. They are an important food source supporting forest life, from Asiatic black bears to rodents. 2011 was said to be a bumper year.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Chestnut wood, which is resistant to rot, is used for the stakes securing the boardwalk.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> The fruit of Miyama Nara, in other words, acorns.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Overlooking the high-altitude marshland. The autumn colors of the grasses, known as "kusamomiji" (grass autumn leaves), had begun.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> The marshlands of the Amo forest are broadly divided into three: two "Amo High-Altitude Marshlands" and the "Kihira Marshland" located beyond the Kihira Nature Trail.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> The sides of the marshland are well-ventilated and perfect for a break.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> A small shrine called "Takumido" located within the marshland.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Usnea lichen, which can only survive in clean air, is entwined around the trees.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Poison ivy entwined around the trunk. It turns a brilliant red in late autumn.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> A giant Katsura tree.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Booths for portable toilets installed within the park. Portable toilets cost 400 yen. According to surveys, all users have paid the proper fee.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Leaves of the Tochigi tree.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Giant beech trees remain scattered throughout.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> The berries of the Yukizasa plant, which have begun to change color.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> A strangely twisted beech tree.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Onigiri (rice balls) are the perfect lunch in the forest.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Flowers displayed at the entrance of Yatsusankan, an inn in Hida Furukawa.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Exterior view of Yatsusankan.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Dinner at Yatsusankan.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> The "Iketsuki no Ma" room, a modern Japanese-Western style room with an open-air bath.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> The living area of the "Iketsuki no Ma" room.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Yatsusankan's lounge.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Yatsusankan's reception room.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> The "Shogetsuro" room at Yatsusankan. It has been preserved as a National Tangible Cultural Property since 1905.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Salt-grilled ayu (sweetfish) with roe. In Hida Furukawa, ayu is served with its head facing left and its back towards the diner.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Hida beef steak.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> There is also a delightful menu for sake lovers: a tasting flight of local Japanese sakes.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Dessert of stewed figs and pears, topped with Kyoho grapes and yuzu jelly.

<strong>Exploring Forests with Professionals: Gifu Prefecture's "Wellness Tourism"</strong> Rikako Ikeda, the young proprietress of Yatsusankan.

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Exploring Forests with Professionals: Nature and Activities in Gifu's Hida Region - Chapter 2 Gallery

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