Chapter 65 2. Cherry blossom viewing in Izu

While thinking about this, Jiu Mu arrived at Tokyo Station, got on the train and sat side by side with Rinko. First take the Shinkansen Echo to Mishima, and then transfer to the Izu-Hakone Railway to Shuzenji.Although it is the cherry blossom season, but because it is a Sunday afternoon, the train is very empty. They used to go out on Saturdays and return on Sundays. This time, in order to avoid the crowds on weekends, they changed to Sundays and returned on Mondays.Being able to have such an elegant journey is also thanks to the leisurely work. Recently, Jiu Mu enjoys the feeling of being in a leisurely job more than sighing.

The tram from Mishima drove empty to Nagaoka, Daren, and Nakaizu. The closer to the mountainous area, the fewer houses there were, and the mountains came closer, and the cherry blossoms on the mountainside were in full bloom.Most of the cherry blossoms here are Somei Yoshino, and the blooming cherry blossoms are particularly prominent on the green mountainside. From a distance, it looks like Aoyama wearing a pink flower hat. I have long wanted to take this tram! Just as Rinko said, the tram stops at every station, and occasionally you have to wait for a while before starting to hear the whistle of the conductor. It is the most suitable local line for a leisurely spring afternoon trip.

The train runs parallel to the small river on the side of the mountain. It is the Kano River that collects the water flowing down from the Amagi Mountains into Suruga Bay. People can be seen fishing everywhere.The sweetfish season has not yet arrived, but the river is clear, so it is not difficult to understand why this area has become a famous production area of ​​wasabi (wasabi). The mountains, cherry blossoms, and clear streams, which are not seen in the city, are fascinating. After about 30 minutes, the train arrived at the terminal Shuzenji. This is an ancient hot spring village discovered by Master Kukai more than a thousand years ago. It is famous for "Shuzenji Monogatari", and it is also a place with some connections with Genji.Probably due to the hot spring, the cherry blossoms are about to fade, and the petals are slowly falling on the shoulders of Hisaki and Rinko.

When many people hear Shuzenji, they only know that it is a hot spring town in Izu, but they don’t know that there is also an ancient temple with all origins, Shuzenji built by Master Kukai. The ancient temple is located a few minutes' drive southwest of the station. Across a road and the opposite bank of the vermilion-lacquered Huxi Bridge, you can climb up the steep stone stairs and pass through the gate and the courtyard surrounded by bamboo forests to see the main hall of the temple. Eight hundred years ago, Yuan Laichao imprisoned his younger brother Yuan Fan Lai in this temple, Yuan Fan Lai committed suicide and died.Later, the Minamoto Yoritomo's son, the Rai family, was also killed by the Hojo Shizheng in Hakoto by the Tiger Creek Bridge.Okamoto Kido's "Shuzenji Monogatari" was written based on this tragedy. Later, Hojo Masako mourned his Aiko Lai's family and built the Shigeki Temple at the foot of a nearby mountain.

Contrary to the bloody events surrounding Shuzenji Temple, the slightly rectangular main hall has gently undulating eaves, against the trees of the back mountain, like a noble woman who shines beautifully. After Jiu Mu and Rinko paid homage, they crossed the bridge to pay homage to the Shigetsu Temple and the tomb of Minamoto Yori's family at the foot of the mountain, and finally sat back in the car. It was past five o'clock, and the shadow of the sun began to slant to the west, but the spring scenery was still bright. When you come to the narrow hot spring street built along the river, the road gradually widens along the street, and you can see today's accommodation at a glance.

The main entrance of the hotel is a large and solid gate, and one can see a spacious entrance with a mountain-shaped roof when looking in from the gate.The car stopped in front of the entrance, and the maid immediately led them in. The hall is large, with grained wooden tables and wicker chairs, and a pond outside. When she saw the Noh stage floating on the pond, Rinko couldn't help but exclaimed that it was great.About five or six hundred square meters in size, opposite to the pond extending to the left and right, the classical Noh stage is reflected in the water in a mysterious manner, and the cliff behind it is covered with lush forests.

Rinko stared unblinkingly at another world that suddenly appeared in front of her eyes after crossing mountains and rivers. The maid took them to the innermost corner room on the second floor.As soon as you enter the door, there is a small living room with a size of four and a half tiles. Inside is a Japanese room with a size of ten tiles. The innermost part is a window-side viewing area slightly lower than the inner room with a floor, from which you can overlook part of the pond. You see, the cherry blossoms are all in bloom. Rinko called Jiu Mu to the window, and there was a house-high cherry tree in full bloom on the left hand side, and the cherry blossoms were within reach.

I said that I wanted to see the cherry blossoms, and maybe this room was specially prepared for us for this reason. It was also the first time for Jiumu to come to this hotel. He had heard from his friends in the publishing department that there was an elegant hotel with a Noh theater in Shuzenji, so he asked them to introduce him. look!The petals are falling! There was a gentle breeze in the evening, and the petals fell to Rinko's outstretched hand, and then fell to the pond in front of him. so quiet! Coming here, things like work, family and divorce have long been forgotten. Hisaki breathed the air in the mountains, and quietly hugged Rinko who was fascinated by the cherry blossoms from behind.Rinko thought that he also wanted to see the cherry blossoms, so she turned her head and saw the blooming cherry blossoms and the quiet pond in front of her.

Hisaki kissed Rinko lightly and whispered in her ear: Did you bring that? what? Red long shirt! It's your order, of course it's brought! After saying this, Rinko left the window and disappeared into the bathroom. Staying alone in the room where the cherry blossoms were falling, Hisaki lit a cigarette and smoked. The windows were open, but there was no chill. The crisp air of the blooming season drifts in and out of the open windows. Feeling comfortable, but also feeling indescribably lazy, Jiumu suddenly took advantage of the joy and said: "On the fifteenth night of February in Yangchun, I hope that the dead flowers will never regret it."

This is a song about the journey to the west that ends his life by abandoning his official position and wandering in nature. Sipping the tea made by the maid in the room, after a short rest, the two went to soak in the hot spring.The men's and women's baths are on both sides of the corridor on the first floor, but Jiu Mu went to the open-air hot spring to have a look first. After six o'clock in the afternoon, the already dark sky gradually turned from blue to dark blue, but it was not completely dark yet.At this moment before nightfall, there is no one in the open-air hot spring.

After all, it was Sunday night, and there were few guests staying overnight.In the quiet hot spring pool, there is only the monotonous sound of water dripping along the cracks in the stone. Let's go in? When Jiu Mu invited her, Rinko seemed a little hesitant. Do not worry about it. Even if someone wants to come in, they will automatically back away as soon as they see it. After Jiumu persuaded again, Rinko seemed to have made up his mind, and started to undress with his back to Jiumu at a place slightly away.