It was wonderful weather to ramble!
Have a stylish lunch outdoors at Honmachi Park
“the public” in the corner of Honmachi Park is a cafe and pub with the theme of “picnic”.
Nostalgic Area and Brand New Area in Wakayama City
It’s time to go hanami!
The cherry blossom viewing season has begun in earnest in Wakayama. The light red petals color Wakayama Castle.
Even on a weekday, many cherry blossom-viewing visitors enjoy the springtime on the grounds of the castle.
The “Omotenashi Ninjas,” who provide services to tourists, also work hard.
Birds and flowers seem to be sprawled out in the warm sunshine they have been waiting for.
Four New Tumulis Excavated at Kiifudoki-no-oka
Wakayama Prefectural Kiifudoki-no-oka has been conducting excavations of the Iwase Senzuka tumulus group since July 2021 in conjunction with the construction of the Prefectural Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (tentative).
The survey uncovered four new tombs, one of which is presumed to belong to a local authority. On March 26, a public information meeting was held for that tomb and another one.
Iwase Senzuka Tumulus Group consists of approximately 900 burial mounds which are built from around the end of the 4th century to the middle of the 7th century, on hills ranging from 80 to 150 meters above sea level.
Of the tombs discovered this time, the stone chamber of Maeyama B370 (tentative) is presumed to be an Iwase-type side-hole tomb, a 16-20 meter round burial mound, and experts believe that it was the tomb of an influential local person based on the secondary burial goods and its size.
The smaller Mayama B369 (tentative) is about 3 meters long and has a T-shaped stone chamber. This tomb is presumed to be a one-man burial mound.
Kiifudoki-no-oka plans to backfill and preserve these newly discovered tombs.
Nagashi-bina Event of Awashima Shrine
March 3rd is the Doll’s Festival, Japanese people display a set of dolls and pray for the sound growth of girls in the family.
On this day, the “Nagashi-biina” event is held at Awashima Shrine in Wakayama City, where hina dolls delivered from all over Japan are put on a boat and floated out to sea.
Originally, there was a Chinese custom of going to the waterfront on March 3, or the Peach Festival, to hold an exorcism ceremony, which was then introduced to Japan.
The shrine is also famous as a women’s power spot, offering prayers for women’s health, easy childbirth, and the fulfillment of love.
Boulangerie Lapin
This bakery is located along the Koga-Kata Line, diagonally across from Higashi-Matsue Station on the Nankai-Kata Line. The bakery produces a wide variety of breads, including Danish, cream, and pizza breads, and new breads appears frequently.
They also have cute breads that will surely please your children!
EAST ST. COFFEE SPOT
Walking from Wakayama City Station, past the city library, the takoyaki shop Kururi, and the set meal shop Ajiiichi, you will find this store just before the crossroad near the railroad crossing.
There is no conspicuous signboard, so you may easily pass by this hidden cafe, where the master with a nice smile carefully brews coffee for you. The space is stylish and retro, with soft vinyl dolls of Godzilla or Ultraman here and there, and posters of the Osaka Expo on display.
Summer has come!
The rainy season ended about a week ago, and summer is in full swing in Wakayama.
I felt a little relieved after delivering one of my projects, so I took a short walk after lunch. The summer sun beat down on me.
I really wanted to go cycling, but I had a bad fall from my bike a few days ago, and I still have some scars here and there, so I held off for today.
I was sweating as soon as I walked, but the refreshing breeze was constantly blowing.
Today was also a national holiday, but there weren’t that many cyclists on the Kinokawa Bike Path.
I bought some ice cream at a drugstore on the way, and then went to Bakery Lobo to buy some sweet potato danish for tomorrow’s breakfast.
