Shooting Star Waterfall !

by Kazu

Above is the parking lot in front of the lookout to see the waterfalls of Galaxy, Shootingstar and the columnar joints heading to the sky and surrounding the water flows.

The national Route had been moved to the current position decades ago from this route which is used as a trekking and cycling course and parking lot beside the river. The valley has its own particular atmosphere and circumstances.

The original national route was built beside the river but some long tunnels built afterward took over the role to connect my hometown Kitami City and Asahikawa City. Trekking to the peak of Mt. Kurodate takes only one our or so from the end of the lift station. Would you try the valley and mountain ?

 

Galaxy Waterfall in Souunkyou !

by Kazu

I keep my fingers and toes crossed praying for the citizens of my hometown Kitami City in the critical financial situation. I am craving for the recovery of the municipality's financial stability.

On our way back to Sapporo from my hometown Kitami City, we dropped by Souunkyo Valley and took photos of Waterfalls of Galaxy and Shooting Star beside the National Route.  

In my infancy, this valley was the place I was eager to stay for a week or more enjoying the quality hot spring spa, jogging along Ishikari River, trekking to the peak of Mt. Kuro-dake. 

 

Midorigaoka Graveyard in Kitami City !

by Kazu

We love Gorgeous Peach Frappuccino of Starbucks that we can savor every summer. This year, my aunt also experienced this art work of peach and whip cream with us in Kitami City. It is said that if a person have something to eat or drink, he/she will live ten years longer than before. 

I was so pleased to see her enjoying and savoring amply the peach frappuccino. The next day, I ran up to the highest point of the graveyard near my home in Kitami City. The city view was so clear that the graveyard  on the opposite side of the hollow could be seen from there. 

Running up to the summit of the graveyard on the hillside had been too tough in my juvenile but was not so much in that morning. Splendid landscape of my hometown energized me so much but the municipality may go bankrupt in the near future.  

 

A Saw Beatle in Raiun Shrine !

by Kazu

Above is the male "Saw Beetle" posed on the wall of "Raiun Shrine" in Shari Town and not female.It might be the first time for me to see the living wild beetle in the woods in recent decades. The scissors-like jaws of the beetle was so small that you might see that as female.

But it was male grown in the comparatively cool weather and not so fertile wood chips.Much larger "Saw Beetles can be seen even in Hokkaido including my hometown Kitami City.

Even the largest "Mid Mountain Scissor Beetle" could be seen during my infancy and considering the higher temperature than before, the elements necessary for their growth might have got better than before but the habitat might have got smaller than before.

 

The Fountain of Good Fortune !

by Kazu

"Raiun Shrine" in Shari Town has its own fountain and beautiful natural forest in its premises and the way to the sacred house of the shrine from the gate at the foot of the hill had peculiar circumstances of the atmosphere of forbidden space.  

The creek near the fountain carried chilly breeze from the upper side and the mineral carried by the water flow fertilized the lower plain and the ocean including Okhotsk Sea.   

Affected by the income mainly from the tourism industry, the premises including the forest and the trail seemed to be well-maintained and trimmed. Please share the income with my hometown Kitami City. 

 

Raiun Shrine in Shari Town !

by Kazu

My aunt living in my hometown Kitami City and I are so concerned about the municipality's administrative services and running of public facilities. It seems that various kinds of fees will be raised and some facilities may be closed.

We visited Raiun Shrine in Shari Town that had the Shiretoko National Park listed as the World Nature Heritage of UNESCO in the area to pray for the recovery of the financial status of my hometown. 

The shrine had a fountain which water could be drinkable and refreshing.Needless to say, the famous brown bears that may attack human beings were living around there. 

 

Green Center in Kitami City !

by Kazu

I visited "the Green Center" of my hometown Kitami City on my way of jogging early in the morning. I make a point of visiting there every morning during my stay in my cozy old home but keeping this place well-maintained will be tough for the municipality. 

I had heard of the bad financial situation of the municipality and it turned out that it was worst in Hokkaido and worse than that notorious Yubari City that had experienced bankruptcy after the overdrive of spending its small-scale budget making the most of subsidies from the central government.  

After the closing of coalmines in the city, the municipality of Yubari turned its direction to tourism-centered development but too much debt brought by the mayors leadership deteriorated the service system of the municipality. What the leader and the city councilors of my hometown failed to do?