KURATABI

I've grown bored with the same routine for spending holidays lately, so I decided to ask ChatGPT for some ideas. During our conversation, I discovered that there are some walking courses around Aoba Mountain.

According to ChatGPT, there appear to be three main courses:

1. Michinoku no Mori Course: This course allows you to immerse yourself in nature, spanning a distance of 2.5km surrounded by trees. Along the way, you can catch a glimpse of the city view from a high vantage point.

2. Mt. Aoba City View Course: This path leads to the summit of the mountain, covering a distance of just 1km. Although short, it features steep slopes and steps at times, offering panoramic views from the top.

3. Aoba Shrine Course: This course follows the shrine approach to Aoba Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Sendai. Here, you can enjoy both history and nature.

I decided to go with the first option. Although I couldn't find a course with the exact same name on Google, it seems there are pathways around Aoba Mountain station.

After getting off the subway at Aoba Mountain Station and passing through the campuses of universities, I came across the administrative building of Aobanomori Ryokuchi Park, which is approximately a 10-minute walk from the station. It seems that you can access the pathways from here.

I found some brochures of walking maps in Sendai. I want to try out this course called the Cherry Blossom Course next month, even though it covers a distance of 15km.

The pathway is well-maintained and easy to walk on. There are also some guides along the way, making it difficult to get lost. While I don't believe wild bears frequently roam around here, there have been occasional sightings in Aoba Mountain, so I recommend carrying a bear bell, just to be safe.

After walking for a few minutes from the entrance, I arrived at Seseragi Square. It's an open space where you can hear the soothing sound of mountain spring water. I decided to have lunch here.

That morning, I prepared a lunchbox with rolled omelet, fried chicken, boiled broccoli, and rice balls. I rarely have the opportunity to make a lunchbox these days, so it was enjoyable to prepare.

The maximum temperature that day was 17 degrees Celsius, and it was typical spring weather. Eating outside made the flavors seem even better.

After finishing lunch, I continued along the pathway. Although it had been getting warmer, I still noticed some dry woods around. The buds of the wild cherry blossoms didn't seem to have bloomed yet. It seemed like it would take a little longer for spring to fully arrive.

However, some little birds were already awake. As I walked on the fallen leaves, I heard the sound of a bush warbler chirping nearby.

After a while, I arrived at the Forest of Fossil. Here, you can see shell fossils dating back approximately 1.5-5 million years. In ancient times, this area was the shore, and the strata are composed of layers of hydromorphic soil and terrestrial sediment.

The pathway sometimes had steep slopes and steps, making it harder for me than expected. I found myself sweating, even though it was only March. After enjoying my stroll, I visited the public bath called Kiyonoyu near Sendai Station.

While there, I joined in conversation with some regular customers who had been visiting for over 20 years. I felt the warmth of the people.

I was originally thinking of grabbing something sweet on the way home, but after taking a bath, I felt like having a beer. I headed to a Chinese restaurant in the station and ordered some beer along with tofu topped with century egg and spring rolls.

As I boarded the train, I felt a comfortable fatigue settling in. Watching the cityscape at dusk through the train's window, I reflected on the day's adventures.