Holiday trip for adults ~ A true paradise of paradise ~

Izunuma/Uchinuma Lotus Festival

Today, a woman descended on Izunuma for the Izunuma Uchinuma Lotus Festival. The goal is to take time out from your busy schedule to enjoy a free trip alone, an ``adult holiday trip.'' Dressed in the cool yukata she had prepared for this day, she squinted in the midsummer sun, her expression giving off a somewhat ephemeral vibe. The fact that such facial expressions are allowed is one of the best parts of an ``adult holiday trip,'' where you can spend your time without worrying about anyone else.

Due to the effects of global warming in recent years, Izunuma's blooming conditions vary each year depending on factors such as weather, daylight hours, and disasters. This year (2023), the water level in the swamp rose due to last year's heavy rains, and some of the lotuses were submerged and withered, but those that survived were blooming with pretty flowers.

And every year, local boatmen play an active role in the festival. He operates a small boat that seats 6 or 7 people with a cute high-colored roof and offers passengers a beautiful 20-minute journey on the water.

``Yes, I'm leaving! Make sure to wear a life preserver and hold on tight. ”

The small boat departs on a journey around the water surface while making a light engine sound!

A refreshing breeze that made you forget the midsummer heat passed smoothly through the ship, and just as the pier started to look smaller, right in front of you was a lotus the size of an adult's outstretched hand. Flowers!

The pink flowers gently swaying in the wind, extending from the depths of the marsh and peeking out above the ground, giving a sense of strength and dignity. The lotus that grows in Izunuma is a non-edible variety, and the edible lotus stems are sold on the market as lotus roots. In addition to the pink (red) of Izunuma, the flowers also come in white, and the difference is said to have nothing to do with their edibility. The more you look at it, the more you will be drawn to the charm of the lotus.

While staring at the lotus flower, I took a deep breath.

Forget about the hectic pace of everyday life, and the gentle breeze and flowers blooming on the water's surface will naturally put a smile on your face. The pink lotus flowers that stand out against the blue sky not only have an artistic appeal, but also give energy to those who look at them, as if a mysterious world exists.

"Can I sit over there? ”

With a smile on his face, he quickly walked and sat down on the bow of the boat, and the lotus flowers swayed around as if watching over him. The great nature of Izunuma brings smiles to people's faces and gives them ``precious moments'' in their hectic daily lives.

The words that overflow

“I’m glad you came.”

The 20 minutes of magical time on the water was different from the time that usually seems to pass by in the blink of an eye, and time passed slowly, like lotus flowers gently swaying.

``Take your time, it's okay to take it easy.'' ”

It was as if the lotus flowers were calling out to me, and I couldn't help but smile.

I prayed that the beautiful lotuses that spread out on the vast surface of the water would continue to live here, and I said to myself, ``Let's come again.''

As I breathed in the clear air of Izunuma, I suddenly felt like drinking some delicious coffee. One of the great things about a holiday trip for adults is that you can stop by when you suddenly feel like this. Move freely without worrying about time.

``It feels good like this. ”

After doing a quick search, I found information about a nice jazz cafe called Cafe Koropokkuru, which is located not far from here. It's just a 1-2 minute drive (about 10 minutes on foot) from here, so wonderful! With that in mind, I immediately headed to the cafe.