「天空の城」竹田城の雲海
「Castle in the Sky」Takeda Castle's Sea of Clouds
11月6日に天滝に向かっていた時、但東町からずっと霧の中を運転しました。その時に「あそこにも行きたいな~!」と思いました。そうですよ。日本のマチュピチュ、天空の城と称される「竹田城跡」の雲海をずっと前から見に行きたかったです。私のバケットリストに入っていました。
（英語ではバケットリスト[bucket list]は「死ぬまでにしたいこと」という意味です。）
家に帰った後、天気予報を見て、また明日も霧が発生しそうな状況でした。雲海が出る条件は「よく晴れていること」「前日の日中と当日の早朝の気温の差が大きいこと」「風が弱いこと」です。では、この日の二つ目のアドベンチャーに出かけることにしました。布団を車に入れて、22時に家を出て立雲峡に向かいました。
（英語ではバケットリスト[bucket list]は「死ぬまでにしたいこと」という意味です。）
家に帰った後、天気予報を見て、また明日も霧が発生しそうな状況でした。雲海が出る条件は「よく晴れていること」「前日の日中と当日の早朝の気温の差が大きいこと」「風が弱いこと」です。では、この日の二つ目のアドベンチャーに出かけることにしました。布団を車に入れて、22時に家を出て立雲峡に向かいました。
When I went to Tentaki Waterfall on November 6th, I had to drive in mist all the way from Tanto Town. At that time I thought I'd like to go and see the 'sea of clouds' of Takeda Castle, also known as the 'Machu Picchu of Japan' or 'Castle in the Sky'. It had been on my bucket list of things to do for quite some time.
After getting back home, I checked the weather forecast and the conditions looked good for mist to form again tomorrow. 「Clear skies」「A large temperature difference between the day before and the next morning」「No wind」 are the main requirements for the formation of 'the sea of clouds'. Right! I decided to head off on my second adventure of the day. I put my futon in my car and left home at 10 p.m. heading for Ritsuunkyo.
After getting back home, I checked the weather forecast and the conditions looked good for mist to form again tomorrow. 「Clear skies」「A large temperature difference between the day before and the next morning」「No wind」 are the main requirements for the formation of 'the sea of clouds'. Right! I decided to head off on my second adventure of the day. I put my futon in my car and left home at 10 p.m. heading for Ritsuunkyo.
NOTE: Click any photo to enlarge. 注意:どれでもの写真を拡大するのにクリックして
 この3頭の若い鹿が超面白かった。ガードレール 端っこはすぐそこにあったのに．．．（動画をご覧になってください） These 3 young deer were hilarious. Even though the end of the guard rail was right there, they did what they did. (Watch the video.) | |
行く途中で2匹のキツネ、2匹のタヌキ、1匹のテン、13頭の鹿を見かけました。非常に面白いドライブでしたが、鹿にぶつからないように気を付けて、ゆっくり運転する必要がありました。23時30分前に立雲峡に到着しました。
Along the way, I spotted 2 foxes, 2 tanuki (raccoon dogs), 1 marten and 13 deer. It was an entertaining drive, but I had to drive slowly so as to not collide with any deer. I arrived at Ritsuunkyo at just before 11:30 p.m.
Along the way, I spotted 2 foxes, 2 tanuki (raccoon dogs), 1 marten and 13 deer. It was an entertaining drive, but I had to drive slowly so as to not collide with any deer. I arrived at Ritsuunkyo at just before 11:30 p.m.
 立雲峡の駐車場 Rituunkyo's car park. |  |
到着した時、立雲峡駐車場がもう満車でした。「ウソ！なにこれ！」と思いながら驚きました。私は駐車場から100メートルくらい離れたところで半分路肩上に半分道路上に斜めに駐車しました。下記の立雲峡案内図を見てください。登山口から駐車場まで1.3キロメートルです。帰る時、ずっとその登山口まで車がありました。すごかったよ！！早く着いたよかった！
The Ritsuunkyo car park was already full when arrive. No way! What the heck! I was astounded. I ended up parking about 100 meters down the road with the rear of my car on the side of the road and the front of my car sticking out onto the road. If you look at the map of Ritsuunkyo below, you can see the 1.3 km long road leading up to the car park. On my way back down, I realized that cars were parked in the same manner as mine all the way down to the turn off. That's crazy! It certainly made me glad that I had arrived early.
The Ritsuunkyo car park was already full when arrive. No way! What the heck! I was astounded. I ended up parking about 100 meters down the road with the rear of my car on the side of the road and the front of my car sticking out onto the road. If you look at the map of Ritsuunkyo below, you can see the 1.3 km long road leading up to the car park. On my way back down, I realized that cars were parked in the same manner as mine all the way down to the turn off. That's crazy! It certainly made me glad that I had arrived early.
 登山道口と入山券の売り場 The hiking entrance and entrance ticket booth. |  ￥300 for an adult |
去年の3月から協力金を払う必要になりました。知りませんでした。午前5時ごろに300円を払って、夜の暗闇で山を上り始めた。美しい星空を楽しみながら第1展望台まで約20分歩きました。人が多かったよ！登山道口に戻った時に入山券売り場の人に「何人が上りましたか」と聞きました。その人は「760人」と言いました。めちゃくちゃ多いじゃないか！いつからこんなに人気になったのでしょうか。
An entrance fee to the mountain was apparently introduced in March last year. I didn't know that. So, at around 5 a.m. I paid ¥300 an started climbing the mountain in the dark. While enjoying the star-filled sky, I walked for about 20 minutes up to the top observation area. There were a lot of people. When I went back down the mountain, I asked the ticket booth guy how many people had climb that morning. He replied, "760". That's insane! I wonder when this place became so popular.
An entrance fee to the mountain was apparently introduced in March last year. I didn't know that. So, at around 5 a.m. I paid ¥300 an started climbing the mountain in the dark. While enjoying the star-filled sky, I walked for about 20 minutes up to the top observation area. There were a lot of people. When I went back down the mountain, I asked the ticket booth guy how many people had climb that morning. He replied, "760". That's insane! I wonder when this place became so popular.
立雲峡案内図 Guide Map of Ritsuunkyo
ちょっとずつ星が消えて、雲海が見えてきました。夜明け⇒トワイライト⇒日の出⇒日照。風景が少しずつ変化していきました。面白くて、楽しい体験でした。
Little by little the stars started disappearing and the 'sea of clouds' became visible. From dawn to twilight to sunrise to bright sunshine, the view gradually changed. It was both an interesting and enjoyable experience.
Little by little the stars started disappearing and the 'sea of clouds' became visible. From dawn to twilight to sunrise to bright sunshine, the view gradually changed. It was both an interesting and enjoyable experience.
当教室の女子中学生がこの写真を見て、「台風」といいました。（笑） One of my junior high school girls looked at this photo and said. "There's a typhoon". (lol)
 第1展望台 The top observation area |  竹田城跡の上からも多くの人々が雲海と日の出を楽しんでいました。 Many people were enjoying the 'sea of clouds' and sunrise from on top of Takeda Castle ruins as well. |
 おおなる池 Onaru Pond |  マムシグサの実。数か所にありました。この植物は毒ですよ。 Mamushigusa (Japanese arisaema). It's poisonous. |
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