| Jun.12 SAT. |
|---|
Like the cherry blossom front, the annual arrival of the rain front in all parts of Japan except Hokkaido is an event followed with great interest.
The Hiroshima Weather Centre duly announced on June 3 that the rainy season 'appeared to have arrived' in the Chugoku region. The arrival was five days earlier than for last year. June 3 saw the deposit of over 30 mm of rain in some parts of the prefecture. The weather centre predicted that the rain front and low pressure area would bring rain for the following week, but the prediction turned out to be false. Hiroshima enjoyed bright, clear skies and warm, though humid, weather. Even though the rain front had retreated south, however, it returned to the Chugoku region after a week's absence and drenched the last evening of the Tokasan festival.
The lack of rain was probably welcomed by the traders in Mikawa-cho and Chuo-dori, as the annual Tokasan festival got under way. The entrance of the Enryuji temple in Mikawa-cho was adorned with red lanterns and in the nearby branch of the Hiroshima Bank all the women staffers wore cotton kimono and all the men wore happi coats. Chuo-dori was lined with stalls selling such delicacies as takoyaki (broiled octopus) and ice cream. In the evening Chuo-dori became a 'pedestrian paradise'-it was closed to motor traffic-and became a blaze of colour, as people walked around in kimono, fanning themselves in the heat.
The new Setouchi Shimanami Kaido has been open for one month. The new road makes it possible to travel from the north of the Chugoku region to the southern corners of Shikoku much more quickly and efficiently than hitherto and this is probably the main purpose of the route. However, those driving quickly from one end of the route to the other will miss a great deal of what the new route has to offer.
On the island of Oshima in Ehime Prefecture, for example, there is a mountain called Kirosan which overlooks the Kurushima Kaikyo Ohashi. The observation platform there affords spectacular views of the three linked bridges. The observation platform is now visited by camera-toting tourists.
For those who also prefer to be in a high position, but with their feet completely off the ground, there are the helicopter trips from the Innoshima Amenity Koen. The trip affords panoramic views of the Innoshima Ohashi and surroundings.
And for those who like their feet to be firmly on the ground, there are the walkways across the bridges.
The Phillips Collection What: The full title of this exhibition is Twentieth Century Still-Life Paintings from the Phillips Collection. The exbibition features works by Braque, Picasso, Rousseau, Bonnard, Morandi, Stuart Davis, Man Ray et al. When: 9 - 5, May 22 - June 20. Where: Hiroshima Museum of Art (just south of Hiroshima Castle) Admission: Adults: \1,200; Students: \900; Elem. & Jnr. High Sch. Pupils: \500. (Reductions for parties & advance booking.) Information: Tel. (082) 223-2530
|
「遅めの梅雨？」
北海道を除く日本全土を覆う梅雨前線が毎年いつやってくるかは、桜前線の到来と同じように、みんなが関心を持っている。
広島地方気象台は６月３日、中国地方が「梅雨入りしたとみられる」と正式に発表した。今年の梅雨入りは昨年と比べ５日早い。６月３日には県内で３０ミリを超える雨になった。気象台は、梅雨前線と低気圧の影響でこの一週間は雨になるだろうと予報したが、そのとおりにはならなかった。広島は快晴となり、湿度は高いけれども暖かい気候だった。しかし、南に下がっていた前線も週末には再び中国地方にかかり、「とうかさん」の最終日に雨をもたらした。
「夏の始まり」
雨が降らなかったので、毎年とうかさんが開かれる三川町や中央通りの商売人は喜んだだろう。三川町にある円隆寺の入り口は赤いちょうちんで飾られ、近くにある広島銀行の支店では、女子行員は浴衣、男子行員は法被姿だった。中央通りには、たこ焼きやアイスクリームを売る商店が列をなした。夕方には、中央通りが歩行者天国となり、浴衣を着て祭りを楽しむ人々で彩られた。
「しまなみの景色」
瀬戸内しまなみ海道が開通して１カ月が過ぎた。しまなみ海道によって、中国地方の北部から四国の南部までこれまでよりも速く、効率的に行くことができるようになった。おそらくこれが橋建設の主な目的だ。しかし、車に乗って端から端まであっというまに通り過ぎてしまうと、新しい道が提供してくれるたくさんのことを見逃してしまう。 例えば、愛媛県の大島には亀老山という山があり、そこからは来島海峡大橋を見渡すことができる。その展望台からは３つの橋がつながった景観も見ることができ、カメラを手にした人々が訪れている。
高いところ、しかも足が地面から離れたところが好きな人は、因島アメニティ公園からヘリコプターの旅も可能。因島大橋やその周辺のパノラマを楽しめる。
地面を足でしっかりつ踏みけていたい人には、歩いて橋を渡る歩道もある。