Feb. 8, 2009: Off on another of our weekend jaunts and we headed southwest to the Miura Peninsula and across the bridge to Jogashima (Johgashima).
The original plan was to drive to Miura & hike the 'A' or 'B" course, but the gentleman in the information center close to the Miura Kaigan station told us that the "A" course has a few areas that require some detours - not so great for hiking - and the "B" course would be better done when we were wearing our sturdy hiking boots. Since we didn't have our boots along we decided to opt for the drive over the toll bridge that connects Jogashima with the peninsula.
Jogashima is basically a little fishing village, most famous for the tuna that is caught by the island fishermen. We didn't buy a tuna, but we did try the soft and tasty maguro (tuna) manju (steamed dumplings). Pretty tasty & filling enough for a light lunch (if you aren't too hungry, that is).
An hour's worth of walking took us past a few shops - mostly deserted as there weren't so many people in the village - guess everyone was up at the park on the east end of the island seeing the crocus blossoms (we gave up on that when we saw the long line of cars waiting to get in - the flowers are all over the island anyhow!). The shopkeepers did their best to entice us in with offers of "omakase shimasu" (we'll give you a discount), but other than those manju there really wasn't anything we wanted to buy!
At the west end of the island there is a lighthouse and a restaurant where the parking lot was full of bosozoku bikes. Bosozoku (actually, bohsohzoku) translates roughly into "violent running gang." These are the guys you sometimes see in Japan with motorbikes that have been modified with very high backed seats and several other interesting accessories. Not sure if these guys were really bosozoku though as the average age of the riders looked to be in the 40s or so. Maybe former bosozoku who just love to ride & show off their bikes?
After the restaurant there is a very interesting lava formation that serves as a jetty for a few sturdy fishermen. It's obvious that the lava flowed in waves and hit the water where it cooled into the current formation. Makes one wonder - is Jogashima really the top of an ancient volcano?
Walking back from the village we came across this 80 year fellow culling the wakame (a type of seaweed). He offered us some, but unfortunately we had nothing to carry it in so we had to turn down his generous offer. He did tell us how they gather the wakame with the long (30 - 40 feet long) bamboo poles with nets and knives affixed to the end. See, you DO learn something by talking to people!
We asked him his "secret" of a long & healthy life & his reply was, "Eat simple food & small meals!" He also reminded me that I'll be 80 before I know it - thanks for the reminder, old timer!
Wakame - drying in the sun.
Comments