I visited Mr. Ohnishi who is very active at the forefront of cycling guide, so that I could experience a daily life of this town. He is a cyclist to the core, providing a best plan for each guest. He said, “The very attractive things for cycle trips are to be able to get further than you walk and to feel a gentle breeze blowing, the scents of each season in the air, and the sounds of insects, more than while you take a car,” and he showed me around his hometown by his bike. I rented an e-bike that was much more comfortable for beginners.

The first place we came by was ‘Kinshoji Temple’, known as one of temples of Soto sect, Shigenari Suzuki opened after ‘Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion’ and also known as the oldest spot of the ‘New Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage’ in Amaukusa area, making you enjoy mini pilgrimage. Mr. Ohnishi said that the bridge connecting to Kinshoji temple was made of Aizu stone, registered as a cultural property. When he was a child, there were many stalls along this street to the bridge on the day of ‘Odaishi-san’, stands for Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai) who is the founder of the sect. While looking at his profile reminded me of the old days of my childhood frolicking at the temple festival.

At the end of the course, we reached Oidake Village, known for the handmade ‘Rice Field Art’ of people in this area while Mr. Ohnishi was telling us to enjoy the views of this season. And “Not only the Rice Field Art which offers the best term to view the coloring rice field from June to the middle of November, but also there are many things to see here all year around, such as wisteria flowers, sunflowers, cluster-amaryllis, and fireflies,” said Mr. Ohnishi.
I decided to make another visit here by his words.