A friendship bus tour was conducted by AIRA Culture Class and Department of Cross-Cultural Activities for the first time in three years. (No.22-10)

Date & Time: October 20th(Thu), 2022 8:25～16:30
Destinations: Katori Shrine and Sawara Town
Participants: 23 people including 4 foreign residents and AIRA staff; Ms.Komiyama, Ms.Kaku, Ms.Sakazume, Ms.Araki, Ms.Sawa and others

Blessed with fine autumn weather, all the participants gathered at the Abiko Station North at 8:15am and the bus departed on schedule. This event was resumed after three years due to the spread of COVID-19 that started in the spring of 2020.
Necessary counter measures against COVID-19 such as checking the body temperature at the reception, hands sterilization before boarding, each person sitting on a seat for two people, air ventilation, and so on. On the bus the staff explained the schedule, and following AIRA President Ms. Kitajima’s greeting, the participants made self- introductions. All the people, first-time participants as well as repeaters, Non-Japanese as well as Japanese, were looking forward to this tour, which was resumed after three years.

The Katori Shrine they visited first has a long history and it’s one of the three biggest shrines in Japan (Ise, Kashima and Katori). Also, this shrine has a deep relation with Kashima Shrine. The two shrines are recognized like twins and called “Kashima/Katori”
The tour participants came into the Omotesando Avenue passing through the vermillion Torii Gate and walked to the Main Gate looking at the “Kaname-ishi” (keystone) on the left, which is the guardian deity holding down the giant catfish believed to cause earthquakes. On both sides of the avenue, there are lots of trees including cherry trees and maples, which were not colored yet. After passing through the Main Gate, they washed their hands at “Chozu”(hand washing place) and forwarded to the worship hall through the Sakura Gate. On both sides of the Sakura Gate, the attendants of Yamato Imperial Court are enshrined, which indicates the deep relation between the Katori Shrine and Yamato Imperial Court. The sacred cedar tree growing on the right side of the worship hall is said to be over 1000 years old, from which we can’t help realizing the long history.

After worshipping at the Katori Shrine, they moved to the restaurant “LEUN” in Sawara City they had booked for lunch. At this restaurant, which used to be a sake storehouse in the old days, they serve cuisine with local ingredients. The tour participants enjoyed French dishes and had a luxury time feeling the culture and history of Sawara City.

Following the lunch, they enjoyed walking in “Small Edo Sawara” in small groups. It was a weekday and there weren’t many visitors as “Sawara Autumn Festival”(from 7th to 10th of October), one of the three biggest Kanto Dashi(float) Festivals, was already over, and they enjoyed leisurely strolling.

On the way back the bus made a stop at “Roadside and Riverside Station Sawara”, an area for travelers to rest and shop as well as for people to enjoy marine sports. You can get local vegetables, fruits and souvenirs of Sawara there.

The bus went along Tone-Suigo (water village) Line and returned to Abiko a little past four o’clock as scheduled, when the sun was starting to set in the west. On the bus they said they enjoyed the tour very much, the lunch was delicious, and so on. It seems they were fully satisfied with the bus tour conducted after three years.

(translated by NAKAJIMA Katsumi)