Move at your own pace and meet unexpected encounters.
Fujiyoshida has a retro townscape that makes you feel as if you have stepped back in time to the Showa period. There are many small alleys, and it is best to ride around these places by bicycle rather than by car.
I wanted to do something like this. The best thing about biking is that you can move at your own pace and go through narrow roads that are inaccessible by car. While riding along these roads, you may discover interesting stores and unexpected encounters. That's what makes it so much fun.
Pedaling slowly, Mr. Kawachi catches the atmosphere of the town. A good balance of old-fashioned stores and stores that may have been newly created coexist, creating a mood that is unique to this area.
It's a nice place. I felt somewhat nostalgic, but there were also a few stores that caught my attention. I'm hungry, so I'm sure I could find somewhere to grab a quick bite to eat."
Rather than checking the stores he is looking for in advance, Mr. Kawachi's style of play is to go there and research the best stores by himself. On this particular day, he looked to the left and right, in tune with his own mood, and searched for the right store to suit his needs.
I was like, "Oh, this shop looks kind of nice! This store looks kind of nice. Let's go in."
So I found a sweets shop called "Kinseiken. The store sells a variety of sweet treats, including Shingenmochi, Dorayaki, and even ice cream. One of the most popular items on the limited menu is a sweet called mizu-shingenmochi (water shingenmochi), which seemed to have caught Mr. Kawachi's interest.
Don't these look so delicious? It pulls and shakes with the slightest vibration, and I feel a sense of nostalgia and tenderness."
Since it is only available during the summer and only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, many visitors come to Fujiyoshida on weekends to try it. How about the taste?
It's so delicious! The combination of soybean flour and molasses is still outstanding. The rice cake is also called "mizu-shingen" (meaning "water shingen" in Japanese), and its freshness is amazing! I can't put it into words how impressed I am."
After enjoying the streets of Fujiyoshida and filling our stomachs, we will pedal back to the "Kangoo". We will now return again to Lake West and spend some time solo camping and relaxing.
It's still early evening, but I'm having a very productive time. It's still early in the evening, but I've had a very productive time, thanks to the Kangoo and my bicycle. Now I want to go back to the camp site, reflect on the day, and relax and soak in nature.
