Archive for January 2014
A Walk to the Totoro Tree
Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
The Totoro Tree is one of Yonezawa’s newest landmarks, and is almost unknown outside of the local area. It is actually a small group of trees growing together to form a shape which looks a lot like the cute friendly monster from the Studio Ghibli movie “Tonari no Totoro” (“My Neighbor Totoro” in English).
The Totoro Tree is on a small country road about 10 kilometers outside of town. The most convenient way to get there is to drive. But if you want to take your time and enjoy the scenery while getting some exercise, you can walk.
I didn’t know if I would have time to walk ALL the way there and back, so I took a bus to the nearest bus stop, about 4 kilometers from the tree, then walked the rest of the way.
On the walk from the bus stop to the tree, you can take your time and enjoy the Japanese countryside. One thing I like about Japan is that, no matter where you walk, you’re almost guaranteed to find something interesting to look at.

A corn field and a persimmon tree. Where I come from, we have lots of corn, but no persimmons. This is the first time that I can remember seeing them both together.

It:s hard to see in this picture, but from this spot, I could the Totoro Tree’s ears sticking up way off in the distance.

Now we are passing through a small village. Well, maybe not a village exacly, but a small group of houses and other buildings.
A little farther down the road, there is an old school building. I don’t think there are many children living in the area today, but in the past there were enough of them for the neighborhood to have its own elementary school. The building is a reminder of the local history, and is a link with the past. Let’s take a closer look.

The building on the left is the Sumomo-yama branch of Minamihara Elementary School. This small branch school closed in 2003. The main school in Minamihara is still open.

Sumomo-yama School. The playground is still open to the public. It looks kind of lonely and forgotten, with the equipment slowly rusting away. I don’t think it’s been used for a while.

Sumomo-yama School has a swimming pool. I’m not sure, but it looks like the pool might still be in use.
Just beyond the school is… the Totoro Tree!

The Totoro Tree shrine, directly underneath the tree. Or rather, trees, since there are several of them growing together to form the Totoro shape.

The Totoro Tree has a viewing platform, and even a small souvenir shop and a space for picnics. I think the shop is only open during the busiest sightseeing times. It was closed on the day I took these pictures (a Monday in October).

Here is another traveler that I met on the road. I waited until he was safely OFF of the road before I left. I didn’t want him (her?) to get run over by a car.
That ends our walk for today. I hope you enjoyed it.