◆ Meng Qinghua
At that time, I was still living in China, and after reading the novel "The Dancing Girl of Izu" by Yasunari Kawabata, the first Japanese writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, I had the idea of wanting to go to the Izu Peninsula of Japan.
Later, I had the pleasure of watching the movie "The Dancing Girl of Izu" co-starring Momoe Yamaguchi and Yuwa Miura, and this desire to come to see the Izu Peninsula became more determined and stronger.
Whether in the movie or in the book, the Izu Peninsula depicted is not only a story of pure admiration between green mountains and beautiful waters and young boys and girls.
It wasn't until I was there that I realized that the Izu Peninsula was a purified, ethereal and beautiful paradise-like world.
Since January this year, Japan has gradually relaxed its epidemic restrictions. Insufficient prevention and control coupled with the high infection rate of the Omikejung strain and its new subtypes have made the epidemic in Japan "wave after wave". At present, Japan is experiencing the seventh wave of the epidemic, and the number of infections in various places remains high. At the peak of Japan's seventh wave of viral infections, with no less than 200,000 infections per day, Hiroshi Sang made a brilliant suggestion that he wanted to drive two of us 70-year-olds to Izu for a week. This time, with little hesitation, we gladly accepted the invitation.
Located in the southern part of Tokyo, the Izu Peninsula belongs to Shizuoka Prefecture and is a famous scenic spot in the Kanto region.
In the early morning, we sat in the car and walked with Hao Shisan and his family with full of emotions. Hiroshi Sang said that this time he was going to take us from this end of Kanagawa Prefecture along the coast to the top of the island...
Along the way, you will be greeted by the unique scenery of Mt. Fuji, which stretches from north to south to the Izu Peninsula, making the Izu Peninsula famous for its hot springs and stunning seascapes.
Atami, Japan's largest hot spring city, Shuzenji Onsen, which has a history of more than 1,200 years, hot springs such as Mount Izu, Ito, and Nagaoka, as well as many other facilities such as art museums and theme parks.
The car is driving slowly along the coastline, and we can directly enjoy the beautiful and unique scenery of the coast. The old gentleman was arranged to sit in a panoramic seat facing the sea, and this time he showed the most excitement, completely devoid of the usual reservedness and negativity. It felt like he hated not being able to see all the beauty. I believe that this week, Izu's unforgettable scenery will definitely impress him.
On the way, we had lunch at a fast food restaurant in an elegant setting with few customers. At this time, I realized that the good food is actually far less attractive than the beautiful scenery.
Soon after we drove again, we entered the 8 scenic spots of the Izu Peninsula. Because the temperature was still very high on the day we went, Haussan suggested that we sit in the car and first go through these 8 scenic spots on horseback. But where does he know that we still hate in our hearts that we can't immediately step on this land that we have longed for for a long time.
The quiet hot spring town is surrounded by emerald greenery, and the sound of the babbling water of the Katsura River and the rolling heat of the hot springs attract us. When you step out of the car, you will immediately feel the coolness of the mountains and waterfalls.
At our feet, there is a stone road, slowly extending down the bamboo forest by the river, and we quietly enjoy the quiet and peace as we walk.
When it comes to the charm of the Izu Peninsula, I think it is impossible not to mention hot springs and inns. We stayed in a hot spring inn with historical significance, which is not only quiet, but also a variety of hot springs. Wearing the Japanese bath clothes provided by the hotel, you can feel like you have returned to the traditional japanese life of ancient Times.
After washing the family hot spring, enter the open-air hot spring, and then go swimming refreshed... In the roaring of the waterfall, we see the statue of the protagonist in "The Dancing Girl of Izu". For a moment, I felt that my heart was relaxed, and the dream that had been carried in my heart for a long time, after a long wait, was now easily realized, and now I could put it down with satisfaction. (This article is contributed by the Japanese Chinese Writers Association)