Ume Power

It is a season of ume (Japanese plum).
We got the ume from our next door's beautiful garden.
My mother and I visited them and picked the gorgeous
fruit. We make umeboshi (pickled ume with salt and shiso leaves),
using the ume.



Ume plums are rippen around this season of a year,
which is also known as a raining season.
The raining season is called "tsuyu" that is written
"ume"(Japanese plum) and "ame" (rain).

Umeboshi gives great power to your body,
especially in summer, when you've got tiredness.

Hotaru; shiny bugs

Hello.

There are interesting bugs in rice fields
in Deyu onsen area around this season of a year.
That is fireflies (Hotaru)! They give out pretty soft
yellow green lights at night, making the area
so romantic. (Sorry no photos this time.
The best way is to see them directly through
your eyes!)

They seem to come places that have clean
fresh water. That's why they visit us.
I'm proud of our area with full of beautiful nature.

shoubu yu

We have got a special bath today;
On the Kodomono hi (The day for Children), we put
Shoubu (sweet flags) in baths, wishing good health.
It is also believed that the leaves work as a charm
for protecting yourself from bad diseases.
You will enjoy the aroma of the leaves that is a kind of
Japanese harb in our hot spring.

We only have this special bath once a year.
I would like you can try this some day.