Tsukushi, the edible weed

               
                        On the way to Inuyama with our friend's family, he suddenly stopped the car on the way, beside a paddy field. The field seemed to be bare with muddy surface and there were two people picking something from the sloping edges of the field. And we were really confused about why we are there. Then our companions also started bending down at the slopes and picking something from the ground. It was some weed, called tsukushi, the horsetail which will show up the stalks during the onset the spring and they told it is really delicious and can be used in Japanese dishes. 

                         As we people don't know how to cook it, we helped them with plucking some stalks for them which we collected in a cover. And we saw an old man with a cover full of stalks and still continuing his job over there. He seems to be picking it from the morning. Since it was really a quite place far away from the city and it as not at all crowded, it was really interesting to pluck it without any hindrance. As the rays are quite warmer even at the starting of spring, it was intolerable for us after some time. 

                   But we managed to pluck half a cover of the weed stalk while my friend explained the cooking procedure. His wife cooked some tsukushi for us the very next day. She cooked it in oil with meat  and it was delicious.

Umematsuri at Oo-Agata(Himenomiya) Shrine of Inuyama

           
                We visited the Oo-Agata Shrine during the Ume-matsuri (plum festival) on March 21,2015 and the entire plum trees were flowered by the time. 

                  There were a wide variety of plums from all over Japan with different colour shades : White, Pink and Rose being the dominant. The view of small mountain behind the shrine covered with plum trees of different colours is really exciting. 

                         The steps to the top of the mountain and the small pavements were adorned with the flower petals by the wind. The breeze seems charming when it showers over us the tiny petals to welcome us. The site form the top is still more interesting and couldn't feel like getting out of there leaving such a beautiful place. Since the winter has just leaved, the slightly cool breeze and the warm sun rays provided a better climate that allowed us to spend much more time over there without any problems. Everyone seems really enjoying the breeze as it showers a petal  'rain'. 

                      Oo agata is believed as the goddess of wedding and childbirth. The wooden wishing plaques(ema) of this shrine were written the wish for a child or better married life.

                    The shrine had a lot of visitors and hence a lot of small souvenir shops including a small plant and fruit stall. There was some grant event called Oagata Jinja Hohnen-sai(Harvest festival) held on March 15th every year and this year's had just done last week. There were still some rituals and programs being conducted there.

After spending some time infront of the shrine, we waited at the place arranged or some event ithout knowing when or hat is going ton there. The seats arranged there were simply awesome. We sat there for some 30 minutes. As there is nothing happening till then, we decided to return.