紅葉の11月 Explosion of fall color during November.
平泉町では、東北全体がそうであるように、秋になると身近にある大自然が生き生きとしてオレンジ色、黄色、赤色に色づいていきます。公園や広場、そして道端の木々が次々と色鮮やかになりながら、その背後に跨る山々が塗り絵の背景のように見えてきます。
そして、その大自然の中にある平泉の世界遺産ではますます紅葉が楽しめます。観自在王院跡では広い歴史公園で点々と木々が囲まった、金鶏山がその背景にある風景と優しく吹くそよ風があります。また、11月の最初の週末に平泉へお越しの場合は、平泉産業まつりが開かれます。平泉や岩手で育てられた美味しくて新鮮な農産物、そしてグルメや特産品を味わって、ステージでの様々な演奏も楽しめます。平泉を満喫する一日の中で、お昼にくつろぐのにはちょうどよい機会です。
Hiraizumi, like most of north Japan, sees an explosion of fall color during November. The parks, gardens, and streets are all lined with trees that turn into bright, vivid oranges, yellows, and reds, while the lush mountainsides take on a painted quality in the background of every panorama.
This is, of course, perfectly evident at our temples, with their natural surroundings. The park at Kanjizaio-in lets you enjoy a wide open area roughly ringed with trees, with the colorful mountain of Kinkeisan rising behind it. If you time your visit during the first weekend of the month, you can also enjoy the annual Harvest Fair held here, with local vendors sharing Iwate-grown produce, meats, and refreshments, as well as song and dance performances throughout the day. You can enjoy your fill of Iwate specialties for lunch while soaking up the sun, then continue with your day’s exploration of Hiraizumi.
Sample local products, like freshly grilled Maesawa beef bowls
その観自在院の隣にあるのは毛越寺。平安時代から保存されてきた浄土庭園がいつもながらに綺麗ですが、紅葉になると目の付くところに素晴らしい一角が見つかります。そして、毎年１１月1日～3日にかけて秋の藤原まつりもあります。まつり中には昔から代々と受け継がれてきた「延年の舞」やそのほか伝統芸能の演舞も見ることができます。
And of course, next door to that is Mōtsū-ji Temple, with its historical heian-area garden, which provides a wealth of opportunities for photos, with clusters of brilliant trees at every turn. During the Fall Fujiwara Festival, held the 1st-3rd of November, you can also enjoy the Ennen-no-Mai Longevity Dances, a traditional art passed down for hundreds of years at the temple, as well as other regional performing arts.
Brilliant fall colors in Mōtsū-ji’s temple garden
また、もう一つの世界遺産である中尊寺では、同じ藤原まつりの期間中に伝統芸能のほかに、歴史能舞台での能演奏やかわいい稚児行列を楽しめます。それに、中尊寺の紅葉もまた一味違っていて、主に境内をめぐる参道のひさしのように右左に並んで、上にも枝が広がります。そして、日が沈んでくると、２週間に渡り「紅葉銀河」ライトアップイベントではスポットライトで木々を照らして、更にまばゆい色の質を引き出します。
During the Fujiwara Festival, you can also see performances at Chūson-ji Temple, including a special Noh performance on the historical outdoor stage, and a children’s parade with traditional Heian-period costumes. Outside of that, you can also enjoy the leaves which form a bright canopy over the trails through the wooded temple grounds, especially during the first two weeks, when they are illuminated by spotlight after dark, making the bright colors really pop against the night sky!
The fall canopy lining the path at Chūson-ji
平泉の自然環境や世界遺産の独特な景色を楽しむには、この紅葉シーズンがとても魅力的です。カラフルな風景と共に、独特な祭りの文化体験や美味しい特産物もありまして、きっと印象に残る思い出となります。
The scenery of Hiraizumi’s attractions, and the natural surroundings of north Japan, are a true sight to behold when the leaves change. Come and experience the vivid colors, and enjoy unique local festivals, or the fruits of the season, all the better to make your trip one to remember.
