In my 18 years I’ve been on excursions and made many great memories with my friends in Oharano—let me show you a few places!
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Obatagawa River
With sakura cherry blossoms in spring and cool breezes in summer, there are many things to enjoy about this outdoor area. The river is full of life; from the end of May to the middle of June, you can even see kingfishers during the day and fireflies at night.
As an elementary student I came here to the spring festival with family and relatives, and in summer I could play in the park with my friends, but my memories of this place span the whole year round.
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Oharano Shrine
Oharano Shrine is unusual in the fact that it’s a four-pillared shrine with deer as it’s guardian statues standing aside the gates. The deity worshiped here is from the famous Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara. The shrine has a very long history: in the Heian period (794 to 1185), Japanese novelist and poet Murasaki Shikibu—author of the very well-known classic, The Tale of Genji—composed poems here, as did another famous author, poet and court noble Ki no Tsurayuki.
I had excursions here in elementary school, and it was my jogging route in junior high school. In summer the Japanese momiji maple trees are a stunning green and the shade is deliciously cool, and in autumn they become a brilliant crimson colour.
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Mt. Oshio
The local mountain I climbed on an excursion in elementary school. It wasn’t easy, but the view of Kyoto city at the top and the sense of accomplishment I shared with my friends remains a very important memory.
今岡美玲
Mirei Imaoka
Born and raised in the Rakusai New Town area, Mirei spent her elementary, junior high school, and senior high school years in the Oharano area. She is currently taking both international and local studies, and wants to work in the field in the future. She enjoys sleeping and has a close relationship with her futon.