I wonder if the fairies of that reservoir are still talking today

A long-awaited trekking trip.
This time, I headed to Kabutoyama in nearby Nishinomiya.

I have passed by it in my car for many years.
I climbed up from Nigawa, aiming for the Kitayama Botanical Garden that I had always been curious about.

I thought the locals were happily
tending to the flower beds on the wide, steep slope,
but it turned out to be the site of a landslide caused by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
While looking at the models in the museum, I learned about the countermeasures that are still in place beneath our feet.
I was shocked to witness a different story beneath the scenery I was looking at.

As I continued walking, I reached Kabutoyama Forest Park.
Families were having picnics, and time seemed to flow slowly.
With the round Kabutoyama mountain in the background, the view of the Sculpture Path, the camphor tree-lined avenue, and the Statue of Love and fountain lined up in a straight line was spectacular.
The view from the observation deck, stretching from Mt. Ikoma to Koshien, was refreshing.
There were gazebos here and there, which were perfect for eating a packed lunch.

Kannoji Temple, located right nearby, also has a superb view.
People who came to pray were also relaxing in the observation and rest area, feeling the breeze.
I experienced ringing the bell here.
After ringing it, I realized for the first time that the sound resonates differently inside and outside the bell.
I thought it would sound louder inside, but surprisingly, it was quiet inside, and the structure is designed to resonate loudly on the outside.
I remembered a Kabuki play and thought, 'Anchin from Dojoji Temple was in a surprisingly quiet place.'

Kitayama Reservoir was also laid out in a relaxed manner, with families spreading out their lunches in the gazebos
and a pair of older men chatting happily.
These men had such a wonderful vibe that if someone told me there were fairies who had lived in this place for a long time, I would have easily believed them.
It was such a peaceful scene
that I could have watched the two of them talking about everything under the sun forever.

And finally, I arrived at the Kitayama Botanical Garden.
I was a little tired, so I had some matcha at the mountain villa.
The light on the stones leading to this villa and the beauty of the moss were irresistible.
I felt the true potential of the botanical garden.

While admiring the garden with its small waterfall,
I chose a set of chilled green tea and a Japanese confection.
It looked refreshing, and it felt as if a breeze was blowing through my heart.

In the greenhouse, students were sketching amidst the scent of the tropics,
in the English garden, ladies were chatting on the benches,
in the seasonal hydrangea garden, there was a man with a camera,
and a sweet scent drifted from the Katsura tree.
Before I knew it, I had spent quite a long time there.

I never imagined that the botanical garden I had wanted to visit for so long would be such a wonderful place.

On this day,
'I want to stay here forever'
was a thought I had at every place I visited.

Perhaps it was the season, too.
The wind blew through with every step I took,
and the greenery swayed every time I looked up.

When I feel like I'm losing to the busyness of daily life,
"I wonder if those fairies at the reservoir are talking today too"

I have gained one more scene that I can recall like that.