Chausuyama Highland A pause on a bench, taking in the flower-covered slope

I walked along the moss phlox hill and sat on a log bench beside the path. The path climbing through the flowers forked partway up, and I could see where it went next. I wanted to get up and keep walking, but first I unwrapped the gohei-mochi I'd brought. Holding the skewer in both hands, I took a moment to look at its toasted side.

The sauce came through first when I took a bite, followed by the satisfying taste of rice. When I'm up in the mountains, I want something like this alongside sweet treats. Gohei-mochi is a local specialty of Okumikawa. I packed mine before setting out, ready for a break during my walk among the flowers.

I looked up from the gohei-mochi and saw moss phlox blooming right up to the edge of the path. I took in the flowers nearby, then let my eyes travel up the slope. I wanted to walk closer to a patch of flowers I could see clustered in the distance. Sitting on the bench, I decided which path to take next.

I came to Chausuyama Highland, but the moss phlox hill is on Mount Hagitaro, a different mountain from Chausuyama's main peak. I found that interesting. I could see the chairlift facilities at the top of the hill. Imagining the view from up there, I decided to spend a little longer among the flowers.

I straightened the wrapper on my lap and took another bite of gohei-mochi. After walking up the slope, I wanted to sit and eat for a little longer. In the bright morning light, I could pick out the flowers nearby one by one, while the ones at the top of the hill spread out in a wide sweep. The same moss phlox looked different from up close and from farther away.

When I'd finished eating, I put the wrapper away and stood up from the bench. Now I could finally walk up the slope I'd been tracing with my eyes.