Mugikusa Pass and the Märchen Road Over the pass, on to Shirakoma Pond and its mossy forest

I drove the red car up Route 299 toward Mugikusa Pass. With both hands on the wheel and my eyes on the road, the drive through the forest seemed to take longer than usual. After crossing the pass, I planned to leave the car and walk to Shirakoma Pond. I was looking forward not just to the drive but to spending some time among the trees, too.

Once I got out and started walking, the trees I’d just seen from the car were right there beside me. Moss spread over the ground around their trunks and across the stones, and I started slowing down before I even reached the pond. I wanted to see what was ahead, but the tiny details nearby kept drawing my eye.

At the water’s edge, I crouched beside the moss. I rested one hand on my knee and pointed at a spot that had caught my eye with the other. Some patches rose in soft little mounds; others were made up of fine leaves. They looked completely different. I might have missed it all if I’d walked past without stopping.

When I looked up, autumn trees lined the far side of the pond. I’d come for the view across the water, but now I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the moss in front of me. I’d planned to take a photo of the whole view, but I wanted to remember the little world at my feet too.

Before I stood up, I took one more look nearby. I didn’t want to hurry on to the next stop; I wanted to stay right there in the forest. When I tell my friend about today, I’ll probably end up going on about crouching down to look at the moss after I tell her about crossing the pass.

Back in the car, I set off along Route 299 again, and the forest felt closer than before. I followed the bends with my eyes on the road, thinking how the moss and pond were tucked just beyond it. I’m glad I made time for a walk during the drive over the pass.