Sanagochi borders Kamiyama.  You might pass through it on your way to Tokushima City and if you look to your right you will probably see a line of wind turbines atop a mountain ridge (you can in fact see these from Kamiyama too).  This is where we found ourselves yesterday (courtesy of the younger Iwamaru couple, Masaki and Minako) on the first day of Summer (unofficial).

Driving toward the summit we caught glimpses of the turbines looming between the trees.  Eventually after 6000 corners and 6000 curved mirrors the car lurched into a swath of blue.  It was hydrangea, many of them.  The atmosphere up here was a lot different.  Almost like Europe.  Open plan, cows, pastoral, gates and fences.  They made ice cream from the cows milk (served in a cup with a waffle cone up-ended and jammed on top.  Unique but delicious) and everyone was eating it.

Breath-taking views of the Tokushima valley.

European feeling.

Eating ice cream standing underneath the turbines, looking up, the clouds moving and the turbines are falling towards you.  It was a nostalgic illusion.  We took a walk up through the hydrangea fields.

Personally, hydrangea aren’t my favourite flower (these had no distinct perfume), but seen en masse alongside the expansive view and the gigantic turbines it was a pleasant combination.  The summery weather and the general jovial ambience of the place was relaxing.  We met Hyabuchi san and Inagaki san (and also Nakahara san in the car park) at the top and decided to make a cheesy university graduate-style brochure photo.  Yeah!  Let’s Hydrangea!