このイベントも、毎年６月の初旬に開催されている。３月に人為的にゲンジボタルの幼虫を熱海梅園を貫流している清流に放し、成虫となる５月から６月のこの時期の夜に、川面を小さな光が漂う。

昨年も訪れており、あまりの照明の少なさに、足元が全く見えず、危険を察していた。そのため今回は懐中電灯を持参したものの、蛍の生息域に近づくと、初老のスタッフから明かりを消すように注意を受ける。暗闇に目が慣れていないので足元が全く見えず、川との境界もわからない。転落の危険が脳裏をよぎる。他人の会話との距離感から何となくあの辺りに誰かがいるのは理解できるので、大体この辺に柵があるのだろうと目途をつける。手探りすると、紐が手に触れる。人がそれに沿って横に並んでいるようなので、間違いはないだろう。

This event was also held in early June each year. In March, people released the larvae of "Genji firefly" into the clear stream which go through "Atami Baien 
(Plum Garden)" artificially. Between late May and early June, they become the 
adults. At this time of night, many dot lights drift above the surface of the river.

When I visited the event last year, I felt some danger. There were few streets 
lights. So, I couldn't see my feet at all. Therefore, I brought the electric torch at 
this time. But when I got close to the firefly habit, I was warned from the elder 
staff that you have to turn off the torch. As my eyes weren't used to the 
darkness, I couldn't see my feet again and realize the horizon between the road and river. The danger of falling into the river crossed my mind. I could 
understand where people were by the distance of some conversations. When I 
figured out that there was probably a fence around there and closed, my hands touched a string. People seemed to arrange along this string. It would be right 
that this is the fence.
ゆっくりゆらゆらと明滅する小さな灯りは、眺めていて飽きることがない。予測不可能なところが、人の気を引くのだろう。時折接近してくるものがある。すると、隣の人がつと手を伸ばす。心に思うものは誰もが一緒で、体のどこかに止まってくれないかと期待するものの、結局は離れていくのがいじらしい。

生息区域は狭い。以前の記事で紹介した、滝から少し下がった橋の辺りでしか観賞することができない。流れの静かなここいらが、蛍にとって最も快適な環境なのだろう。

I never got tired of looking at the small lights that were slowly flickering. The 
impossibility of the prediction of the direction would catch the human's 
attentions. A light often approached us. The person next to me stretched out 
one's hand. Though everybody would think the same imagination, we hoped 
that the light stop somewhere on our body. However, it went away after all. The whim was lovable.

Their area for habitat was small. We could appreciate the lights only around the bridge slightly below the waterfall which I wrote in the previous article. The flow of the water under the bridge was calm and mild. Here was the most 
comfortable environment for the fireflies.
休憩所の明かりが見えたので、寄ってみる。木製の看板を見ると”常盤木”と彫ってある。”常盤木”は、熱海の老舗で、羊羹の名店である。ただ、熱海のダイビングのインストラクターから紹介されたのだが、”きびもち”が格別に美味しい。原料を厳選し、製法を追求した求肥であるのが、甘すぎない絶妙な甘味の源なのであろう。

As i found the light of the rest area, I approached it. When I looked at the store's sign, I realized the carved letters, "Tokiwagi" on the wooden board. Wow, 
"Tokiwagi" is one of thelong-established stores in Atami and famous for "Yokan (Japanese old sweets)". But "Kibimoti" which was introduced by Atami's diving 
instructor exceptionally delicious! The store selected the raw materials for it and pursued the manufacturing method to make the "Gyuhi (Mochi or the rice 
cake)". The earnest mind would achieved the exquisite sweetness that is not 
too sweet. 
梅園は、高い山腹にある。坂道を下って市街へ至る帰途には、ちょっとした熱海の夜景を楽しめる。繁華街の海側は人の明かりが賑やかで、視線を後方へ移すと、住まいの多い山側では散在している。

Baien was established on the middle of the high mountain. On the way home, 
which we go down the slope, we can enjoy another night view of Atami. The sea side of downtown was bright. But when I shifted my gaze backwards, the light 
was scattering on the mountain where there are only houses.

熱海梅園 · 〒413-0032 静岡県熱海市梅園町８−１１

★★★★☆ · 公園

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