Records of my adventure in finding 風景印 (fukeiin, pictorial postmarks) in Japan. With guides on how to get fukeiin in Japan and a fukeiin directory of Hiroshima with a map.
和木郵便局 (Waki Post Office) Fukeiin - Mihara, Hiroshima
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
I went to Waki Post Office on the same day I went to Asuka Post Office. It's about a 20-minute drive from Asuka Post Office, so if you have access to a car, it's a good idea to visit both, since there is no public transport connecting them. For my story on Asuka Post Office fukeiin, read here.
About Waki
和木 (Waki) is an area in Daiwa Town, Mihara. The area is well-known for Hakuryuko (lit. 'White Dragon Lake'), a lake created by the multipurpose Mukunashi Dam. The name came from a local legend about the Mukunashi River.
From the Mihara City official website: "Long ago, in the clear-flowing Mukunashi River, there was a pool called 'Banne-buchi (Nirvana Pool).' (omitted) In the midst of turbulent times, the two lovers' wishes were in vain as they were thrown into the pool. ... It is said that the black dragon transformed into a magnificent white dragon and ascended to heaven. The Daiwa area, rich in nature and human kindness, is home to heartwarming folktales and traditional performing arts such as Kagura, but among them, the 'Legend of the White Dragon' conveys the feelings of people who love peace and cherish harmony, even in a sad story. "Ok, now I need to find the full version somewhere because what the heck happened there in the legend?!
There are sports facilities utilizing the vast land upstream of Lake Hakuryu, as well as roadside stations and resort centers on the lakeside. You can reach it by taking the bus from Kochi Station (Sanyo Line) and getting off at the Wakikyoku bus stop.
Michikusa and Deer Meat Lunch
It was lunchtime, so we decided to have lunch before going to the post office. I checked Google Maps and saw a few places of interest. We decided to have lunch at a place called みちくさ (Michikusa) because I saw they offer some unusual dishes.
Inside, we were greeted by koi fish. Lots of them. From small ones to huge ones, all inside the restaurant. It seems the owners are koi enthusiasts. 😄 This restaurant offers ジビエ (gibier), or game meat, for consumption. In rural areas of Japan, locals are allowed to hunt deer and wild boar for consumption to control their populations. On that day, Michikusa had both deer meat and wild boar meat available. I ordered deer katsu, while my husband ordered deer yakiniku. The owner, Obaasan, also recommended deer sashimi, so we ordered some. Neither of us had had deer sashimi before, so why not give it a try? 😁
Food came, and it was *chef's kiss*. The deer meat was tender and not gamey at all. It paired well with both katsu and yakiniku sauce. There were plenty of side dishes, and everything was delicious. The egg was sourced from a local farm famous for its super delicious egg yolks. I love egg yolks, so I'm in heaven. I couldn't believe all this only cost 1300 yen. Perks of being in the countryside, I guess. And now, time to try the deer sashimi.
It was so good!! I didn't expect it to be this soft!! The grated ginger enhanced the flavor and removed all the gamey smell. For the sauce, they used Kyushu soy sauce, which is sweeter than regular soy sauce. We left Michikusa feeling full and grateful for the beautiful serendipity.
Waki Post Office
With our stomachs full, it's now time to go to the Waki Post Office. The post office is located along National Route 486, which connects Soja in Okayama with Higashihiroshima in Hiroshima. There are plenty of parking spaces, which is good news for people driving.
I took pictures in front of the mailbox (now only these 4 postcards were left, so there would be no mistake!). The postcards would be going to Germany, Portugal, and Indonesia. I hope they all reach their new homes safely.
I went inside the post office to post the 4 postcards and a regular one I had prepared for myself. At the counter, I saw Posukuma (Japan Post's official mascot) stamps and a mailbox-shaped postcard with "Waki Post Office" written on it, so, of course, I'm getting them.
Oh, by the way, I got this info from my friend in the Nonbiri Mail Club. If you frequently buy from Japan Post, it's a good idea to download the Japan Post app. You can earn points by buying post-related items there, and 1 point per day by checking in at any post office! When you have enough points, you can exchange them for various items, from Japan Post merchandise to local produce. Mission accomplished, and we headed back home.
Waki Post Office Fukeiin
A few days later, my postcard with the fukeiin arrived. It has the image of Hakuryuko with fireworks above it.
From the Japan Post official website: "The fukeiin depicts Lake Hakuryu and fireworks." The fukeiin was launched on August 10th, 1985.
By the way, the Mihara City government holds the Hakuryuko fireworks competition each year in April at Hakuryuko Sports-mura Park. This year it will be held on April 4th! Usually, fireworks competitions in Japan are held in summer, so Hakuryuko's is a rare example. Learned something new today!
Recently, I started collecting 風景印 fukeiin, or pictorial postmarks. After finding out about fukeiin, I researched which designs are available, where I could get them, and how to get there. Many of the post offices that provide fukeiin are only open on weekdays, and I would need to go to the counter to request it. Of course, I could just send a fukeiin request to any post office that I want, have them stamp them for me, and then send the postcards to the addresses written there. In fact, that would make it much easier to complete the collection. However, I believe that the journey and the experience of getting each fukeiin are just as important and meaningful as the fukeiin themselves. That means I will have to go there by myself, and it raises the difficulty by a few levels. Many people outside Japan believe they can travel around the country without a car because of the country's vast train network. In urban areas such as Tokyo or Osaka, that may be the case, but in the count...
After I finished sending some postcards at Hachihonmatsu Post Office (you can read about it here ), we headed to our next destination. Since my husband was driving that day, I chose an area that was difficult for me to reach by public transport alone. I chose Kumano-cho, as the town was not served by any trains. This was my first time in Kumano-cho, and I didn't know much about it beyond its brushes. New area unlocked! About Kumano-cho, Hiroshima Kumano-cho is located in a small field basin surrounded by mountains. It's surrounded by Hiroshima-shi, Kure-shi, and Higashihiroshima-shi. At present, among its population of over 24,500, 2,500 people are craftsmen called "Fude-shi" engaged in Fude manufacturing. The Fude Center building has a giant brush lol The history of Kumano-cho dates back to the Edo Period in the late 18th century. People in Kumano had a hard time making a living just from farming, partly because there wasn't much flat land for agriculture. Th...
Another sunny day. I had 8 postcards ready to send and a half-day off. It's fukeiin time! The time was past noon, and I had only a couple of hours to complete my mission. I had searched for two post offices near each other and plotted my route in advance. Thanks to this fukeiin journey, my trip-planning skills have improved so much in just one month. You can even hire me to plan your Japan trip itinerary! Just kidding, I don't have enough knowledge of mainstream tourist spots (I know quite a few hidden gems, though). Anyway, this time I'll be going to the Hatchobori area. Hiroshima Hatchobori 八丁堀 Hatchobori is one of the busiest districts of Hiroshima. The name 'Hatchobori' comes from the length of the outer moat that once surrounded Hiroshima Castle. The moat was filled in during the Meiji Period, but some monuments marking the moat's outer wall and the place where it used to be still remain. I passed by one of them near the Hatchobori Station. But before go...
Comments
Post a Comment