The Minami Alps Forest Road Bus Drivers
On the Minami Alps Forest Road Bus, the drivers sometimes share insights about the scenery and the maintenance of the forest road, as if struck by inspiration. They also slow down when there are rare flowers blooming along the road, pointing them out to passengers.
When I walked the forest road from Utayado to Kitazawa Pass this time, there were some spots where the slope had collapsed, scattering earth and rocks. I learned that the drivers themselves maintain this forest road, unless it’s a really big job. According to the article from Ina-dani.net below, being able to operate heavy machinery was a condition for becoming a forest road bus driver, and it’s amazing that all of them can still do it!
Lovely Flowers
Hidden on a mossy rocky outcrop was the Shinano Primrose (Shinano Kozakura). Its reddish-purple petals have a small slit towards the center, making each one look like a cute little heart. It’s a small flower, about 2-3 centimeters in diameter.
It was hard to spot from the bus window, and I snapped this quickly, so it might be a bit unclear, but this is the Hotei Orchid (Hotei-ran). It seems to be quite rare, and indeed, if you look closely, you can see its tiny “orchid” shape. According to the driver, it’s a rare species that cannot be cultivated, so we want to cherish and protect it.
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