3. From Yamura Station to Tsuru Station

Exit Yamura Station and stand with the station right behind you. A small children’s park Jōnan Kōen (Jōnan Park) lies immediately in front of you, behind some buildings and between two narrow roads. Take the one running directly away from the station on the right side and you will immediately (after about thirty seconds) find this park on your left. In the park, the following lines can be found inscribed on a monument:

行く駒の麦に慰むやどりかな

the horse has a break
the comfort of eating wheat
inn experience

(The horse takes a break eating wheat at the inn today. I do the same and feel gratitude.)

An explanation of the origin of the haiku is also provided on a signboard. It is speculated that these lines were written on the occasion of meeting up with Biji once again.

On the other side of the road opposite Jōnan Park, you will find the Tsuru Museum, where you can get a sense of Tsuru’s history for an entrance fee of two hundred yen. Sketches attributed to the great artist Katsushika Hokusai are on permanent display.