A symbol of Tokushima that is closely linked to the city.
徳島市のシンボル、眉山。なだらかな稜線が眉の形に似ていることから名付けられたこの山は、地元の人々にとって特別な存在です。
ロープウェイで登れば、市街地を一望する360度の大パノラマが広がります。昼間はキラキラと輝く徳島の街並み、夜は宝石をちりばめたような幻想的な夜景を楽しめます。春には桜が咲き誇り、秋には紅葉が山を彩るなど、四季折々の表情を見せてくれます。
もちろん、眉山の魅力は景色だけではありません。山頂の公園でのんびり過ごしたり、カフェでくつろいだり、歴史を感じる寺社を巡ったりと、楽しみ方は人それぞれ。
このマガジンでは、そんな眉山のまだ知られていない魅力や、訪れるたびに新しい発見があるようなスポットに寄り添って生活している人々のストーリーを、写真とともにお届けします。さあ、あなたも眉山の新しい一面を見つけに、出かけてみませんか？
Vol.01
SANSAI Wakayagi
Japanese dancer Wakayagi Sansai
Japanese dancer Wakayagi Sansai
Mt. Bizan helps me to balance my mind and body.
The closest theme park.
Mount Bizan is the symbol of Tokushima City. Located close to the city center, the mountain is easily accessible to everyone, and in addition to its observation deck and night view, it is also a place to enjoy sports. We spoke to Wakayagi Sansai, a Japanese dancer and trail runner who has been running up Mount Bizan for nearly 20 years. What does this mountain mean to her?
Encounters and journeys
Encounters and journeys
"We are truly grateful to have Mt. Bizan nearby."
Sansai, who says this, is originally from Nagasaki Prefecture. She encountered Japanese dance when she was in high school, and moved to Tokushima when she went to university. She studied under a master and threw herself into the world of dance, while also living a busy life with marriage, childbirth, and work.
She started running marathons at the age of 27. It all started with the idea of "exercising even when you don't have time." At the time, she was working as a registered dietitian, and in addition to giving dietary advice, she also had many opportunities to encourage exercise. It was during this time that she started walking and running to show people who said, "I don't have time," that "you can do it even if you don't have time." However, it's difficult to travel far to exercise between raising children and other daily tasks. That's why she chose Mt. Bizan, which is easily accessible from her home.
"I wanted to exercise, but my time was limited. So for me, Mt. Bizan was the perfect place," she recalls. For about 20 years since then, Mt. Bizan has become deeply rooted in Sansai's life.
"We are truly grateful to have Mt. Bizan nearby."
Sansai, who says this, is originally from Nagasaki Prefecture. She encountered Japanese dance when she was in high school, and moved to Tokushima when she went to university. She studied under a master and threw herself into the world of dance, while also living a busy life with marriage, childbirth, and work.
She started running marathons at the age of 27. It all started with the idea of "exercising even when you don't have time." At the time, she was working as a registered dietitian, and in addition to giving dietary advice, she also had many opportunities to encourage exercise. It was during this time that she started walking and running to show people who said, "I don't have time," that "you can do it even if you don't have time." However, it's difficult to travel far to exercise between raising children and other daily tasks. That's why she chose Mt. Bizan, which is easily accessible from her home.
"I wanted to exercise, but my time was limited. So for me, Mt. Bizan was the perfect place," she recalls. For about 20 years since then, Mt. Bizan has become deeply rooted in Sansai's life.
Encounters and journeys
"We are truly grateful to have Mt. Bizan nearby."
Sansai, who says this, is originally from Nagasaki Prefecture. She encountered Japanese dance when she was in high school, and moved to Tokushima when she went to university. She studied under a master and threw herself into the world of dance, while also living a busy life with marriage, childbirth, and work.
She started running marathons at the age of 27. It all started with the idea of "exercising even when you don't have time." At the time, she was working as a registered dietitian, and in addition to giving dietary advice, she also had many opportunities to encourage exercise. It was during this time that she started walking and running to show people who said, "I don't have time," that "you can do it even if you don't have time." However, it's difficult to travel far to exercise between raising children and other daily tasks. That's why she chose Mt. Bizan, which is easily accessible from her home.
"I wanted to exercise, but my time was limited. So for me, Mt. Bizan was the perfect place," she recalls. For about 20 years since then, Mt. Bizan has become deeply rooted in Sansai's life.
Encounters and journeys
"We are truly grateful to have Mt. Bizan nearby."
Sansai, who says this, is originally from Nagasaki Prefecture. She encountered Japanese dance when she was in high school, and moved to Tokushima when she went to university. She studied under a master and threw herself into the world of dance, while also living a busy life with marriage, childbirth, and work.
She started running marathons at the age of 27. It all started with the idea of "exercising even when you don't have time." At the time, she was working as a registered dietitian, and in addition to giving dietary advice, she also had many opportunities to encourage exercise. It was during this time that she started walking and running to show people who said, "I don't have time," that "you can do it even if you don't have time." However, it's difficult to travel far to exercise between raising children and other daily tasks. That's why she chose Mt. Bizan, which is easily accessible from her home.
"I wanted to exercise, but my time was limited. So for me, Mt. Bizan was the perfect place," she recalls. For about 20 years since then, Mt. Bizan has become deeply rooted in Sansai's life.
10/18,19 開催の眉山日和 イベントで
［眉山歴史クエスト］の企画していただきました。
ご家族・子供達に楽しんでいただけました。
Vol.01
SANSAI Wakayagi
Japanese dancer Wakayagi Sansai
Mt. Bizan helps me to balance my mind and body.
The closest theme park.
Japanese dancer Wakayagi Sansai
Mount Bizan is the symbol of Tokushima City. Located close to the city center, the mountain is easily accessible to everyone, and in addition to its observation deck and night view, it is also a place to enjoy sports. We spoke to Wakayagi Sansai, a Japanese dancer and trail runner who has been running up Mount Bizan for nearly 20 years. What does this mountain mean to her?
Encounters and journeys
"We are truly grateful to have Mt. Bizan nearby."
Sansai, who says this, is originally from Nagasaki Prefecture. She encountered Japanese dance when she was in high school, and moved to Tokushima when she went to university. She studied under a master and threw herself into the world of dance, while also living a busy life with marriage, childbirth, and work.
She started running marathons at the age of 27. It all started with the idea of "exercising even when you don't have time." At the time, she was working as a registered dietitian, and in addition to giving dietary advice, she also had many opportunities to encourage exercise. It was during this time that she started walking and running to show people who said, "I don't have time," that "you can do it even if you don't have time." However, it's difficult to travel far to exercise between raising children and other daily tasks. That's why she chose Mt. Bizan, which is easily accessible from her home.
"I wanted to exercise, but my time was limited. So for me, Mt. Bizan was the perfect place," she recalls. For about 20 years since then, Mt. Bizan has become deeply rooted in Sansai's life.
The expanding world of Mt. Bizan
"Running in the morning light and breathing in the scent of fresh greenery is a moment that cleanses the soul no matter how many times I run."
She initially went to Mt. Bizan to run, but her experiences there broadened her life even further. She tried cycling (road biking) and met new friends. She says that running clears her mind and sometimes even gives her unexpected ideas.
Another attraction is the scenery that changes with the seasons. Cherry blossoms decorate the road in spring, the road is enveloped in deep green in summer, the autumn leaves shine brilliantly in autumn, and snow falls in winter. The scenery never gets old, even if she passes by every day, and it continues to fascinate her.
"It's incredibly beautiful when it snows. Also, there are places where wild strawberries grow in abundance in the winter. Going out to eat strawberries is one of my secret pleasures."
I want to share the charm of Mt. Bizan
"Some people say there's nothing on Mt. Bizan, but I think that the fact that there's nothing there is what makes it so appealing."
Even though there are no tourist facilities, there are many things to see here, such as the small shrines and Jizo statues quietly standing by the side of the road, the silence of the forest, and the chirping of birds.
"You can enjoy forest bathing, running with friends, or simply climbing alone in silence. Mt. Bizan is a place where anyone can find their own way to enjoy it."
I want the people of Tokushima to be more proud of Mt. Bizan and their hometown. With this wish in mind, Sansai continues to run through the roads of Mt. Bizan today.
Run, walk, stop...
No matter how you spend your time,
Bizan will definitely respond.
This mountain is the perfect stage, right next to us.
Sansai says with a laugh:
"People sometimes ask me, 'What do you do at Mt. Bizan?' and 'What's so fun about Mt. Bizan?' But the fact is, there's nothing there. It's not that there's nothing there, but rather, 'it's precisely because there's nothing there that it's perfect.'"
Mt. Bizan doesn't have the flashy facilities of a tourist destination. But that's exactly its charm. You can just sit and daydream without being disturbed by anyone. You can even bring a packed lunch and spend the day alone. You can enjoy the "silence" that is different from crowds, and it gives you time to organize your thoughts and develop ideas.
"It's nice to just sit in a cafe and daydream, but you'll see people and things moving around. On the contrary, I find it easier to organize my thoughts when nothing is coming at me. Mt. Bizan is a place that gives me that sense of nothingness."
That's why everyone can find their own "favorite spot." Whether it's a small shrine, a rocky outcrop with a great view, or just a spot in the shade where you can sit quietly, Mt. Bizan is generous enough to allow for just that.
"Mt. Bizan is quite attractive right now, but I would like it to be able to be enjoyed by even more people, while being careful not to destroy the good things that are there now. If we do that, Mt. Bizan will become a place that is loved by even more people."
Mt. Bizan can be a special place for anyone precisely because there is "nothing" there.
Sansai's words make us who live in Tokushima rediscover the charm of this mountain.
writer / yurio yamamoto