生き物とのふれあい　第１部

人との交流は重要ですが、自然が豊かな青森県を満喫するために生き物とのふれあいも不可欠でしょう。特に印象に残っているのはイギリスに住んでいない蛍です。ある七月の日、浅虫温泉駅で電車から降り、浅虫ほたる湖に向けて歩きました。ほたる湖に着いた時、浅虫温泉ホタル観賞会のガイドさんが迎えてくれました。日が暮れてから、ガイドさんが集まってきた人たちを田んぼの奥に導きました。数分が経っても一匹も出てこないで、仕方がないと思ったら、神秘的な光が一点現れました。小さい光がぽつぽつ現れて、徐々にどこを見ようか迷うほど何匹のほたるが出てきました。母国に見られない景色を夢中に眺めました。今年のほたるが見える季節も本当に楽しみにしています。

Interacting with people is important, but encountering wildlife is also imperative if you want to really enjoy nature-rich Aomori. One thing that has left a big impression on me is fireflies, which we don't have in the UK. One day in July, I got off at Asamushi-Onsen Station and headed for Asamushi Hotaru-ko. When I arrived at Hotaru-ko, I was greeted by a guide from the Asamushi Firefly Appreciation Society. Once the sun had set, the guide led our group further into the fields. For a few minutes, we didn't see a single firefly, but just as I was starting to lose hope, a single mysterious light appeared. Tiny lights appeared here and there, until there were so many I didn't know where to look. I gazed transfixed at this sight which never appears in my home country. I'm really looking forward to firefly season this year, too.