Tenryu（天龍）: Litterally, Ten (天）means heaven and Ryu（龍）means dragon.
In central Japan, there’s a long and rapid river named Tenryu .
As for the name origin of the Tenryu river, there are many theories. But probably, the most supported one is connected with Lake Suwa which is believed to be dedicated to a Dragon deity. As we can easily imagine, the Tenryu river flows from Lake Suwa.
Another popular theory comes from the flow speed of the river. That is to say, the Tenryu River runs so fast that it looks like a dragon rising into the heavens.
In any case, as its name shows, the Tenryu river flows through the right middle of the village.
Located at the southernmost tip of Nagano, Tenryu village is the warmest place in the prefecture. Incidentally, it is the first place for plum and cherry blossoms to bloom. This fact leads to the village’s catchphrase, “The village that heralds spring in Nagano”.
What is noteworthy is that there are no convenience stores nor traffic lights. Instead, people enjoy warm and friendly interactions with each other. Their community is growing slowly but steadily. Villagers, especially those who have moved from other regions, are actively promoting the charm of this village.
Of course, such activities include Tea picking and Yuzu cooking (Yubeshi) .
Tea picking
In Tenryu Village, at the southernmost tip of Nagano Prefecture, there are tea fields clinging to the mountain slopes which lie parallel to the Tenryu River. When there’s fog, tea fields seem to be floating in the sky. Below your eyes, the majestic view of Tenryu River. The views from each farmer’s tea field are […]
Yuzu Cooking (Yubeshi)
Yuzu is a fragrant citrus fruit that belongs to the Rutaceae family. Although Yuzu is a fruit, it is not suitable for eating raw. Therefore, we sometimes use them outside of the kitchen. For example, there is a custom of adding Yuzu to the bath during the winter to avoid catching a cold. Interestingly, it […]
