大手町英語倶楽部コミュのMy speech

My favorite place for a walk.

Let me tell you about my favorite place for a walk.

It's the place you all know.
It's the Matsukawa area.

I think some of you think it's not special.
But rivers in a city are getting no good recently.

Most of rivers in city areas has a fence for safety.
I think that a fence is blot in the landscape of the stream.
But Matsukawa doesn't have it.

Matsukawa is not too big, but not so small.
It goes through the center of Toyama city and is connected to Itachigawa.
Itachigawa is also a good river like Matsukawa.
But I think Matsukawa is the best stream in Toyama city.

A lot of kind of birds come there.
Above all heron is the biggest and elegant.
You can see it easily there.

And, there are nice places along the stream.
For example, Toyama municipal library.
You can read books, magazines and a paper as you like for free.

The site of Toyama castle, it's going to convert into better place.
It's under construction now.

And, there is a promenade along Matsukawa.
It's the most beautiful promenade in Toyama.

There are 28 statues on the bank of the river every 10 meters or so.
I'll tell you some examples from them.
A girl who is sitting on a bench with a bird.
A man who carries a big ball on his shoulder.
A mermaid who is carried off by wave.
A strange ring which every child wants to go through the hole.
I've done it.

Cherry trees are planted along the riverbank.
You can go to see the cherry blossoms in spring.
Especially, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it's a fine view from the bridges .

Matsukawa has Sightseeing boats.
I've never boarded on it but I had paddled a canoe there.
It was a different view from the river bank.
it was special and very beautiful.

The cherry blossom-viewing is one of the common popular event, you know.
A lot of people enjoy their party under the trees.
I used to go to Junior high school along Matsukawa.
One day, when I was on my way to home with my friend, generous drunks dined us.
we had got drunk a little.

When cherry blossoms begin to fall like snow by wind, the petals tint the promenade into pink.
It's the most wonderful time for a walk.


In summer, you can take a break on a bench on the riverbank.
Green leaves of the cherry trees　　 block out the sun light and heat.
It's a nice place for picnic too.
You can bring some food,　 but....
There are a liquor store and a butcher near there.
I used to get a couple of hot croquettes and coke, and ate them on the bench.
Occasionally, it was beer.








In fall, my favorite time is dusk.
The leaves of the cherry trees change their color into yellow and red,
and cover the promenade like patchwork.

Reddish Sunset light comes through the branches.
I've walked while I kicked dead leaves, and making rustle of them.
It's a pretty fun walk.

If you are lucky, you can get a hot roasted sweet potato from a sort of vender.
It's good for beer too.

And at last, in winter,
Actually, my another most favorite season is winter.

Matsukawa looks very good in snow.
Everything are covered by snow except water.
Even the branches of cherry trees are covered by snow.

As it were, it seems to be cherry trees in full blossom.
It's very beautiful.

A nighttime is good too.
The promenade in snow lighted up by small street lights is romantic.

Snow absorbs noise.
You can take a walk with your sweetheart hand in hand in the quietness.
It's cold, so you two snuggle up each other.
But I think you two don't care about the chill either there.

Sometimes, I ask my wife to go out, but she always refuse it.

"I hate windy, chilly and hot! Do you want me to get sick?"
I'm sorry, I'm always alone in a walk, that's why.

That's all, Thank you.