The other day, I wanted to talk a bit about the Chestnut House we visited with a friend who is also into horseback riding.
Ibaraki Prefecture is known for having the highest chestnut production in Japan. Since I started attending a riding club in Ibaraki,
one thing that struck me was the sheer abundance of chestnut trees everywhere. Seeing chestnuts fallen on the ground truly surprised me due to their size and the spiky outer shell.
Obviously, it wasn't feasible to clear the chestnuts carelessly dropped beside the roads (due to passing cars),
but I had the chance to gather some chestnuts and their branches from the back hills of the riding club with the owner's permission.
The Chestnut House in Ibaraki, an old traditional house renovated into a serene café, seemed to be over 100 years old
but had a solid foundation and beams. The furnishings were also old but meticulously cared for.
From where we sat, we could see the garden in the distance. There was a large tree and a dry pond with small stones that reminded me of a Japanese rock garden.
Spending quiet moments in such a cozy place was blissful.
Of course, the chestnut delicacies served were delicious, meticulously prepared desserts.
It was delightful to have such moments of tranquility amidst our busy lives.
Our conversation ranged from horses to various topics, and time flew by. (Ah, it was so comfortable!)