The Gansu group's december outing was scheduled to take part in Toyoshima (Toyo - island). This island is situated 12 kilometers south from Kure City in the Seto Inland Sea. The key industries of Toyoshima are citrus fruit growing and fishing. As it is said that citrus fruits grow very well in a sunny climate combined with a sea breeze everyone can understand, that Toyoshima Mikan (mandarins) are very famous all over Japan.

The group met at Kawajiri Port, from there we went to the Island by a chartered boat. After the arrival in Toyohama, which is the islands main village, and an inevitable toilet break we hiked through the village to approach our first target, the Kukai Observatory on of Toyoshima highest peaks. As lunch we enjoyed Okonomiyaki which werde kindly prepared by Mrs. Junko Uemoto. Thank you for that delicious lunch! After the lunchbreak we enjoyed the view on Kamagari Island and other spots of the Seto Inland Sea. As well some group members had to do an interview for the Toyoshima Cable TV - after that was finished we started the descent to our next target.

The target was a mikan plantation were all members of the group were allowed to pick mikan for their own purpose. After an hour or so lots of bags were full and we needed a small truck to carry the bags to Toyohama port were we entered our ship to go back to Kawajiri Port. I want to thank Mr. Matomu Doho for the invitiation to this great hiking day in Toyoshima and for the possibility to pick his Mikan. Thank you very much!

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