After crossing the Abe River and entering a mountainous area, the traveler comes to Mariko post town, which is famous for tororo-jiru (yam broth poured on barley rice). It is a peaceful scene in early spring - the plum trees are budding, a bird is chirping on the thatched roof of the tororo-jiru shop and an old farmer heads for his fields where green young herbs are sprouting. This is a landscape painting with a poetic touch reminiscent of a haiku poem by the famous poet Matsuo Basho. The poem says, "Tororo broth served at Mariko post town where plum trees are budding and the fields are green with young herbs."