The Kitsu Provinces are known for their scenic landscapes, particularly a small lake where a post road station is located. This station serves as a waypost on the border between the Kitsu Family and Akodo provinces and features a Shrine of the Lake Kami, jointly administered by both clans. The area is well-maintained, offering lodging for travelers, including quarters suitable for samurai dignitaries and nobles. The climate can be unseasonably cool, as experienced during a tea ceremony by the lake, marked by a refreshing breeze.
The waystation is frequented by Kitsu Family samurai, who manage the station and engage visitors in conversation. Several Kitsu Family samurai, identified as distant relatives of the Kitsu Family daimyō, hosted tea ceremonies at the tea house, discussing culinary preferences and family reflections. Among them, only one was a pureblood Kitsu Family, highlighting the clan's lineage discipline.
During one ceremony, an unseasonably cold breeze prompted Shiba Midori to sense a supernatural presence around Doji Setsuna, leading to a proposal to visit the shrine for offerings. The group prepared ritual items and invoked the spirit of Matsu Tomoe, an ancestor who confronted Doji Setsuna about her heritage neglect. The shrine's monk witnessed this encounter and was instructed to keep it secret.