Nyuto Onsen Walking Part I

A night at Taenoyu Onsen, one of eight onsen ryokan located in the mountains of Eastern Akita prefecture is bliss. Surrounded by greenery, we enjoyed crisp, clean air that refreshed and rejuvenate us. After hectic days of sightseeing and rushing everywhere, it's really nice to sit back and chill and let the slow pace of life be the tonic for more hectic days to come. ^^

The front view of Taenoyu Onsen. There's a bus stop located right in front of this ryokan, so if you are taking a bus here, it's just a matter of crossing the road when you arrived. A staff  immediately came out and greeted us even before we stepped in the ryokan. Taking a bus for our return journey was easy too. We just sat at the bench in front of the ryokan until the bus came and stopped for us.

Taenoyu Onsen is located beside the Sendatsu river. This is the view from our room and it was sure nice to sleep with the sound of flowing dream accompanying our slumber. Sleep well, we did!

On a rather cold morning on the second day we were there, after a really refreshing dip in the hot water; I decided to take a walk and enjoy the fresh air. I didn't venture out too far, though. Wouldn't want to get lost, would we? *^-^*

Another view of Sendatsu river, through the trees

Found a small shrine by the foot of the hill/mountain right next to Taenoyu Onsen

What/which God/Goddess is this?

It was already chilly when we were there although it was still the summer months. It was nice to spend the days in colder areas of Akita instead of returning to a hotter Tokyo afterwards!

Then, we decided it might be nice to walk out further and check out the area. Stay tuned for the upcoming photos. :)

I Like Green

Even if it's green moss!

A place covered in green moss evokes a rather mysterious feel, don't you think? I do. ^^

I'm on a holiday mood. Can you tell? ^^ Can't seem to think of anything more to write here. But, as I said... I love green. It soothes me so. :)

By The Sea

If you google up about towns or villages by the sea in Japan, the result is sadly about the March 11 tsunami. A sad reminder of the tragedy that we should never forget.

Fishing villages overlooking Sea of Japan

Port city of Kitakyushu, if I'm not wrong.

I can't wait to visit quaint fishing villages by the coastal area of Seto Inland Sea. A visit to a smaller island too, perhaps? ^^

A Tiny Shrine Amidst The Craziness Of An Amusement Park

Well, what do you expect from an amusement park located in Asakusa, right? ^^

Shounkaku Shrine "Burabo", Hanayashiki's God of fortune.

After spending hours of crazy fun at the oldest amusement park in Japan, why not pay a visit to the shrine located on the rooftop of the multi-storey Shounkaku building. Have a breather there too, and get away from the crowd downstairs, if you wish.

You also get this view from the rooftop.

Carnival Games

We have yet been to any matsuri (festival) in Japan but we got a chance to try out some pretty fun carnival games at Hanayashiki Amusement Park.

What's your favourite festival games?

Handouts Are Good

When people hand over stuff (pamphlets,  samples and whatnot) while you walk around in Japan, just take it. That's what we learn. Because the stuff that got handed over may be some coupons for cheap eats somewhere or discount on stuff.

Why pay full price of things when you can get it at cheaper price with coupons, right? I scour for it in KL and I do it in Japan too! It helps to lower our food expenses, that's for sure and also it got us to eateries that we wouldn't have tried otherwise.

I kinda miss getting free tissues though. Our tissue bounty last year was a far cry from what we used to get in previous years. Either it's because we went sightseeing at unhip places or the economy was bad for companies to do tissue advertising anymore. And, and where are all those cosmetic samples I used to get when we strolled around Shibuya? Where????!!!!

Used to get freebies when we checked-in at Toyoko-Inn too, but no freebies last year. I miss my free socks!

With the amount of night we checked-in and checked-out at Toyoko-Inn branches, Zaini need not buy socks for a year! LOL

I guess no such luck this year. :(

But as I said, them handouts are gooooood...

Water Spouting Dragon

Water - the source of life, and in some cases - tourism too; which can mean a source of livelihood to the community involved.

The smell of sulfurous water at Bessho Onsen; one of Nagano's classic onsen resort town was a tad funky, but it is said to have beautifying prowess and clearing certain ailments, so I just pinched my nose and drink away. I need help in the beauty department, after all. XD

Tour Tokyo With Hello Kitty

Would you want to go around Tokyo with Hello Kitty?

A must for Hello Kitty fanatics, riding these double-decker Hato bus with Hello Kitty everywhere, on the exterior and the interior. I'm guessing there's bound to be Hello Kitty under your butt too, when you sit. (^o^)

Who says you can have too much Hello Kitty exposure, especially when you are in Japan! d(>w<)b

Empty...

Believe it or not, you can find empty trains in Japan. It's not all rush-hour crush boarding them all day long! ^^

and to accompany the empty train photos I loaded up here, here a video from JYJ.

I love Japan and all that, but I'm nuts over Korean guys! *^-^*

Bessho Onsen Night Walk

Let's see. I had posts on Tokyo Walks, Osaka Walks, Kawasaki Walks on this blog before.

Time for Bessho Onsen walk segment, I say. ^^

After having our bath and dinner at the hotel we were staying in at Bessho Onsen; we had this bright idea of going out and checking out the neighbourhood again. We strolled around the town earlier in the day but didn't managed to cover all the places that we wanted to see.

Visiting a deserted Kitamuki Kannon Temple in early evening and was greeted by this upon reaching to top of the stairs.

Passed by a "soto-yu" (public bath). Entry to the public baths here (there are four?, I think) is 150yen.

We later decided that it might be fun to visit the Anrakuji Temple, with its octagonal pagoda so off we went, walking into darkness. Not a soul in sight and we were just accompanied by the sound of barking dogs. The temple actually closes at 5.00pm but we figured that we might get a glimpse of the pagoda even at night.

Along the dimly lit path towards Anrakuji Temple. We didn't made it all the way to the Temple though. It started to rain halfway there so we had to run back and look for shelter. And I was wearing a "getha" to complement my "yukata". Not a great outfit for running. xD

and found shelter from the rain at a foot bath area. Sitting there dipping our feet and enjoying the nice, hot water watching the area. Man, this is one quiet town at night. Not that I'm complaining though.

Keeping Track Of Expenses While On Vacation

Zaini doesn't care about our balancing our daily expenses back home (that's my job), just that when we are on vacation, he did all the daily reconciliation without fail.

The reason being, we didn't want to overspend on things that we run out of cash way before our last day in Japan! We always have a strict budget and we follow the budget pretty well. And no, we don't use our credit card there.

For those who don't know - that's a train ticket in the photo above. Pretty small and I was always petrified about losing them so I always, always passed my tickets to Zaini for safekeeping.

But how do we keep track on non-receipted expenses? Easy! Just take a photo of it and check the photos when we are doing our balancing. ^^

Anyway, good thing that stuff in Japan are priced pretty standard everywhere too. And thank goodness for digital camera!

And all the extras $$$, we splurge on the last few days of our vacation! :)

Sunflowers

Sunflowers, found on a sidewalk in Asakusa that seemed to be shying away from the bright sunlight.

A Trip Back In Time

That's how I felt when we arrived Bessho Onsen in Nagano. The hotel that we stayed in and the train station there evoke a kind of feeling of going back to another time in the past. It's quite romantic, that I have to say.

A rotary dial telephone! My dear Son doesn't know how to use them. Do you?

Old magazines and guest books. Flipping through the guest book, I saw entries made in the 1980s there! Wow!

A moss covered waterwheel, spinning ever so slowly.

Along the way to a temple. Old scooter in an alleyway. Why did it feel so nostalgic for me?

And lastly, the almost deserted Bessho Onsen train station.

My Kind Of Breakfast

A hearty breakfast for a day filled with sightseeing is extremely important. And these breakfasts we had are the best!

 

 

Though I have to say, after a week or so eating rice balls in Japan for breakfast; some bread in the morning starts to look nicer to me!

Raimie is just happy to get his hands on some tsukemono while on vacation. That boy of mine and his Daddy too, sure love their pickles!