Onsen Adventure

Yesterday, we went to an onsen (spa) called Sujiyu with Yuri and Kazuki. We stopped at a ryokan called Shugetsu. It started snowing almost as soon as we left Yame, and by the time we hit the mountain roads, it was settling. Eventually, the car refused to budge and despite three of us pushing, Kazuki-san's car was not going anywhere. Time to break out the snow-chains!
昨日百合ちゃんとかずきさんと筋湯と言う温泉に行って秀月と言う旅館に泊まった。八女をでたらしばらくして雪が降り始めて、山の道に着いた時には、車はすべりはじめちゃった。三人で車を押したのにぜんぜんすすまなくなっちゃった。でも良かった。チェーンを持ってきたかずきさんと百合ちゃんのおかげで助かったんだ。

Thanks to Kazuki-san's heroic driving, we finally made it safely to the onsen resort. What a place! With the snow, it was especially beautiful. Each guest room has its own private onsen and it was an amazing experience to sit in a lovely hot bath, whilst snow was drifting (or occasionally wind-blasted) through the wooden slats of the window shutters. The only problem was getting out! There is a badger like creature in Japan called Tanuki. Amongst other things, these creatures are alleged to be mischief makers, causing strange things to happen. I am sure that each time Nozomi and I tried to get out of the onsen, a tanuki created a blast of snowy wind to send us both diving back under the water..

In the evening we shared a delicious meal together, which as with most Japanese food, not only tasted great, but was presented very artfully. After the meal I felt absolutely shattered (having developed a cold on top of the jet-lag), but after a couple of beers I regained some energy and rejoined the party (in spirit as well as body). We spent a very pleasant evening chatting with Yuri and Kazuki whilst enjoying the New Year variety shows on TV. Slept very well, so it would seem that my prayer was answered at Takatsuka-Jizou, a temple we visited on the way to the onsen.



Our thanks to Yuri and Kazuki for a fantastic trip. o-sewa ni narimashita.