For the last few days we have been wandering around in the Japanese Alps. There is SO much stunning beauty -gorges, snow topped mountains, wild (controlled) rivers. Here are some shots of the views as we went.
This one is for Lynette -so you think you have deer?
Today we stopped at a road-side cafe
because I saw an interesting bonsai in front of the shop. We met two lovely people who were very excited about our car! They had a good look and we managed to communicate quite well. Unfortunately we didn't get their names, but we got a photo.
They offered us coffee (and refused payment) and some fern fronds which had been boiled and salted and were delicious.
The edible part is the curled young frond. It is very similar to what I know as King Fern in Australia. It has a deep groove down the centre of the stem.
The lady (?mother) is going to Australia next April to visit friends in the Yarra Valley! We hope she has great hospitality there as we have had in Japan!
We have found a place to camp every night and have not once been disturbed or complained to. We have slept in small tracks where we could get off the road,
vacant allotments a bit out of town, shrine parking areas on very quiet roads,
and tonight in the parking area of a 5 star onsen hotel! It is raining so that onsen is a very welcome thought! The hotel is on a lake and appears to be a fishing resort. We have seen very cold looking fishermen coming up from the lake, so I guess they appreciate the hot tub too!
This time we asked permission to camp (being totally self sufficient helps!) and to use the onsen. (Yes that is snow on the ground). Yes to both questions. So when we felt cold we headed over to the hotel with our towels. And... Since I am the only woman here, we can have the onsen to ourselves (together)! And no charge for us tonight!
And.... It is one of the nicest onsens we have found, with a stone fish-statue in the middle, and two aquariums featuring trout. We luxuriated in it for 45 minutes (in and out), and forgot the cold night outside!
The Onsen is "Marunuma" or "Kan Ko So".
email: kankoso@marunuma.com
Www.marunuma.com
Tel. 0278-58-2002
The busy season is summer, and it is closed in winter.
Highly recommended!
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