Northern Honshu to Aomori

19/5/14

We are back in the inland of Honshu, still in stunning landscapes.

We have met some lovelly Japanese people in the last week or so.

This lady in a small roadside cafe, is chopping and pounding wasabe. The wasabi grows wild here, and she makes it into a finely chopped topping for steamed or miso boiled vegetables. It is hot but totally different to the wasabe paste we get at home. 

These young ladies (L-R Tokako, me, Miwa, mother of Yuna) went to a lot of trouble to help us find the Miso factory and Samari display today. We stopped them on the street when we thought we were close to our destination. They got into their car and guided us to the site. Then they went in with us and explained the displays as best they could given the language difficulties. A translation app was helpful. Thanks girls! 

We also learned that Yuna practices with a Samuri fighting weapon... She gave us a demonstration and then a gift of a weapon! 

And here is the view from our camping spot tonight! Oh it's a hard life! 

20/5/14

Continuing through more spectacular landscapes towards Aomori in the very north of Honshu. We are to meet up with Stuart and Nira in Saporro (Hokkaido) on 23rd. The weather is noticeably cooler here than Southern Honshu, and we are still seeing occasional snow (at 780m!) and cherry blossoms.

The hues in the trees as spring starts to produce pink and green new leaves is quite beautiful. 

 The rice paddies are just now being prepared for planting in most places.

We are passing by lakes of the most brilliant blue colour, and steaming hot streams of milky white.

And to finish off the day we found an Onsen -this time a mixed gender one -the first of those we have tried. It was in a beautiful traditional building. 

The mixed gender wasn't too threatening. Nobody stared. The men mostly used a facecloth to cover the best bits, but not too rigorously. One woman had a cloth tied around herself like a (short) sarong, so that is apparently acceptable in the mixed context. Anyway we felt well warmed for the final leg into Aomori. 

Once in Aomori we decided to find the ferry port. And then we decided to go across tonight -spur of the moment but it will be good to be over there. We will arrive about midnight. 

So we are off on the next phase of our travels!