Next we go to Nikko (elev. 557 meters). It is beautiful, hilly area with lots of water. Our ryokan (the Turtle Inn) sports a family Onsen (Japanese spa) so I’m really excited! We are going to hike to the shrine dedicated to the first shogun of the edo era. Neat stuff Maynard!
By the time we got into Nikko on the 8th, it was time for dinner, so after dumping our bags into the “October” room, we checked back in with the group.
We went out to a local establishment for a FANTASTIC meal of Yakkitori. We all sat closeby, and it was quite an intimate setting. We had a small room to ourselves, and we did get a little roughty at times. The sake was flowing and we were a glowing.
The next morning, we got up at 6:30. By 8:30, we were out on the town. We went to a Buddhist Temple, the Toshogu Shrine, a world historic site! In the afternoon, we took a busride up into the mountains escaping the doom and gloom. The temperature inversion meant that our hike alongside Lake Chuzengj was ideal. Blue sparkly water, reflecting a similar sky with only dots of high whispy clouds.
We hiked from one waterfall to another (Kegon falls). The later was an amazing fall-90 meters! The hike was 4 miles (or km?). Anyways, it was very warm and beautiful up there, and NOT raining. Woo-hoo, so I actually bouldered on a few rocks lakeside and we lost sight of the group on the trail. I also went over to the lake and splashed a little water on my face, it was amazing. The local fishermen were hoping I was one of those free spirits, I’M SURE.
We took the bus back to Nikko, remarkably surviving the 26 switchbacks. The bus driver was grinning like a mad fiend, I tell ya! By the time we got back to the Turtle Inn, we were ready for a soak in the Onsen, and then dinner. We ended the day by playing a really fun drinking game, where I proved myself by downing an ENTIRE strawberry milkshake. Such a fish…
On the way from Nikko to the Hakone-Fuji area, we got a glimse of Mt. Fuji from the train. Aaron, our tourguide was kind enough to tell us to look out the window. As luck were to have it, this was the only time out of 5 possible chances that we actually saw the mountain!!! This is not the best picture, but it will have to do.
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The shrine area for Tokugawa Ieyasu was pretty impressive (he was the shogun who unified Japan in 1609, and his family rules for over 250 years).
As you can imagine, when you’re the emperor, money is no object. I think I remember hearing that every craftsman in Japan worked on the shrine/mausoleum at some point during its construction. What a magnificent piece of work!
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