With temps and humidity in the 90s, our day trip to Gandate Park was a welcome break from the sweltering heat. Thanks to our friend Reiko, we were able to experience greenery unlike anything we've seen since our arrival. Our 12-hour day trip began with lunch at a soba noodle restaurant overlooking a river. It could not have been lovelier.
After lunch, we headed to a watering hole where the icy water of the Hida River refreshed us. Bob could hardly believe I took the plunge so quickly, since I'm usually timid around freezing cold water.
Next was a walk through one small section of Gandate Park, where a volcanic eruption created Mt. Ontake 54,000 years ago. Waterfalls fill the park, and each one we saw (and listened to) was stunning. The rainbow over the last waterfall we visited was an added gift.
After four months in Japan, we finally got into an "onsen," a public bath--Japanese style--no clothing allowed. Men and women have separate baths with indoor and outdoor pools of natural hot spring water. It felt so good! We then ended our day with a stop in Gero, a tourist town famous for its hot springs. Throughout the charming downtown area, there are foot baths, where you can stop and soothe your feet in the hot waters. Heavenly!
No comments:
Post a Comment