Throwback Thursday

 This is a look back on what I wrote about  on January 14th since coming to Japan. (Click on the year to see more photos and the full post.)

2020

I wrote about my new year trip to Kyoto.

2019 

I wrote about that year's temperature quilt and showed the progress to date.

2018

I went to lunch with my friend Ayako.

2017

I wrote about going to the movies with a newly broken arm while on vacation in Okinawa.

2016

I wrote about day 6 of my Kumano Kodo trip.

2015

This post was about starting a new miniature stitching 

project.

2014

I wrote about a driving tour in Bali.

2013

This post was about the UNESCO sites I visited on that year's holiday trip.

2012 

This post was about a trip to the shopping mall on a snowy day.

It's hard to believe I've been in Japan over nine years now! I do enjoy looking back on my posts and remembering from time to time.

Shirahama and Going Home

On day 10, I stored my pack in a locker at the train station in Kii-Tanabe, and took a local bus to Shirahama. My two destinations that day were the Saki No Yu open air onsen and the Shirahama Beach. 

Saki No Yu Open Air Onsen is just around the bend in this photo.  The bigger building is a public toilet.  The smaller building is where you pay - 480 yen.  There is a men's side and a women's side, with a wall between them. The whole thing is "open air". No soap is allowed because it is right on the ocean.  There were three pools of water - the top was the hottest and the bottom the largest.  The ocean water splashed into the lower pool. There was a little area at the entrance for undressing, but still in the open air.  The wind made it cold, until I got into the water.  

I stayed quite a while, then walked to a lunch place where I ate fish.  I hung out on the beach for the next couple of hours. The sand was white and very fine.

After walking along the coast, I headed to the station to take the bus back to Kii-Tanabe.  

I stayed the night in Kii-Tanabe at the same place I spent the first night. 

Day 11 was my travel home day. I managed to get on the right trains going to the airport.  When I arrived in Hokkaido, I took the train to Sapporo, then planned to take the bus to my town, but because of the snow the busses weren't running! I did get the train to my town, where I had a 30 minute walk home in the snow. 

Yes, the snow is deep.

This was my view out my kitchen window when I got home. 

It really was a wonderful vacation. Now I plan to get back to posting about stitching and other things.

Kumano Hayatama Taisha

On the morning of Day 9, I ate breakfast at my lodging, and took a few pictures of Sennin Buro, then caught the bus to Shingu, where the third of the three big shrines of the Kumano Kodo is located. 

The other two big shrines are Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha.  This one is Kumano Hayatama Taisha. When I saw this shrine, I was starting to feel like I'd seen this before.  They are all very similar I think.

Near the shrine I happened upon the Aikido World Dojo. 

After the shrine and the dojo, I made my way to the train station and headed to Kii-Tanabe (on the local train because it was cheaper, although a bit slower, than the express). My lodging didn't provide meals, but I bought something to eat and ate it on the second floor balcony looking out at the ocean.  

My trip is almost, but not quite over....

Paper Making and Japan's Largest Rotenboro

Continuing the story about my holiday trip - here is day 8. 

From Kii-Katsura, I took the local bus back to Hongu Taisha.  I had seen a flyer about a paper making shop, but I didn't know where it was.  I asked at the information center and was told I needed to make reservations a week in advance. The man behind the counter could tell I was disappointed and said Chotto matte kudasai (Wait a minute please).  He called the shop and arranged for me to take a class all by myself that morning!  This is one of the reasons I love being in Japan. People always go beyond what is required. He gave me walking directions to the shop and away I went. The shop owner demonstrated and I took photos.  Good thing I did because once I started doing it myself, my hands couldn't touch my camera. This wood with three branches gets chopped up and mixed with water and glue.  If the bark is mixed in, there are flecks of brown in the paper.  The paper is extremely strong.

I made a full size sheet of paper, a bookmark, and a postcard with leaves in it.  After the class I bought a few things in the shop to give as omiyage when I returned to Hokkaido. After my craft experience, I went to the shrine and to the giant torii, the largest in Japan. 

After being alone for the first part of my trip, I was interested in observing the other vacationers. It was getting close to New Years and there were many family groups at the shrine.

I had a delicious tempura rice bowl in a local restaurant. 

After lunch I took another local bus to my next destination, Kawayu Onsen, where the largest outdoor onsen in Japan, Sennin Buro, is located.  It was right across from the place I stayed.  Being a co-ed onsen in the river, people wear bathing suits or clothes.  My lodging provided little pajama-like clothes to wear.  I checked into my room and crossed the road for the rotenboro.  

This little shrine was up the hill next to my lodging.  

Dinner was in the dining room, with an orange and coffee made from onsen water for dessert. 

The vacation is not over yet....