Onsen to sake

Today was our last full day in Kyoto, and probably our last chance to visit a natural hot spring (onsen) before leaving for Okinawa. Before leaving the hotel, we noticed a hawk circling in the strong breeze over the river right outside our room. I tried to take some photos but don't think they came out very well. Take a look at those and the other photos from the day.

We took a two-car train north out of Kyoto, to the small town of Kurama in the mountains. The hour-long ride was a lot of fun, with some very nice scenery and occasional snow showers. (The weather had changed overnight, and a strong northwesterly breeze was causing some "ocean effect" snow squalls in the mountains.) After arriving at the end of the line with a handful of other tourists (mostly Japanese), we walked a little bit up the main road of the sleepy village, which looked not unlike a Pennsylvania town. The town policeman was sitting by the side of the road and greeted us as we passed. We found the hot spring spa, which comprises an inn with indoor and outdoor baths and various other relaxation amenities.

The outdoor hot spring bath was what we came for, and the weather turned out to be excellent for it. The men's and women's baths were separate, which is typical in Japan since WWII, so we went our separate ways. After showering thoroughly at a sit-down washing station we were each sufficiently cleansed and mentally prepared to soak. The water was nice and warm, and soon after Eric got in, there was a brief snow squall. (Michelle was still discovering the ropes and showering, apparently.) The cool snow and breeze mixed with the hot water and steam was something to experience. Michelle got a snow squall a bit later, and liked the idea that she could sit starkers outside in the snow and not be cold. She also thought the white snow against the green mountains was beautiful.

After a couple hours of soaking, showering, sitting, and soaking, we recovened and returned through town to the station. The policeman was still there, but had switched to the other side of the road, maybe in preparation for rush hour. The train ride back was nice after the relaxing soak, and we spent a little while shopping and wandering in Kyoto. We also went to a tea shop and sampled some of the offerings.

For dinner we met a former colleague of Michelle's "cousin" Jerry. He's from Alabama, is working in Osaka, and speaks fluent Japanese. He and his girlfriend took us to a restaurant on an old Kyoto street, where we had some great shabu-shabu. After that we went to a nearby sake bar, and had some delicious (and not-so-delicious) sake, and probably too much. The evening was a lot of fun, and we hope to meet up with them again sometime. (These things have a strange way of happening, in any event.)