After taking a bus south to Fukuyama to rent a small mini-van specially converted to make camping easy from the wonderful couple who own Hero Travel, my Australian friend, Alex; former Skyview exchange student, Daisuke; and Daisuke's fellow Okinawan, Maki, and I drove over 4200km of Honshu, the main island of Japan.
 |
Starting Out (Daisuke is eating beef jerkey--not what you think he's doing!) |
 |
Nyuuto Onsen: a very old hot springs resort in Akita |
 |
"Kappa no Yuu": a free hot springs along a mountain stream in the Yagen Valley of the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori. |
 |
Osorezan in Aomori is said to look like the Buddhist version of Hell. |
 |
A river valley in Hiraizumi, Iwate. |
 |
Ouchijuku, an original post town along a mountain pass in Iwate. |
 |
Tsuruga Castle in Aizu-Wakamatsu |
 |
The temple atop Mount Haguro in Yamagata. |
 |
A bridge along the pilgrim's path to Mount Haguro in Yamagata |
 |
View from the top of Yama-dera, the mountain temple in Yamagata |
 |
Yama-dera, main building. |
 |
Statue at Yama-dera. |
 |
The bridge at Matsushima in Miyagi |
 |
View from the mountain road between Nikko and Nagano. |
 |
Matsumoto Castle in Nagano. |
 |
Nikko in Tochigi. |
 |
Nikko in Tochigi. |
 |
Hear No Evil. Speak No Evil. See No Evil. (Nikko) |
 |
A brief glimps of Fuji at 5:00 am before the clouds covered it. |
 |
Narai, an old post town in Nagano. |
 |
Tsumago, 2nd post town in Nagano. |
 |
Magome, 3rd post town in Nagano. |
 |
A hyacinth in bloom. |
 |
Final Odometer Reading. |