September 30, 2012-
Rise and Shine!!!
Welcome to another splendid day in Kamikochi, Japan!!!!!
Let's go eat some breakfast and then we've got plans for a walk. 🙂
Tiny little bowls and tiny little servings. Funny, looks like tiny servings but the overall effect is stuffed tummy!
Mmmm….yummy breakfast! Some how I didn't get a photo of what's in the little cookers (eggs and ham).
Saddle up! It's time to go out for a walk. The weather is a little overcast but the temperature is great for a stroll! We've decided to head to Myojin Pond.
We're picking up some snacks for the walk at this shop….some Danishes and drinks. Annika also picked up some apple pie taffy-like candy.
Let's duck into the Kamikochi Visitor's Center:
Looks like it'll continue to be cloudy. Apparently they have WILDLIFE here! There have been Asian black bear sightings.
We saw several tents up along the way. This one was probably the most interesting- a temporary artist's residence.
I wonder….I do wonder if we can some coffee-related drink from one of the vending machines here:
Mark getting us some coffee drinks from the vending machine. Cold coffee is better than no coffee, right?
Oh my!!! A bit of a surprise- the vending machine spit out a can of HOT (okay, warm) coffee!!!! I hadn't expected an aluminum can of coffee to be hot! Actually, not bad. Not bad at all!
The hot coffee beverage. It'll do in a pinch! (for a coffee addict!)
crossing the Azusa river
Isn't it glorious? There's just a whisper…hint…of fall in the mountains. Just gorgeous!
and….I've got no idea what this sign says.
and more
Nearly there!
Hmmm….I think this looks like where we'll get lunch today! It's an attractive hut/restaurant. It reminds me of a hut in the Austrian alps…..a place where you could get an excellent beer!
We saw this lovely young couple just as we entered the pond. It turns out- they were about to get married! Such a lovely bride, don't you think? Now, out of respect for the couple, even though we observed the wedding from afar I didn't take photos. We wish them the best of luck! And- WOW! What a location for a wedding!!!!!
Entrance to Myojin Pond:
We need to pay 300 Yen (per adult and half for the girls) to see the pond. I had assumed, based on something I'd read, that there was a fee to see a temple or shrine but it turns out that you have to pay to see the pond. I'm not sure what those envelopes you see for sale are about.
Next up: Myojin Pond!