Golden Week 2012

Golden Week is the holiday in Japan at the end of every April, like Easter break I guess.
This Golden Week was busy! First I went camping in Shizuoka 200km south-west of Tokyo, and then on a family trip with Toshi's Osakan family to Wakayama, the 'Hawaii of Japan'.

Camping

Driving 200km along the highway/motorway for the first time (left) and carp banners for Children's Day (right)

 Can you see Mt Fuji faintly towering over us?

Video: I catch a very easy Sakuradai fish!

Two sakuradai fish and tempura for lunch

Two lovely-looking fish that Toshi caught (*^^*)

Campfire's burning..

The campsite

Osaka/Wakayama

 Why wasn't our plane the Pokemon one!!?? (;_;)

 Feeling motherly with Satomi-chan and singing English songs to her ♪

 At a Yakiniku restaurant, grilled meat (especially beef).

This is the most delicious beef I've ever had! But one plate of cost about £10! Luckily I wasn't paying ;P

 

 Speaking of meat, I saw whale meat for the first time at a Wakayama fish market.
And no, I certainly did'n't buy any. The price of the smallest cut you can see here is about £10.

 Beautiful Shirahama beach!

 

 We visited a cave that was the location of a secret pirate hideout several hundred years ago!

 At Senjō-jiki, a very windy rocky point and Engetsu-tō, a natural sandstone arch

 Snorkeling!

 All-you-can-eat buffet back at the hotel after my no less than third hot spring bath in three days!

Exploring my local area in Nerima.

 

Some final blossoms and wild flowers amongst fallen sakura petals.

Aizen Temple in Nerima Kasugacho

 
Snowboarding trip up north to Niigata Prefecture with my coworker, Simon, and a student on Monday 12th.

 

Stunning views from the top of Mitsumata mountain in Kagura before speeding down the 1.5 km course! It was only my second time, and it takes so much stamina and uses every muscle I have! But I love the feeling of freely hurtling down a mountain surrounded by such breathtaking scenery! I really can't wait to go again!!

Eating a local treat, Sasadango, which is pounded Green tea flavoured rice cake wrapped in a bamboo leaf.

Later, I soaked in an Onsen, Hot Spring, and I had the womens bath all to myself! I was entertained by beautiful views of the mountains and the snowy surroundings, and also the peaceful sound of the falling rain. 

It was just like one of the images of Japan I had before coming  :)

Hakone Autumn Leaves Viewing

Note: You can click on the photos to enlarge them

Simon, my colleague, Yuki, a student, and Simon's friends Yoko, Matt, Chris and I journeyed South-West of Tokyo to Hakone. Hakone is very close to the infamous volcano, Mt Fuji, and is a volcanically active region, with geothermal vents, hot springs and a beautiful lake.

To get around, we took a train named a RomanceCar, a cable car, a ropeway, pirate ship and a bus!

On the ropeway/cablecar, there were stunning views of the orange trees, the Tokyo metropolis in the far distance, and of Mt Fuji himself. 

富士山/ Mt. Fuji

Owakudani, home of the sulphur-spewing vents, is home to the 黒たまご. They are black eggs cooked by geothermal method and are said to add 7 years to your life for every egg. We partook of one each!

Ｗe traversed Lake Ashinoko by pirate ship and came across a Torii gate after walking through the Ancient Cedar Avenue- a muddy path through cedar trees planted in 1618 to shelter travellers from sun or snow..

  

Mt Fuji to the left, and the mini floating Torii on the right

Finally, we took a bus which followed a windy, dark path down the mountains to the Tenzan onsen (hot spring). The boys and girls separated for nude public bathing, taking respite from the 15C outside temperature in 40-or-so Centigrade hot spring water. The water only had a slight smell, was quite an opaque colour, and was very, very relaxing!