You know you're getting close the Mount Zao when you pass through this red torii that cars just drive through. Pretty cool!
Even though we couldn't see the beautiful fall colors due to the crazy snow, wind and ice...at the base of the mountain, it was still fall. We got to play in fields of flowers nearly as tall as I am. It felt like a nature-lover's heaven. It was so gorgeous.
A few weeks later, one of my adult students from last year wanted to go, too. I accepted her invite and off I went again! Our first stop was to this awesome onsen in the picture below! It was outdoors and the water was so naturally clear and smelling of sulfur. This is by far one of my favorite onsen I've ever been to in Japan. It's called the Zao Onsen Dairotemburo....and Lonely planet calls is "staggeringly beautiful." Which to say, it an understatement.
A group shop at this famous onsen below. The girl I am standing next to, named Alex is who now lives where I was living last year.
And the picture below is the reason nearly all people go to the summit of Mt. Zao. This amazing lake is called Okama or a Volcanic Crater Lake. The water is just fantastically blue! A group shot below with the Sakurai -san's, Mrs. Sakurai being my old student from last year!
Both times I went, we stopped to see these pretty waterfalls!
This area is also famous for soba in the fall season. On both trips, we had famous soba from the prefecture next to mine...called Yamagata Ken. Soba is a thin noodle made from buckwheat flour. It is served chilled in the summer with a dipping sauce or hot in the fall and winter season. Of course, I had it hot since it is getting cold here! My favorite kind is served with mountain vegetables. Delicious!
To see pictures from the snowy trip, click here
For all the pictures from the second trip, click here
To see pictures from the snowy trip, click here
For all the pictures from the second trip, click here
2 comments:
Absolutely Lovely!!!! Aunt Chris rochester NY
can you write more details about the Zao Onsen Dairotemburo because i can't find any..
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