ONSEN- Tsubame

Onsen, a foundation of Japanese culture.

Having a naked bath with other people is a travel experience I won't forget in a hurry. Coming from a western culture where we are taught humility at a young age, the idea of onsen is a hard one to grasp. Our first encounter was at the Maki English camp, where we had to shower and bath with students. Both being teachers this was definitely a baptism by fire, but easy enough in the end.

Last weekend we walked to the Tsubame Onsen in Myoko (alt:1500m), a natural onsen. Set in a small valley, the milky waters were a relaxing place to spend an afternoon. The big question is who enjoyed it the most, us, or the 5 or 6 Japanese men staring at Aimee the whole time, hard case!

Enjoy........(if you come here to visit us, this is the first stop on the tour!)

Tsubame Onsen.

SADO Island

First major trip outside of our little area was to Sado Island. Along with some awesome people, we witnessed for the first time Taiko drumming.

Enjoy.

Driving in Japan

About a month ago we drove our little car 'Goggles' (named after our cat, because not only does it resemble her appearance, but, they are similar in size. At a staggering 650cc, and only 500kg this car is a quad bike with four seats and a boot) to the Gunma Prefecture to catch up with some teachers from NZ.

Roads in Japan are awesome, the IC (interchange) are toll roads from anywhere to everywhere. Between Takada and Gunma there were no less than 15 tunnels ranging from a couple of hundred meters to several kilometers. But, this did have a cost.......there and back cost over $250 NZD in tolls! That day I vowed to never complain about a $2 dollar toll again.

Enjoy..

With a tail wind and down hill assistance 'Goggles' can get up to about 120kmph.

Goggles

Takada

Aimee and I have been here in Japan for two months now. I never realized how beautiful Japan was or could be, my preconceptions were based on an overpopulated, grey concrete jungle.

We live in an amazing part of the Niigata Prefecture, called Joetsu. A small area occupied mostly by smaller semi-rural communities. Within Joetsu we are situated in an area called Takada 高田, an awesome little place with a cool castle (replica of the one that was burnt down), cherry blossoms in April (apparently the third best, but, I've heard that expression a lot. I think 'third best' is the way the Japanese show pride, 1st and 2nd may be a little bit over the top) and the views of local Myoko-Kogen. Here are some pictures to help the mental image.

So (well family and bored friends at work, because who else will read this) enjoy....

 Takada Castle

 Rice fields ready to be harvested at the foot of the hills

The moat around Takada castle, Myoko in the back ground.

Creative Differences

OK!

Due to creative differences the Mangawhai Cats in Japan blog has moved to BLOGSPOT. The differing of opinions stems from 'Wordpress`' over complicated design and backwards logic. Hopefully, said with baited breath, that this might be a little bit better.

Enjoy...

One's the brains, the other is the beauty, I'll let you decide...

Craig and Aimee Render

Mangawhai Cats in Japan