Monday Mountain Climbing

Today we finally got around to climbing Gozaisho Mountain. We took the middle path, which is an intermediate climbing course. It took us about 2 hours to get to the top, and it was both challenging and fun. I actually enjoyed the climb more than when we climbed Mt. Fuji because there was a lot more rock climbing (as opposed to the steady slog of Mt. Fuji).


Last year we took the ropeway up and saw a few hikers, so it was fun to be the hikers being seen from the ropeway this time around.




At the top, I met a really great musician:


After eating lunch at the top of the mountain, we headed to Yunoyama Onsen--an area of natural hot springs. I had been to sento, or public baths before, and was excited to finally go to a hot spring. We chose an onsen many of our students recommended called kibouso, which means something along the lines of "place of hope." It didn't disappoint!

We felt really relaxed, not only due to our hard climbing, but due to a very busy schedule over the past month. As those of you connected through facebook may have seen, we've been having many adventures, most of which happened in August with Tina. Picnics, beer gardens, karaoke, Akame Falls, a trip to Korea and fireworks made for a busy and fun month! (And also for an excuse as to why we haven't had a chance to update much here!)

Wednesday we'll be off to Thailand for about 5 days, but we'll be sure to keep you as up-to-date as possible after that!