Driving Trip across Gunma Prefecture

Yesterday we left Maebashi to go pick up Aiko from Nagano (where she lives). We stayed off the highway, and made a couple of stops along the way. The roads were incredibly steep with many sharp turns. I am so glad that I don't get car sick. In Japan, you have to pay to use the highways. They are much quicker because you aren't climbing up and down mountains. We used a highway on our way back to Maebashi.

Natural sulfur hot springs. The water temperature is 60C - 140F. It is this almost glow-in-the-dark yellow/green color, and also smells like eggs. 

Town surrounding the hot springs

A public foot bath using the hot springs. It felt like you were cooking your own feet. I couldn't really get my feet in the water. The Japanese had no problem, and their legs came out bright red. I don't know how they did it.

Hot spring pouring into the foot bath.

I really liked how this building looked. It was all a restaurant.

These plaques went all the way around the hot spring. These are all famous people that have visited the hot spring. This one dates back to 721 when a famous monk came.

This is Masahito and Masako, haha! They asked me to take this picture for them.

This spring has many health benefits, so this is a way to cool the water without losing any of those benefits.

Cooling the water with the boards. We lifted them in and out of the water.

Traditional water-cooling uniform?

This is inside a ramen shop that was facing the main square. It was the best ramen I've ever had in my life! They used a soy-sauce base.

Looking at the menu.

This was our second stop. It's at the foot of a volcano. Many years ago it erupted, and threw down thousands of black rock. They have now made it into a park and Buddhist temple area. This little guy is called an "oni" or demon. People used to believe that these guys were the ones who threw down the rocks.

 Buddhist temple and volcano in the distance.

This is the name of the park.

Japan!

I have successfully made it to Japan! Hooray!! I have met up with Aiko's family. I will finally see Aiko in a couple days. They have been the best hosts! Aiko's mom and dad (Masako and Masahito) live in Gunma Prefecture, which is west of Tokyo. We took a four-hour-long bus ride from Narita airport to Maebashi, which is the city they live in. It's a beautiful area. I'm currently surrounded by mountains, and it's not ridiculously hot or humid! Huzzah!! Today we drove up to Mt. Haruna which is one of the major mountains surrounding this valley. On top of the mountain was an absolutely beautiful shrine. The path up to the shrine takes you along a small river, and through a cedar forest! These trees are around 400 years old, so they are pretty darn big. They were also this amazing red color. Everything was also very green. Moss was growing on every surface. So I am going to shut up now, and show you some pictures! (The pictures don't do the cedar forest and shrine justice, by the way.)

This is Aiko's aunt and grandmother. They came to meet me at the airport!

This is the room I am staying in. I sleep on the floor with this awesome thick cushion. It's much more comfortable than you'd expect.

This is the Japanese baseball team I have decided to support, only because they are the "Diamond Pegasus". Fearsome!

These are taken from the top of the capital building in Maebashi. This is looking east.

North

West

South

As you walk into the capital building...haha! That is a stuffed horse, which is Gunma Prefecture's mascot. 

Masako (left) and Masahito (right), Aiko's mom and dad! We stopped for a photo op. This is about 3/4 of the way up the mountain. Lucky for me, I don't get carsick otherwise that would have been a miserable ride up.

This is where we stopped to have lunch: soba noodles!

 Entrance to the shrine

 Looking back through the entrance

The moss grew on everything in this forest.

3-story pagoda. Masako told me that these pagodas are built without using any nails.

The rope with white paper hanging down indicates a sacred area.

This is the actual shrine.

You can see three girls praying to the right. They are standing in front of a large offering box. You throw a coin into the box, clap twice, and then pray. They clapping is supposed to get the spirits' attention (so I am told).

Fun little bit of info.