This is the front of the Iizaka Onsen train station. The actual train platform is underneath it.
I told Emi I'd like to visit a hot-spring town that was built along a river. It looks like she did a good job picking this place. The building on the left side of the river is a public bath house.
The next morning we started out walking through the part of town that is on the left side of the river. This is another public bath house. They seem to be everywhere.
A wood tower next to the bath house - inside is a hot-spring pumping station.
The old town is very picturesque.
Colorful too!
Eventually we crossed over to the other side of the river and visited a shrine.
This is an interesting shrine. Apparently one can pray for good grades on their examinations.
The usual prayer boards.
If you go through the hole you can leave your lies behind you.
Here's Emi free from all her old lies.
Time to move on.
If we climb these countless stairs there is supposed to be a another shrine at the top.
Almost there.
Well, there is a nice bench with a view, but...
The shrine was closed for business on this day.
Back down on the ground level and I saw these dried lilies on the side of the road. Interesting!
A nice walking path running parallel to the river.
The sign says that there's a public bath somewhere down the steps. We decide to check it out.
The good old honor system. There's a ticket machine for admission to the bath. In we go.
When I go into the men's side I see a pair of crocs... someone is in the bath!
The next clue that I am not alone - his cloths are in the locker room.
Now I am naked and just about to enter the bathing room.
Looking through the glass door. There he is! He was rinsing off and getting ready to leave. He was a local guy, he greeted me with a big smile and said that the hot bath was great and he hoped I would enjoy it.
Since this is a hot bath used primarily by locals it's not very fancy but it gets the job done. After washing off I had a nice long soak. It was great!
After the bath we walked around the river.
It's very interesting how the hotels are built right on the edge of the river.
In between the white building and the green is the entrance to the hot bath we had just left.
As we returned to our hotel I noticed that there is a foot bath on the edge of the hotel parking lot.
Approaching the hotel entrance. Our hotel is so big and sprawling it's hard to get it all in the picture. There's a small river running along the backside of the hotel.
Next morning we decided to catch a local bus to another hot-spring about an hour away. Waiting at the bus stop.
Right on time! We boarded the bus and off we went.
The hot bath is at the end of the bus line. It turned out to be a very nice facility.
After soaking for about an hour we went next door to the soba noodle restaurant for lunch.
Last day, time to take the local train back to Fukushima city.
We had a couple of hours to kill before out train for Tokyo departed so we went for a walk around Fukushima city.
When one is in Japan one is never far from a shrine.
Nice river.
This traditional Japanese residence was originally built for the head of the Fukushima branch of the Bank of Japan. Now it's open to the public.
The original glass windows with a view of the river.
An original light? Well, it's a nice light. I like it.
Time was running out so back to the train station we went and caught our train to Tokyo.
Thanks for stopping by!
Mike
Bonus shots!
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