Return to Naruko Onsen!

 This is our 5th time to visit Naruko Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture.

We started the day in our Seaside city of Yokosuka and took a local train to Yokohama. At Yokohama we changed to the JR train line to Tokyo. At Tokyo we boarded the Shinkansen Bullet train for Furukawa in Miyagi prefecture. At Furukawa we transferred to a local train and that's where this story will begin!

Inside the local train bound for Naruko Onsen. It's a small two car train, it's clean, comfortable and almost empty. 

Off we go! The train runs through lush green rice fields.

Since it's to early to check into our hotel we decided to make a couple of stops on our way to Naruko Onsen. 

First stop is the small village of Yūbikan where we visited a basket weaving shop.

Who doesn't like hand woven baskets? 

Emi likes them!

The Birusawa river runs through Yūbikan. 

It's very pleasant walking along the river. I took a picture of Emi.

Emi took a picture of me. That's how we roll.

Back at Yūbikan train station. Sitting in the shade waiting for the train.

The train arrived on time and I sat next to a local woman. She knows how to relax.

These small trains are called "One Man" trains because one man does everything. Drive the train, collect the train fare, deal with any problems. Today it's a "One Woman" train. She's collecting our train fare as we get off at Ikezuki station.

We're stopping here to visit "Road Station A la Date Michi no Eki"

Who wouldn't want some Supreme Bliss? We ate lunch here and I bought a couple bottles of limited edition hard-to-find Nikka Date whisky. They sell Date whisky here at a much cheaper price than anywhere else... supreme bliss indeed!

The view from the top of Road Station A la Date Michi no Eki. 

When we returned to Ikezuki train station the rain clouds started moving in.

The train platform. This is as small as a train station can be. It started to rain, the wind picked up and blew the rain sideways, we had no place to hide! 

Off in the distance I heard the train a comin'

Out of the rain the mighty one-man train arrived! 

As soon as we got on the train the rain stopped. Next stop is our final destination. Emi has our train tickets and money ready to go.

We have arrived at our hotel! And, it's a really good hotel. The food is outstanding. The hot spring baths are great, the service is the best! 

Hotel website

Next day - lets go hiking! They say there's a nice swamp on top of the hill behind the hotel. We could use a little exercise so it's off to the swamp we go.

It seems like everywhere one goes in Japan involves walking up a hill.

I hope there's no bears around here. I start singing "We're an American Band" by Grand Funk. That should scare off any bears that might be lurking in the forest.

Sure enough at the top of the hill there is a swamp. "Katanuma Swamp"

It looks more like a lake to me.

A not so brief explanation.

Plenty of fun things to do here.

Sulphureous steam is belching out of the ground. Not what I would call fresh air.

Time to do the take pictures of each other thing again.

Time to say goodbye to the Lake Swamp.

Ah ha! I'm not the only one that thinks it's a lake.

We're taking the long route back to town. 

In the winter time this is a ski slope.

All the ski lifts and shops in this area look like they've been out-of-business for a long time.

We finally arrived back in Naruko village. I need a rest. 

Emi says there's no time for resting. We're going to visit a local hot spring. In fact we're going to visit this hot spring.

Ryokan Sugawara

This Inn is 140 years old and for 500 yen one can take a bath during the daytime.

We paid the proprietress our money and she took us to the hot spring bath. The ladies bath was close by. For the men's bath she said to just go that way and you'll find it on your own.

I walked, and walked...

This place is like a maze. A lot of small rooms for the overnight guests.

At last I found the Men's bath.

Take off my slippers and enter the changing room.

I'm the only one here. Time to get undressed and go for it!

The bath is bigger than it looks. The water is boiling hot on the surface but by mixing the water up with the stirring stick on the right side the water temp comes down to something tolerable; I still think one could boil eggs in this bath!

Yikes! It's me after being boiled in the bath.

Last day: time to go home. Walking around the the Naruko train station area. Killing time until our train arrives. 

Our train has arrived and...

…we have the train to ourselves! After a few stops the train will fill up with more passengers.

Last shot of the trip: On the Shinkansen (bullet train) platform at Furukawa station. This place looks deserted. We're a little early, just before the train arrives many people will show up. 

The trip was a big success, we had a lot of fun and now it's time to go home.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike

Bonus shots!