R&R in Nagano

A few weeks ago we spent the weekend enjoying a little rest and relaxation in Nagano prefecture.

There is no better place to relax than the Katakuraken bath house by the shore of lake Suwa.

Established in 1928, this building houses a roman style bath that is one of the nicest hot springs I've ever visited.

It is not polite to take pictures inside a bath house but one can see many interesting images at their official website, www.katakurakan.or.jp. 

If one visits Katakurakan on a Sunday this parking area will be completely full; this bath house is a major attraction for onsen lovers.

This is a local peach stand we stopped at earlier in the day while in route to Nagano.

Later in the day we checked into our hotel.

Nestled deep in the country the atmosphere in this hotel is splendid.

To get to the hotel's hot bath facility we had to cross a bridge over a lovely stream. The view looking upstream.

And, the view looking down stream. The bridge in the distance is the entrance to the hotel.

Once one is across the bridge the camera is turned off before entering the men's bath.

Afterwords we relaxed while sipping iced green tea at the hotel's free coffee & tea bar.

The gift shop.

Since we are in the summer season there's no fire in the fire place.

This is the hallway just outside our room. We were on the 8th floor but because the hotel is built into the side of a hill the view out the window would leave one to think we were on the ground floor.

A couple of pictures from outside as we departed the next morning.

We never pass a roadside vegetable/fruit stand without stopping and buying something. This is a nice one near the base of Mt. Fuji in Oshino.

Watermelons are in season.

Daikon radish, cabbage and corn! What more could one want?

Peaches!

Yes, we have bananas.

Other than stopping for lunch this was the last stop of the trip.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike

Scenes from Summer

The simple fact of the matter is that as often as possible I go out and take pictures of whatever interests me; and almost everything interests me. So, here are some images from the last two weekends.

Early morning at Misaki fishing port.

Not far from the waterfront is a morning market.

Shifting gears, and location, The point where the Ookagawa river flows into the sea.

Bringing in a big one to Osanbashi passenger terminal.

Even though it was hot out here, there was a nice breeze to help make it bearable.

A boy, a girl, a ship!

People make the most of the interesting background.

A summer place in the park.

Things are a lot cooler in the underground subway station.

The sun blazes down on Horinochi station.

Mother and daughter are inseparable today.

A beautiful summer yukata. I rarely see a red pattern like this.

Like I said, everything is interesting to me.

Taking it to the street.

Like a clip on a wire
A lamp post lights desire
Such is the neighborhood,
Where we are
Perhaps we strayed,
A bit to far

The back streets of Yoshida-cho...

...dreary by day, paradise at night.

One doesn't always want to see things too clearly.

The centerpiece of Yamashita park. The shooting water of the fountain gives everyone a momentary sense of being at an oasis in the middle of a desert.

And, then reality quickly returns as we sizzle under the sun.

A birds eye view in Motomachi.

Don't stop moving or you'll melt.

Last shot of the day, last shot for the month of July. A race between woman and machine.

See you in August. And, as always - thanks for stopping by!
Mike