Out of bed at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday

What for?
Hiking!

But it wasn't these local mountains! Today was my 3rd day trip to beautiful Sasayama-shi in East Hyogo for my next
"BEST hike this year". I joined a teacher I know from work, her husband, and a small group of their friends for what seems to be the first of a series of hikes this season.
The start time was outta my hands. Kakiuchi sensei was knocking on my door at 7:00, as I was throwing my lunch box and extra clothes in a bag.

So many events here in Japan begin with an opening ceremony. Today after parking the cars, we all stood in a circle, the trip organizer gave a little "good morning, let's get started" pep talk, and we all introduced ourselves. I think it's interesting that even common events with friends can begin so ceremoniously. It was nice & kinda reminded me of when I was a kid; before family trips our parents would have us all participate in a prayer for safe travels.

Today, all these Senseis kept asking "hitori desuka? (roughly: "you're by yourself today?") So I explained a couple times that Mike doesn't like hiking. I suppose this seems pretty independant of me, but I didn't feel like I was "by myself" with this friendly group. The trail was tough, and we had to use ropes and chains at some points to help with the climb up the mountain. After a couple hours of hard work, we were rewarded with a completely amazing 360 degree view of everything below us. We took tons of photos at the point, but I didn't have my camera (Sorry! wish I could share the view with ya).
At the top, we sat down to share our food, making it the best lunch ever--> why? Everyone brought chocolate! I had made "cous cous" for my lunch, and let everyone try it. No one had ever had cous cous before!!! We also ate bamboo shoots, pickled daikon, onigiri (rice and fish wrapped in nori), and fresh fruit before the chocolate.

After hiking, we went to a famous hot spring to soak in what I'm convinced must be the hottest water in Hyogo. (For any locals; even hotter than Kinosaki!) The Onsen is called "po ka po" and has 2 indoor baths, 3 outdoor baths (1 inside a cave structure), and a sauna. My blood was flowing so heavily that you could see veins popping out of my forehead! Pretty freakin' hot! Good thing these hot springs are planned so well- plenty of cold drinks and ice cream are available in the lobby.

I LOVE "ONSEN"! Hot springs are great! If you come to visit, we gotta go.

After re-hydration, we parted ways, everyone saying "Otsukaresama deshita" "sayonnara" and "matta ne". Maybe I'll see them all in June for Daisen-san in Tottori prefecture.
Now I'm off to bed way too early, hours before Mike will get home from Osaka.

Convinced you have to come visit so that you can soak in a hot spring???
Japanese honeymoon anyone? Summer vacation? What about a 2006 Japan tour?

-Colleen