Monday, April 13, 2009

Bridges

On the way back from the sand onsen we stopped in Yokote and went to Heian no Kazewataru Park (平安の風わたる公園), located just outside the city, to see the funky dragon style bridge that they have there. It's called Sanren no Taiko Bridge (三連の太鼓橋) or Goose Bridge (雁橋). I had seen it listed on a brochure a long time ago and had asked people about it but nobody could tell me where it was. So on Sunday we went to the city hall and asked there. It always surprises me how people can not know about things like this in their local area!


The park here is actually huge! And has a load of different stuff available, including fishing, park golf, and an onsen in the centre of the park, which I plan on trying out the next time I go there.


The bridge reminded me of Kintai-kyo (錦帯橋) in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi. I went there the first time I visited Japan in 2006.

Getting buried

Spring has finally arrived in Akita. All the snow is gone, the sun has arrived, heaters have been stowed away, and hats and scarves are no longer necessary when going to bed. Yesterday was the hottest day of the year, a little over 20°C, and I was able to wear a short sleeved t-shirt for the first time this year.

So to celebrate the fantastic weather I decided to go to a place called Wagagunyuda Town just inside Iwate prefecture, to visit the Sunayukko sand bath (砂ゆっこ). Hot, natural onsen water flows underneath the sand to heat it. After lying down in the shallow grave like hole, the workers there used shovels to bury all but my face in hot sand. They then wrote a number in the sand over my feet indicating what time I got buried at, presumably to avoid accidentally cooking me.

After 10 minutes the sweat was dripping down my face. A woman came over with a cold towel and mopped my face, and disappeared. Another 10 minutes passed and my friend, who had been buried 5 minutes after me asked to be dug out early. I was told my time was up and could get up; my friend was told that her time was not yet up and to stay another few minutes.


It was my first time to a sand bath, and definitely an enjoyable experience, though it was very hot in there. And the onsen that is available afterwards was probably one of the hottest onsens I have been to in Japan. But I felt fantastic afterwards! I was hoping to take my own photos while we were there but unfortunately that wasn't possible.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

June

I recently bought my flights back home to Ireland, again. I'm going to be leaving from Narita airport in Tokyo at 11:40 on 10th June and heading to London via Copenhagen with Scandinavian Airlines. Then catch an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin, arriving at 22:20 the same day; after 19 hours of travel.

The first wedding, Dave and Rosealeen's, is on 12th June in Clare. After which I have 2 weeks to travel around and meet up with everyone. Then the second wedding, Listo and Camilla's, is on 27th June in Sligo. The following day, hangover permitting, I'll go to Dublin for a 20:15 flight to London, spend the night on one of Heathrow's most comfortable airport seats, with my bags tied to my legs, and catch an early morning flight back to Japan. I'll arrive back in Narita at 9:35 on 30th after a nice long 30 hours of hungover travel!