Scenic sunday..

7am on Sunday morning sore me on a train out to Gunma prefecture the closest assess to the Japanies alpine region from Tokyo. The train from tokyo to Jomo kogen took under two hours and then a bus to the TanigawadKe ropeway. My trip to Gunma was a very last minuet affaire; as on the last days of my Japan Rail pass I wanted to go to an out door onsen and see some nice scenery, apparently Ganma had both so it sounded perfect. I didnt have a chance to do much research into what it would be like, So as we wound up the mountain on the bus I got to see just how beautiful the surroundings were and it took my by suprise. The trees were laden with autumn colour and there was even snow on the top of the mountains. 

In my head the cable car would take me to the top of a mountain range where I could walk autumn grass and trees so i got a shock when i realised that we would be going above the snow line. Apparently the snow had fallen earlier then usual this year making the day trip a very popular one. That was certainly true around the observation platform many Tokyo day trippers ranging from hikers with nails in there bots for grip to couples  and families with women in high heals. I decided to head away from the crowds and started walking up a hiking trail once I had got around the bend it was as if I could have been the only one on the mountain. As I wound my way up every ten minutes I would pass some one coming down track but as soon as they had rounded the corner it was only me, the snow, and an amazing view. I had a wonderful time walking along for about an hour. At one point  there s a trail going up to a look out but after 15 minutes it became obvious that although I could climb up getting back down the slippery slope was going to be an issue without pols or nailed boots. I reluctantly turned around to follow the less steep path and I am very glad I did as I managed to fall over on the way down into a drift of snow which was luckily quite a soft landing.

I had a wonderful time walking through the snow the view was stunning at all times. I had to get the cable car back to the bus stop inorder to get my bus back to Minakami station. At the bus stop I bumped into a friendly Japanese cupple I had met on the bus up. They were extrealmy friendly and it was lovely to chat with them. They were in there seventies and not for the first time I wish to be as fit, healthy and active as a Japanese grandmother when I get older. 

Once in Minakami I had to change busses to get up to Takargawa Onsen. Te bus ride up was stunning, passing a big dam and driving through many autumn trees. On the bus up I met a group of fellow day trippers, two of them were teaching English in Japan and the third was studying English that were also going to the onsen. It was lovely to meet other English speakers that allowed me to join them as it was nice to have people to chat with and it meant that I didn't have to sit there awkwardly by myself. Once walking down to the baths by hte river there s nothing left to do then get your kit of wrap a tiny modesty towel around your privets and descend into the wonderfully hot water. The modesty towel was because this onsen is one of the few were the baths are mixed gender. Once you got over the initial shock that there were a hole lot of  naked people around,  you started to not notice it any more and just accept the fact. No one really cares about nudity in Japan as the Japanes separate nudity from  sex, everyone know that people are not going to look like super models and no one is really paying close attention anyway. 

The surounds were just wonderful! I dont know if any description I can creat will do it justice. All the trees were perfectly in bloom proudly displaying their autumn coats. There was a river that separates the different baths  and there were five or six different baths, varying in temperature and size. It means that we where able to partake in awase-yu -onsen hopping (or mix and match) walking quickly between pools -as it was very cold outside) and sinking into hot water again with relief. We were in the Onsen for two hours before it closed. As the sun went down and the lanterns went on the pools stated to steam as the air temperature around then decreased. The hole complex become amazingly beautiful in the mist, the lanterns glowing, the trees getting the last rays of sunlight and Ryokan guests shuffling away in their yukata or bath robes.  

In a chance of good luck the we got a lift back to Minakami saving us 1,100 yen and twenty minuts. I was then time to yet on a local train and head back to Tokyo. Over two hours later I was back in Tokyo extremely sleepy and worn out. Like a zombie I managed the tokyo metro system to get back to our apartment, within minuets of walking through the door I was fast asleep.  It was the most wonderful day. I could not have asked or wished for better.