What a fine way to spend our last day of touring before meeting out host families. First, a long bus ride up into the mountains east of Aso-san (a live volcano with a bit of activity today) after a leisurely 8:00am start.
We arrived at Kurokawa Onsen (hot spring) Village with 28 outdoor natural hot spring baths. It's a small, quaint village that has a real sense of old Japan. Lots of rivers and creeks run through the winding roads of the town.
We arrived there with perfect timing to view the changing leaves of all the Japanese maple trees around the village. Above is a sample of a line of rooftops of accommodations called "onsen ryokan," or traditional Japanese inns with hot springs where people stay for great meals and bathing.
Shiitake mushroom "farm" on a walk to one of the onsen.
Autumn leaves change the color of the water in reflection
We bought a "tegata," which is a wooden disk that allows wearers to visit any three onsen of their choice.
Following our day of relaxation and clean air, we returned home and groups of students chose where they wanted to eat for dinner. They had to "figure it out" by themselves, and they all returned to our accommodations well-fed and happy. Lastly, we practiced for our upcoming presentations for some KJ students, because tomorrow we are meeting the host families!!!
(Nervous excitement)
