This morning we rose with the birds and followed our now well entrenched routine - a quick morning soak before a huge breakfast served by our lovely hostess. My god there was a lot of food, and the dishes just kept on coming.
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| First course of a huge breakfast |
But like all good things, it was time to say goodbye to Higashi Ishikawa Ryokan and our effusive hostess and head for up to the Kamikochi Wetlands in the Hida Alps.
This involed a 2 hour bus ride starting just up the road in Asama Onsen and travelling through some absolutely amazing scenery - deep wooded valleys whose trees were already turning amazing shades of autumn colours.
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| The view from the bus as we climbed into the Hida alps. |
In no time we had arrived at Kamakochi and found ourtselves in a deep river valley surrounded by misty mountains. The temperature was distinctly chillier and we threw on our puffers for the first time this trip. The plan was to walk a course along the river valley as far as we could before it was time to turn around to make our bus ride out.
There's not too much to say about the walk, except that a) the scenery was absolutely stuuning despite the surrounding mountain peaks being shrouded in cloud most of the time, and b) that 30 minutes in, a light rain began to fall that was to continue for the rest of the day. I can only imagine how amazing this place looks with the peaks visibled in all their splendour!
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| The many faces of Kamikochi Wetlands |
As you can see, it is really gorgeous place, and the walking was just amazing. But all too soon it was time to leave. We boarded our bus for Fukuji Onsen, (with a change at Hirayu Onsen) and soon we had arrived. The small village of Fukuji Onsen is itself nestled in the Hida Alps and consists of basically one whole street of ryokan. Jumping off the bus there was just time for a twilight walk through the village (magic).
We soon found ours - Motoyu Magokuro - and it was the nicest ryokan of the lot. And do I mean nice - oh my god. I've stayed in a few great onsen over the years, but this one was right up there at the top.
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| Seaweed tea! |
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| Motoyu Magokuro at Fukuji Onsen |
Our hostess Naomi welcomed us with seaweed tea which was a first for me - and wierd to drink. We were served a spectacular meal and whiled away some time in the beautiful outdoor onsen before bed. Pure unadulterated heaven.
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| The dinner was the best yet |
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| The magnificent outdoor onsen at Motoyu Magokuro |
Here is the relive video of our walk through Kamikochi. Get a load of those mountains!
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