11/5 Weather: 75 degrees and partly sunny
Woke up to this view from our room……
Our own hot spring tub. Hot springs all over Izu Peninsula. The one we were on was 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees). We used a big paddle to swish colder water in.
Carrie and I in our Yakatas. Traditional bath wear. People wear these around town in these little Onsen areas.
All Japanese showers are like this. You sit, you don’t stand. All have a bucket to dump hot water on your head and back. If you’ve seen old paintings of Japanese men dumping water in their head. This is why. We always have to take full shower before any bath. And baths are highly encouraged and a huge part of the Japanese culture.
Not all Japanese baths are like this though…..
A truly incredible drive down the Japanese coast and up and over mountains. You think Washington has windy roads? Ha! Child’s play compared to these.
Horse Rock….
We were unable to see Mt Fuji from the train the other day but could see it today through the haze. You can just see it rising above the clouds off in the distance.
This type of architecture all over Izu….some random town we pulled into….
Butterfly……
Torii gate at end of road……
St Francis Xavier (a Jesuit Catholic priest and for whom I’m named after) landed in Japan in 1549 from Spain. He brought Christianity to Japan. After the Jesuits and other Christian missionaries converted 100,000 people, Emperor Edo said no more and kicked the Jesuits out of Japan. Those that wanted to stay either had to walk with their bare feet upon an image of Jesus Christ (remember dirty feet in Japan touching anything is very insulting) or get their head chopped off. Edo effectively sealed the islands off from the outside world in 1603, with Japanese people not allowed to leave and very few foreigners allowed in. This became known as Japan's Edo period, and the borders remained closed for almost three centuries until 1868 when Commander Perry arrived in the Black Ships and negotiated free trade between the US and Japan. They were called the black ships because they bellowed so much black smoke from the coal they were burning. This happened in Shimoda where we were today……….
Other Shimoda sites……
Black Ships manhole cover……
Random temple…..
They have brushes and buckets at their cemeteries for people to wash their loved one’s gravestones.
Little pagoda at top of hill
Black ship lights all over town.
Tunnels and insane bridges in the mountains here. Gotta go up? We are going to wind you up on something like this…..
Joren Falls
Our hotel in Atami……Yugawara Fuga
Another beautiful coursed dinner at our hotel. The entree is served first, with 9 different light bites.
The hotel used to be a home, about 100 years old. These doors are original.
Pumpkin soup with a pistachio purée on top.
The Master
The beef comes out seared and then you cook it yourself over your personal hot plate. Served with a teeny tiny potato salad.
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