Flipping for Fall Fest!

So we pulled into Karuizawa and it as sunny fall day, with coloured leaves speckling the mountains and the nearby Volcano, that's right we were right near an active volcano. But, we couldn't climb it, don't worry I looked into it.

Since our hotel was a little outside of the main town we decided to store our baggage at the Train station and walk around the town for a bit. We walked around the outlet mall that they had there and it was pretty much like all of the other asian malls around, luxury brands and ridiculously expensive. After going to the mall, we saw that they had a little fall fair, or festival going on. The first thing that we saw were trampolines with harnesses on them. You have probably seen them at the stampede or at a fair or something. The difference with these ones is that big kids could go on them - up to 80kgs - and you could do as many flips as you want, which you can't at any of the ones that I have seen -

Cami was up and was pretty impressive rocking a couple of double back flips!!!

Cami Rocking the Double Back Flip 

It was then my turn. I had convinced myself that I should be able to do triples, but when I got on there I wasn't so sure. It's weird cause the cables change the way you flip and you have to actually use them to rotate you or else you can't rotate very fast, especially when you are trying front flips. So I did a couple of doubles and then hucked the triple back. It was pretty cool. I have done doubles on the tramp and Jeff and I have double bounced Bradey to try a triple that ended with his face in the tramp, but these were pretty fun aside from the nasty nauseousness that came afterwards. I was also able to whip around a triple front too. Again, I didn't feel better until after we had some food and I had a small nap by a big beautiful fall tree and a small pond. I didn't think it would mess me up that bad, but it did.

So after the fair, oh I forgot to mention that we got some pitas/donair that were delicious, that's what we had for food.

So again, after the fair, we went to the other side of town and checked out some small shops filled with jewelry, jams, bread, paintings and leather goods. Cami bought me a nice leather friendship bracelet to add to the first one that she bought me because she is just that friendly, I'm a pretty terrible friend because I haven't reciprocated. Then we tried the best apple samples ever and when we tried to purchase one to share, instead of a bag of five that this nice gentleman was trying to sell for 1500 yen - i.e. 21CAD, he gave us two for free!!! I was shocked, who gives away expensive delicious apples??? We were very grateful and said arigato gozaimus a bunch of times. The apples were the best apples we had ever tasted. The sun started getting low and the shops started to close so we started to walk back to the train station to pick up our bags. We stopped at this nice little cafe place that served sandwiches and split a clubhouse and a salad and finished off the day with a waffle ice-cream dessert.

Our second day in Karuizawa was even better than the first. We woke up early to fog and misty rain, got on our bikes that we had rented the night before and tried to find ourselves some breakfast.

Early Morning Mistiness in Cami's Hair 

  We settled on a little bakery that produced a sub par eggs and salad, but redeemed itself with a sugary bun that tasted like braid with sugar sprinkled on the top. We were then off to our hike. The plan was to bike to the trailhead, hike up to see two waterfalls and then make our way back. However, when we asked the hotel receptionist about the trail she said, " ...I think... impossible" I had a map and could see the legend. I estimated at most it would be a 6km bike ride to the trailhead and a 10km hike at most to the falls and then downhill the whole way back. Rather than taking her advise that it was impossible we set out to make the impossible possible.

The bike ride was pleasant, although a little wet, and the fall leaves and larches were everywhere enhancing our ride. Then after some huffing and puffing we reached the trailhead.

Wet Spider Web 

 The trail was gorgeous, like amazing, pretty much indescribable. There were so many different colours of leaves and the creek was amazing and every five minutes we couldn't help ourselves from telling each other how pretty it was. There were some good climbs and some steep descents, some bridges and slippery slopes. We saw maples, and birches, and pines, and larches. The larches even looked like the ones that change colour in Montana, but here they were framed by all of the other reds and oranges rather than just the yellows that we get back home.

Pretty Fall Colours 

There were apparently Hokkaido Brown bears, but we weren't worried until I saw the size of them at the zoo

Our first waterfall 

Me and our first waterfall 

More pretty fallness 

 We also played this fun game where you had to catch the falling leaves. Here is Cami with one of her catches.

The road would have been awesome to have taken my motorcycle on, I think my dad would have liked it as well. What do you say dad, motorcycle trip to Japan???

Really cool road up to the falls.  Epic Motorcycling indeed 

Cami with the leaf she caught 

 This hike was also nice because there was practically no one around most of the way up. So we saw the first waterfall that was named ryugeshi or something like that, ryu - means dragon - Raaaar Prycen!!!! - and then we hiked another four kms to see the final waterfall. It's supposed to be 3m tall and 70m wide, but it looked a little shy of that. It was gorgeous and we both got a persimmon and we ate them near the falls. Yum!

Up at the 70m across waterfalls 

Don't make fun of my tights, I didn't bring any hiking pants and I was not going in jeans so love my sexy man legs and just be thankful there is only one shot showing them.

persimmon!!!

Another waterfall shot 

 So after sitting by the falls we had an uneventful walk back to our bikes, filled with more songs, leaf catching, konichiwaas, and fun. We then hopped on our bikes, rode back to the hotel and were off back to Tokyo, hopefully in time to begin celebrating Cami's BIRTHDAY!!!

Bamboo forest amidst fall leaves 

Me amongst the fall colours and bamboo forest 

It was really rainy at the bottom of our hike, but it was nice that it wasn't while we were hiking 

So rather than starting another blog, I will talk about what we did on our last day in Japan.

After Karuizawa we hopped on a train back to Tokyo and went back to Hotel Oaks.  It was nice because we had been there before and knew where everything was.

Cami really wanted to find a Choco ring for her birthday so we went down to Ginza.  It took us a lot less time to find it and we got her that and some other little goodies.  We then went to find some real dinner before we ate our goodies.  Cami decided that we should have Pepperlunch, which was this nice peppery beef dish served with rice.  We also even found her a bday present.  I got her these bow earrings that were really cute and she likes them a lot.  It was kind of weird that two places were selling these earrings in this same tower and we found this place that sold them for almost 20 bucks less.  Craziness right?

So, on Cami's actual birthday we went to the Zoo, which was a nice easygoing day filled with lots of cool animals to see.  We didn't take a lot of pictures, but all in it was a great day to spend with my wonderful wife and a great way to end our awesome Japan Adventure!!!  We loved Japan and if you have the means I would highly recommend going.  It was awesome!!!

At the Zoo on Camilla's BDAY

All of the kids with their hats.  It seems like everywhere we go in Japan, kids are on field trips and they all get to wear cool hats so they can keep track of them. 

Cami's Ape index

Lockey's Ape index 

The Bear that could have eaten us on the trail

Bibs for Buddha

So after a wonderful day spent in the Mountains we awoke to the sound of rain. It's kind of nice to wake up on rainy mornings and lucky for us it rained on Saturday instead of on Friday. We took the morning slow. We woke up for another nice oatmeal and hot chocolate for breakfast and then chatted with my family as they were celebrating Jeff's Birthday. Happy Birthday Jeff, way to turn 30! They got a cute bundle of fur named Dash and it was fun to chat with them and see their new dog.

After chatting with the family we went back up into our room and it started really coming down. Rather than start our trek into the rain we decided to read some books. We downloaded Spookly the square pumpkin and then I found this app that has a whole collection of kids books and read one called The Haunted House Party. Afterwards I finished it off with some more grown up reads from Edgar Allen Poe. After the rain settled down we went into town to go see the Red-Bibbed Buddhas. We grabbed some food on the way and it was surprisingly good for a low end diner looking place. We walked along the main river in Nikko, past the famous bridge and through a nice little neighbourhood.

Sacred Bridge 

Cami and I checking out the sacred bridge.  Did I mention that you have to pay to get on it, Lame...

Pretty leaf

  It wasn't long until we came upon the shrines and the red-bibbed buddhas. You'll see from the pictures that we post that the Buddhas are pretty normal buddhas with the exception that they have little bonnets and bibs knitted for them and they are very vibrant red, which compliments their mossiness very nicely. There were quite a few of them and we spent some time taking pictures. We then crossed over to the other side, saw some more temples, and a shrine dedicated to self immolation victims. Cami and I didn't really know what it was all about, but we thought it had to do with some type of self inflicted harm and it does. According to the ipad's dictionary it is killing or sacrificing, especially by burning. Fun stuff right? Well maybe not but the shrine was pretty.

Buddhas with Bibs 

Mr. Buddha with a bib 

More Buddhas with Bibs 

The river was really cool by the Buddhas 

Kayaking would have been fun 

So Many Buddhas with Bibs 

One of these things is not like the others 

Another wallpaper 

Cami on the not so sacred bridge 

Cami with her Geisha friends 

We walked back through town found out what time we needed to be at the train station and made our way back to the lodge for some din din. There were three options, veggie-curry, non-veggie curry (which didn't have any meat in it that I could find), and pasta. We got the two curries, had a scoop of ice cream, a small pineapple cake and played WAR. That's right the game where you each get half the deck, flip your cards over one by one and the higher card wins. It was fun and kept us entertained for a while. We then moved onto Go Fish, another classic.

We ended up chatting with a couple from Kentucky about a variety of subjects. After which Cami, read some scriptures - she's doing the 100 day Book of Mormon Challenge - and I played the guitar. All in, it was a pleasant easy going evening, to end a pleasant easy going day.

We are currently on our way to more exciting adventures and Karuizawa, near Nagano.

Koyo in Nikko

After taking the train from early morning to mid afternoon we hiked to the Nikko Park Lodge where we are staying. (We did get lost on the way, see previous post...) We decided that the wood burning stove, the old building smell, our little bed w/ it's quilt cover and heated blankets and space heater all made for a very cosy mountain cabin experience, and it doesn't hurt that they serve us a big bowl of delish oatmeal w/ hot chocolate for breakfast, and the staff is Uber helpful in planning our days.

Yum Oatameal for breakfast!!!

So anyways, we decided to go for a walk to find the 100meter slide, and then find the temple area. And we did both. The slide was crazy, it was a bunch of rollers, and it was super fun especially after going down a few times and loosening the rollers, and Lockey balances on his feet and went really fast, it wasn't easy, I tried! But as much fun as it was I now have visible bruises on my hiney, and don't worry, I won't be posting pictures. Of my hiney I mean.

Cami about to Bruise her bum on the 100m roller slide 

Afterwards we walked to the sacred bridge and some of the temples and shrines up the mountain close by. It was gorgeous weather, a little grey, cool enough to layer a bit and crisp, w/ the smell of mountain air. The leaves are starting to turn red and yellow in Nikko, it's beautiful.

Yay for fall colours 

Pagoda temple shriney structure 

Prayer blocks 

The moss was really cool 

Today we used the passes that the friendly Canadians left for us to get up to lake Chuzenji, most people pay extra to get up to Yumoto onsen which is higher on the mountain, but of course Lockey and I didn't want to start at the top and then come down the mountain, we did it the opposite way! We walked half way around Chuzenji lake rich w/ colors of Autumn. In Japan, Autumn is a big deal, they celebrate Koyo which is the changing of the leaves, and they look just spectacular. We planned to be in Nikko b/c this was where the colors were supposed to be the most spectacular at this time, and I couldn't have hoped for anything better. Reds, Burgundy, Maroon, Yellow, Gold, Brown, even Peach! Who knew there were neon peach leaves? Those were my favorite. There were also leaves that had dropped that were perfectly white on one side and dark brown on the other, you should definitely take time to look at our pictures when we post them, they are gorgeous. It was a perfect day. We saw the second largest waterfall in Japan, and Ryuzu falls, aka Dragon's head falls, and Yutika falls.

Second Largest Falls in Japan 

Cami and I at the second largest falls in Japan 

Typical Asian Pose at the beginning of our hike 

Pretty Fall Colours 

The River and Pretty Fall Colours 

Very Berry Red 

Ryuzu Falls 

Just above Ryuzu Falls 

Marshlands above the falls 

My new Fall Wallpaper 

 Also along the trail there were several bent over elderly people, old Asian people are in crazy good shape! Still hiking along and doing stairs (although we have seen accidents involving stairs and elderly people at least twice now unfortunately). And I can't say enough how kind Japanese people are, most people we passed said konichiwaaaaa (they draw out the aaaaaahhhh), and we also passed a school group with a man directing them and yelling trying to get ready to take a big class picture and I yelled CHEEEEESE and then there was pandamonium, the kids thought that was hilarious, and then I heard the man yelling trying to get them to get organized againa and then a few moments later the whole class yelled in unison "CHEEEEESE!" and then again a few moments later "CHEEEEEEEEESE!" And laughter, we had already passed, and were hidden in the trees, but we definitely laughed!

By the Crick 

There apparently was a Buddha carved into the rock in the Middle of these falls 

Perty Fall Colours 

 Once we made it to the top we found the "source of the hot springs" there were a few little "guysers" (pretty weak for guysers) but the ground was all muddy and clayish looking and there were some bubbling puddles, and of course just like a child I am curious how hot that stinky water actually is... As I crouched down next to the puddle w/ my finger getting closer and closer a bunch of elderly Japanese women noticed me and started speaking really eratically to me in Japanese (I've never seen Japanese women so excited...) So I rethought my strategy and instead let Lockey put his finger in! And when he said it was safe I put my finger in too... I think it was bubbling from the oxygen in the earth, not b/c it was boiling, but who would have known if we didn't touch it? We told the ladies "OK" and they repeated OK several times and then smiled and laughed. It was funny.

OK, enough w/ the tangent, so after we found the source of the hotsprings we found a public onsen for feet only (basically a hotspring w/ benches and you can dip your feet in for a soak). In a traditional onsen men and women are separated and you go in nudey, I still haven't manned up and done it... we'll see... Canadians are more modest or body concious or something... Or perhaps it's just me... but anyways, the foot onsen was a GREAT solution. We still had a hot spring experience, and as we had just finished a 6 hour hike our feet really appreciated the lovin.

Onsen Foot Bath Ahhhhh

All in all it was a perfect day. Probably my favorite day so far during our Japan trip, and the experience I was most looking forward to, and it didn't dissapoint. Thank gooness for a best friend to share the experience w/, and digital cameras to capture the beauty, it was a day I never want to forget.