Summer vacation in 2009 vol.5

On the 5th day, I moved to Minakami, which is well know as an outdoor adventure spot and hot springs.

At first, I thought that I would try bungy jumping in Minakami, however later I gave up to try it because of my budget for this trip.

I bought some local bread for my lunch at Nagaoka station while waiting for my next train to Minakami.

Although every meal is very important for me, this one was not so interesting.

I reached Minakami station before evening.

The atmosphere of Minakami hot spring area was very quiet, because of the day I visited there was after the Bon holiday.

I called my ryokan to ask them to pick me up and take me to their ryokan.

The following images are of my ryokan and room. To tell the truth, my ryokan was very old.

I didn’t ordered dinner from the ryokan, so after a short break, I strolled around that area.

At first I walked along a river bound for Minakami bridge.

The nature was very beautiful. One family wasenjoying fishing at the river side, and other families enjoyed walking like me. To tell the truth, the Minakami area was not so interesting for me, because I just walked around there.

If I had have enjoyed some outdoor sports there, maybe my impression would have changed. If I have time next year, I will try bungy jumping and a trekking tour in Ichinokurasawa.

The following image is of the main street of Minakami hot spring. Only a few people were walking down the street.

I was disappointed. However, I enjoyed talking with the friendly owner of a small souvenir shop.

He suggested how to enjoy trekking in Ichinokurasawa, and he also taught me a recipe of a lily dish.

I bought a pack of dried lilies, to try cooking later. He told me that the local people in that area generally eat lilies.

After talking to him, I went to a small restaurant which he recommended to me.

He also told me that in the main street of Minakami, most of the restaurants open after 8:00pm, because all customers eat dinner at their ryokans, and after dinner they go out to drink.

The following image is of the restaurant and my dinner.

After dinner I leisurely relaxed in the hot spring at my ryokan.

The next day in Minakami was the last day of my summer trip.