After a great Sunday spent with the family, I was excited to have another day away from Rifare!!
After waking up at 7 am, I walked into the kitchen to find this amazing breakfast waiting for me, prepared by my mom and grandmother! One of my favorite breakfasts yet!
Grilled fish, roasted marinated eggplant, runny yummy egg, sausages, fresh vegetables picked from the garden, miso soup, rice with shiso natto, oranges, and yogurt!!! Lot's of energy to prepare me for the long day ahead.
It was one of the most beautiful days yet. Also one of the hottest. It was about 100 degrees.
Oh hot dayum.
For today, my mom planned for her, grandma, and me to go to the Kurobe Gorge. To be honest, I really had no idea what was going on, but I just nodded my head, said that anything was fine, and wore sneakers, like my mom advised me to.
The view on the drive up to the mountain!
Even though it was early (9 am), by the time we arrived to the Kurobe Gorge train station, it was already super duper hot!
So, when we arrived at the Unazuki Station, I figured out that we were taking a ride on the so-called Torokko train. I still didn't know what the Kurobe Kyokyoku Gorge was, but I like trains!
Isn't the train cute? It reminds me of riding the tram at Disneyland, especially when we went through the chilly tunnels. Like a real life Big Thunder Mountain!
Clearly, I didn't know what to expect, so I was blown away when I saw the views of the water for the first time! The color was like sea glass. It was surreal.
Shin Yamabiko Bridge
Unazuki Dam
Although this looks like a castle from Medieval Times, its actually the Shin Yanagawara Power Station. Pretty sweet.
The Atobiki Bashi, spanning the deepest valley along the railway. The drop was 60 meters down!
I think this is another power station...
After a beautiful 80 minute ride, covering 20 kilometers and passing through 41 tunnels and spanning 22 bridges, we arrived at the Keyakidaira Station for even more impressive scenery.
Beware: Impressive scenery = lots of photos. LOTS OF PHOTOS.
This is a sign. I sadly can't read it. Even after all the struggly Kanji studying I've done. I can recognize the meaning of certain characters though! Small success?!
Now you see it...
Now I'm on it! The Okukane Bridge, that is.
There is something about the red bridge against the green scenery that is just so beautiful, right?
Here is the Hitokui Iwa (Man-eating rock).
Here is Man-eating Snake. just kidding...
Well would you look at that. The Kurobe River. Wowzers.
We walked up and down and all around the riverside, stopping at this riverside platform for prime photo opp.
I kind of just wanted to jump in the water. It was HOT outside. Luckily, I had my brain screwed on at the moment, so I decided against an impromptu white water dip.
Hi.
I still can't quite get over the water. Just....the most.
After we thoroughly walked about the Keyakidaira Station, it was time for lunch! We kept it casual by eating at the station's counter service cafe/ restaurant, which was perfect because I got to eat cold noodles!
I love how there is delicious food everywhere in Japan. In America, tourist sights usually fail at good food. I'll take my noodles over a prepackaged ham sandwich.
Just look at that beauty:
Time to head back!
From the square shape of my photos, you can probably figure out that I Instagram-ed these shya shin. BUT. These colors are true to life. I'm telling you. It was legit.
While we were heading back on the train, my mom spotted a little building from across the water.
Do you see it?
Well, just remember it. It's coming up in a few....
And we're back!
Shio Soft Cream (Salted vanilla soft serve) for snack to cool off a bit!
After our snack, we bravely jumped into the hot oven of a car, and drove to the other side of the water.
Ok. So that building from before.
It was an onsen! And we decided to go there!
At first, I wasn't feelin; down for a dip in da good ol' hot springs on a 100 degree kind of day.
I was sweating it out though, so I thought it would't hurt to clean up a bit.
And I'm glad we went! Look at the view from the hot springs! It is so amazing to me that something so beautiful and natural exists in the world. Breathtaking. Not real.
I also didn't know that people in Japan just casually go to onsen in the middle of the day! There were a good amount of people at the onsen, even on such a hot day. Interesting.
Japanese like to be clean, I guess!
After taking a cold shower so that I wouldn't pass out from the heat, we then went to visit my mom's cousin's house! And to my surprise, it turned into a family reunion! My host mom's younger and older sister arrived along with their kids, to make for a fun meet and greet.
Around 5:30, my mom and I left for dinner. She really wanted to go to her favorite ramen restaurant, so we had to leave early before the crowds came. The others weren't so down for ramen (due to the heat), so it was just me and the mom, doin the duo.
Just like the onsen deal, I wasn't quite feeling like ramen.
It's not quite the first thing that pops into my head when the heat is slowly steaming me like a gyoza and I want to cool down...
BUT, once again, my mom knows what's up. It was SO good.
This little ramen restaurant is very popular, with only about six menu items.
We got the most popular item, the miso vegetable ramen with garlic.
I did end up workin' up a sweat while eating,
but I can take the heat, if it means so nommy noodles!
On our way back to the grandparent's house, we decided to drive by the coast to see the sunset. As we were driving, I noticed that the clouds were just going crazy. Look at them! Like a mountain range in the sky. I shall now call it, the Cloud Mountain.
Presenting:
And we arrived at the coast, just in time for the sunset!
Wow wow ermahgawd. I don't think my eyes could handle any more beauty. Just so much beautiful scenery all day.
Ruh-di-culous.
After we picked up our bags from the house, we then picked up the kids and dad at his parents' house. Apparently, Toyama is the place to be for the Minamizono clan! Everyone is there!
I truly had a great weekend. My host family (and relatives) were all so kind and welcoming, and for that, I am thankful. Though it might be rough for my eyes to adjust back to real life.
Rifare is just not quite the same as a beautiful river or sunset. Bums.
But not to worry! See the mountain range in the background?! That's next weekend's destination! Update soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment