Reggie's Vacation
To take advantage of our visit, Reggie took 5 days vacation from Thursday, April 22 through the date of our departure, Monday, April 26.
More shopping and of course Karaoke...
He took us to do some last minute shopping Thursday but Donna didn't do much because our luggage are heaping to the max and we're limited to a certain weight. We had our last trip to Sushiro for lunch (I think this was our sixth?) and a last dinner in a restaurant specializing in Osaka Ramen. This was the best miso ramen I've ever tasted.
And of course what's a trip to Japan without a visit to a local Karaoke joint? With Japan's standards, it was pretty cheap, 100 yen for the first hour plus 350 yen worth of food and beverage and 300 yen each for any succeeding hour. Two hours was enough for everyone to satisfy our yearnings as frustrated singers. I have to admit, their system was one of the best and for some reason I was able to belt songs with ease, songs I used to have a hard time singing. I haven't done Karaoke in a while, perhaps? I don't know.
Reggie and Manami went to this place a month or so ago. They enjoyed it so much they thought we will too. So a few days ago, Manami made reservations for us to stay in the same hotel they checked in.
They took the bus when they went but Reggie drove his Airtrek this time. But we're a bit early so Reggie took us to a place in the city called Todoroki No Taki Waterfalls Park. This place is absolutely breath taking. It's comparable to Shiraito Falls near Mt. Fuji. It's just gorgeous.
I took more than a hundred pictures around the waterfalls alone so you may want to take a look at my Flickr account to see them all.
At around 4 pm, we checked into Yoshidaya Hotel. Like I said, Manami and Reggie have been here before so they know the routine. By the way, the city of Ureshino is famous for its onsens and tea industry. And Yoshidaya is just one of the hotels in the city boasting of its nice and soothing hot baths from the area's natural hot springs.
Right after checking in we went into our room and changed into our yukata, provided by the hotel. And off to the baths we went. The hotel has both communal and private baths. And so we each opted to go to the private baths, Manami and Reggie to one and I and Donna to another.
After our bath (baths are limited to 50 minutes per session as a courtesy to other hotel guests) we went back to our room to relax a bit and watch TV. I realized how fast my heart was beating and told them so. I guess it's natural after spending so much time in such a hot bath. The onsen temperature was a bit higher than Manami's setting on the bath we enjoy at their place which is 41C. I have to admit, it's so relaxing afterwards, my muscles felt like jelly.
The Dinner
It was served promptly at 6:30 pm. Well, I take that back. It's a full course dinner with each dish served one after another. Our main dish is some sort of seafood and Reggie's and Manami's is some pieces of beef that they have to cook themselves with little burners provided on the table.
I noticed we didn't have a salt shaker. We instead got served with a brick salt that one has to scrape off like cheese.
At first glance, I thought our table was one of those traditional Japanese tables with really short legs that diners have to squat around but I found out that it has a hole underneath where we can stretch our legs just like sitting on chairs around a regular table.
After dinner, we went back to our room to find all the futons, sheets and blankets have been laid out for us. And then we went and took another bath. We figured we're only staying overnight so we're taking advantage of our bath time.
I can't help but fall into a nice and deep sleep after a couple of oh so relaxing onsen baths.
Manami woke up early, at around 6:30 and we took another bath. When we're done, they went back to sleep while Reg and I went sightseeing by the Ureshino River leading towards Todoroki Falls.
This picture reminds me of an incident years ago where Reggie fell into the water off Three Rivers between Visalia and Sequioa National Park.
And this is now the bridge by Todoroki No Taki Falls.
When we came back, breakfast was waiting.
After we checked out, we drove around town to take pics of various tea farms and we stopped by this place selling souvenirs and all kinds of tea. They even have a tea factory at the back.
And here is a picture of two grinders which grinds tea leaves into powder.
Below is the logo of the city of onsens, sitting on top of a hill signifying the steam coming out of its baths.
More shopping and of course Karaoke...
He took us to do some last minute shopping Thursday but Donna didn't do much because our luggage are heaping to the max and we're limited to a certain weight. We had our last trip to Sushiro for lunch (I think this was our sixth?) and a last dinner in a restaurant specializing in Osaka Ramen. This was the best miso ramen I've ever tasted.
And of course what's a trip to Japan without a visit to a local Karaoke joint? With Japan's standards, it was pretty cheap, 100 yen for the first hour plus 350 yen worth of food and beverage and 300 yen each for any succeeding hour. Two hours was enough for everyone to satisfy our yearnings as frustrated singers. I have to admit, their system was one of the best and for some reason I was able to belt songs with ease, songs I used to have a hard time singing. I haven't done Karaoke in a while, perhaps? I don't know.
Reggie and Manami went to this place a month or so ago. They enjoyed it so much they thought we will too. So a few days ago, Manami made reservations for us to stay in the same hotel they checked in.
They took the bus when they went but Reggie drove his Airtrek this time. But we're a bit early so Reggie took us to a place in the city called Todoroki No Taki Waterfalls Park. This place is absolutely breath taking. It's comparable to Shiraito Falls near Mt. Fuji. It's just gorgeous.
I took more than a hundred pictures around the waterfalls alone so you may want to take a look at my Flickr account to see them all.
At around 4 pm, we checked into Yoshidaya Hotel. Like I said, Manami and Reggie have been here before so they know the routine. By the way, the city of Ureshino is famous for its onsens and tea industry. And Yoshidaya is just one of the hotels in the city boasting of its nice and soothing hot baths from the area's natural hot springs.
Right after checking in we went into our room and changed into our yukata, provided by the hotel. And off to the baths we went. The hotel has both communal and private baths. And so we each opted to go to the private baths, Manami and Reggie to one and I and Donna to another.
After our bath (baths are limited to 50 minutes per session as a courtesy to other hotel guests) we went back to our room to relax a bit and watch TV. I realized how fast my heart was beating and told them so. I guess it's natural after spending so much time in such a hot bath. The onsen temperature was a bit higher than Manami's setting on the bath we enjoy at their place which is 41C. I have to admit, it's so relaxing afterwards, my muscles felt like jelly.
The Dinner
It was served promptly at 6:30 pm. Well, I take that back. It's a full course dinner with each dish served one after another. Our main dish is some sort of seafood and Reggie's and Manami's is some pieces of beef that they have to cook themselves with little burners provided on the table.
I noticed we didn't have a salt shaker. We instead got served with a brick salt that one has to scrape off like cheese.
At first glance, I thought our table was one of those traditional Japanese tables with really short legs that diners have to squat around but I found out that it has a hole underneath where we can stretch our legs just like sitting on chairs around a regular table.
After dinner, we went back to our room to find all the futons, sheets and blankets have been laid out for us. And then we went and took another bath. We figured we're only staying overnight so we're taking advantage of our bath time.
I can't help but fall into a nice and deep sleep after a couple of oh so relaxing onsen baths.
Manami woke up early, at around 6:30 and we took another bath. When we're done, they went back to sleep while Reg and I went sightseeing by the Ureshino River leading towards Todoroki Falls.
This picture reminds me of an incident years ago where Reggie fell into the water off Three Rivers between Visalia and Sequioa National Park.
And this is now the bridge by Todoroki No Taki Falls.
When we came back, breakfast was waiting.
After we checked out, we drove around town to take pics of various tea farms and we stopped by this place selling souvenirs and all kinds of tea. They even have a tea factory at the back.
And here is a picture of two grinders which grinds tea leaves into powder.
Below is the logo of the city of onsens, sitting on top of a hill signifying the steam coming out of its baths.
posted by reyjay @ 10:25 PM
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