Iya Onsen

20.08.16

This morning, before continuing our journey, we went to another prefectural art museum. The Kochi museum had a large Chagall collection and other modern artefacts. Today however, this particular museum had a special "Trick art" collection. This involved the spectator taking part in the art. Like many Japanese programs, this too was designed to make as many pictures as possible:

Overcoming the fear of heights

A Whole new world

On this trip mom and dad have been looking forward to this particular day. After the lovely city of Kochi we were heading to another “slightly” smaller town called Oboke. We had to sit through an hours drive after a rough regional train rise until we arrived at the mysterious hotel (Iya Onsen). My parents had been fantasying about this place from the start of our journey. It was however not until we had reached our room that I understood why.

The floors were laid out with tatami in the main room. Behind two doors we were able to find two chairs looking onto the valley on which the hotel was built on. Through this room there was an outdoor space containing a shower and bathtub filled with hot spring water.

In the evening we were summoned to dinner. It was set out of several Japanese courses and laid out in the most beautiful way possible. In our Jukatas we were enjoying the gourmet food and looking onto the forest through the windows. After dinner we explored the hotel in more detail.

On the internet the hotel advertised as having one of the best outdoor Onsens in the whole of Japan. After a 5 minute ride on a cable car down the steep valley we arrived at the mystical bathing location. Indeed, bathing in a hot sulfuric bath under the starts looking onto the river does give off a magical feel. It was like experiencing the true meaning of “living in nature”. If I had the choice, I would have stayed in the water until dawn.

Ranking by Hight

Back in the Hotel we decided to make pictures in our Jukatas that will surely be eternalized in our family albums. Tomorrow we will be leaving Oboke again and heading to Takamatsu.

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Song of the Day: 

Free
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04fS5gYG3_o