LAKE TOYA, JAPAN
Sigh… as stated on insta… a long overdue mini vacay!! And taking full advantage of a national holiday today in Japan… “Respect for Elders Day” baaaa haaa!!
It took 4 hours to drive 320 kms and $80 in highway tolls… but man… What a view!
When we decided to embark on this adventure, and I decided to get a job in retirement (LOL) this is what it was about!!
Lake Toya is a volcanic lake in Hokkaido, the northernmost lake in Japan not to freeze in winter… the site of the 2008 G8 Summit… and it is beautiful!
As is much of where we have visited in Japan to date! Biei is breathtaking with its fields of flowers and the Blue Pond and of course there is Sonkyo - a gorgeous national park modeled after the national parks in Canada and it’s 20 minutes from where we live! I get to go there once a week to hang out with some fabulous junior high kiddos at Infinity Global School!
But Lake Toya? I LOVE ME A VIEW! And Lake Toya does not disappoint! Although it is the most we have spent on a hotel room (or will spend by the end of the year), it is only about the price of a Comfort Inn in Canada!!
The hotel is HANABI and it has an onsen (natural hot spring) and the rooms are very authentic Japanese - or at least what we would consider authentic Japanese back in Canada!
We wandered the streets, walked along the boardwalk, took in the nightly fireworks from our balcony… took a boat to Nakajima Island in the middle of the lake, ate carrot cake, pizza, pasta AND onion rings!!
Again (don’t think they follow this blog) a shot out to Matt and Scott - the ALT’s in Kamikawa! Last night we joined them and some of their friends for great Italian food as we all ended up here on the long weekend that honours… old people!! Still makes me laugh!!
And although the weather has not been perfect (lots of rain) it is so warm and so beautiful! As my friend Chrissy would say… I fed my soul this weekend!
Onsen (natural hot springs in Japan) are new for us - I am a bit on the shy side and there are no bathing suits allowed… and we have embraced them!! Well - twice!! And today we took in the “Foot Onsen” along the boardwalk in front of the lake (you can wear clothes - lol!! So cooool!!
And today we drove up to The Windsor Hotel - on a mountain - home to the G8 Summit… beautiful hotel - and so empty… made me kind of sad… We had an AMAZING lunch in a very “fancy” restaurant… named “Gilligan's Island - Ha! Ha!
We are chilling with the million dollar view and “planning” our next great adventure! Did I also mention that I had a conversation with a seagull (my dad reincarnated) on the balcony of our 6th floor hotel room while he basically ate out of my hand????? True story!
That’s all for today!! (said in English at the end of each English period)
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