Onikobe

I couple weekends ago, I was in Onikoube, an area near Naruko.

A large group of JETs spent Saturday learning to paraglide. Because it was our first time, the instructors didn’t give us much opportunity to get off the ground. There were other people around who were flying quite long and high. Paragliding involves wearing a very large and awkward harness and running in a rather odd manner. Needless to say, the whole day was fairly amusing.

That night, we went camping nearby. Other friends joined us for camping. Although it rained (have I mentioned it’s the rainy season) that night, we had a shelter where we cooked. Barbeque, s’mores, people with guitars, campfire, all added up to a very good night.

In the morning, some of us set off on an attempt to find a nearby onsen that has a waterfall. What we originally thought was the path to the onsen turned out to be a very nice short nature walk with several geysers and a stream. I’d never seen a geyser before. Eventually we hopped back in our cars and found the place. There was an outdoor pool, and indeed another natural pool underneath a waterfall. We were warned that there was no point in going in the waterfall due to the heavy rain the night before. Of course we went anyway. The water was pretty cold but invigorating.