walkabout-japan

Day 42
The Shangri-La (Sanrinsha)
GPS: N 34 °, 24,272 ' E 135 °, 58.097 '
Altitude: 210 m
Place: Higashiyoshino
Etmal: 25 km
Total: 939 km
Everything is wet and my clothes smell like a wet Labrador, because nothing becomes dry in this dark jungle. When I'm ready with packing, it starts raining as usual! I make for the
4 km long tunnel on top of the pass. In a three-house village
Tora, the owner of an Onsen, gives me an umbrella. Then,
in a covered bus stop, I find the brochure of an inn said to be
in the forest. After 25 km with continuous raining and
3 degrees over zero at the pass, I am ready to stop there. Compared to the snack bar on the" 88 temple tour", it's a
jewel in the quiet forest surrounded from blossoming cherry trees, my Shangri-La. I take off my "dog clothes" which the English-speaking Mama-san stuffs immediately into the washing machine. A few minutes later I'm lying in the Furro (bath) with little bags of smelling wood swimming on the hot water. I can hardly believe it. Then, vested in traditional
clothes I'm enjoying a first class meal: Tai (fish), vegetables and trout tempura, custard royale and many appetizers. Afterwards I drink much sake in my traditional room and I'm looking at all the water outside.
http://homepage2.nifty.com/sanrinsha/


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