Hiking in Nikko, Kirifuri
I spent the first week back in Japan at a friends place in Utsunomiya. Needless to say, I ate lots of gyoza while I was there as that is what Utsunomiya is famous for.
I also went to Nikko to do some hiking. The area I went was called Kirifuri, and the long course I chose took me in the mountain forests, up to Mt. Oyama, through mountain cow pastures, and down along the river to see 4 beautiful waterfalls:
On my way over one of the streams I found a soccer ball that seemed to have washed downstream from somewhere. I was able to fit in in my bag and take it home 
It is not a very used path, and it was sometimes hard to find.
At the top of Mt. Oyama! 1158m
Looking back at where I started from.