It’s been a long time, so I went up to Utsunomiya to visit my friend Matt once again. This time we took a trip to Nasu. Nasu is close to Nikko and has the same kinds of things which are hot springs and nature. It was a really fun filled day. We took the train followed by a bus to Nasu. Once there we climbed to the top of the volcano that constantly spewed sulfurous gasses. The climb itself was really great. There were lots of boulders and rocks to make our way though, and the view was absolutely amazing. Once we got down the mountain we took a hike through some temple grounds to the hot spring. The hot spring was called “Shika no Yu” which means…“Deer Water”. The hot spring was really old and had many different baths of different temperatures but all had the same natural sulfur rich water. I was challenged by an old guy in the hot spring and went in the 46 degree bath. I was practically boiled alive, but the feeling afterward was of pure relaxation. Of course, before I went back home we had gyoza in Utsunomiya for dinner.

Matt and I posing at the base of the mountain.

"If you can find a purple flower and bring it to the top of the mountain…”

Looking down on the hike up.

Yet more genki old ladies in Japan.

At the top.

Really at the top.

Shika no Yu