First stop - Nikko
Saturday 2004-11-06
Meet Tamiko and Saori at my Ryokan in Asakusa area of Tokyo. We take a two hour train ride to Nikko. Nikko is a hot springs resort in the mountains near Tokyo. It's also the home of some World Heritage-listed temples and shrines. Tamiko booked us a ryokan that is right across the street from the lake. Once we arrive at Nikko train station we take a one hour bus ride to the lake and our ryokan. It's a beautiful location - in the mountains and overlooking the lake. It's almost dark by the time we settle in. We make a quick trip to a near by waterfall, then back to the ryokan for dinner. Dinner was prepared by the hostess of the ryokan. It's served in traditional Japanese-style, as is everything in a ryokan. After dinner we head out to the hot springs. After soaking for about 1 1/2 hours we return to the ryokan, drink some beer, eat munchies and talk into the evening.