Japan Adventure: January 2007

Hikari Flea Market & Kaminoseki Trip

Although it's cool today, the sun was peeking in & out, so we decided to drive to Hikari & check out the flea market. It's not as large today as usual, but there's always interesting stuff . . .

Treasures are covered today, not for the sun, but against a shower.

A very small cherry tree in full bloom.

Shoppers mingle & haggle over prices in front of the small pagoda.

Another view of these temple grounds.

Leaving Hikari, we head back to Yanai for lunch.

Before & after . . . Stan's empty miso soup bowl (except for the shells) and Pam's full bowl. To the right of the soup bowls are yummy fried oysters.

Pam's appropriately slurping her soup.

Enjoying sushi in a restaurant in Yanai that Pam & Jake like. We do, too now!

Looking into the kitchen and down the conveyer as the goodies pass by . . .

Outside the sushi restaurant, we found a map that showed several more keyhole mounds located in and around Yanai. We decided to drive south toward some smaller islands -- away from the main road.

Before we cross this bridge, we stop to watch the fisherman as these ships navigate the pass.

Lighthouse "under" the bridge. Look how the road is built over the cool rock formation.

Ship passing between the islands.

We're on the bridge going to another island -- we don't know the island's name, but we're heading toward Kaminoseki Town . . .

Looking back over the bridge we just crossed. What a gorgeous day -- and they predicted rain . . .

Jake & Pam nearly silouetted in the shade.

Going down a VERY steep hill. We're trying to find the observatory that Jake noticed, so we just keep going up roads . . .

A very narrow road along the seawall.

Just another island out there . . .

After a lot of driving "round and round" the small island, we finally found the "right" road that leads up to the observatory. Although the road was paved, it was VERY narrow and VERY curvy. This was a first for Pam & Jake, but we all survived! After the harrowing ride up the mountain, we found a little parking lot.

Pam & Jake immediately took off toward the observatory, but Stan & I stopped to get our coats & stroll up the rest of the hill. We're on the shady side of the mountain.

Wow -- we made it! And the sun came out just in time.

And Pam & Jake are already at the top.

Camelias with the top of the observatory tower peeking through.

Tile outside the tower.

Map of the view we're going to see from the top!

Wow -- no words necessary!

Take the picture . . . take the picture (it's VERY cold today)

This was SO worth the 70-step climb! You can see the bridge that we crossed to get to this island.

This island reminded me of an alligator . . .

While descending the stairs, I took pictures of these beautiful windows in the tower. Not only do they allow light and

fantastic views, but they're very decorative as well, showing sea creatures. The center of the tower was a spiral staircase, with a set of 25, then a small platform, with another 25, another platform, and the last 20 steps to the top.

More windows as we climb back down.

Most of this mountain drive was so scary that I was too frozen to take pictures, but here's a shot of a VERY sharp curve. Although this road was paved all the way to the top, it was only about as wide as our little van, so we were delighted that we did not pass anyone coming the other way, either going up or back down!

A little mist settles as the sun goes down behind us. This curve was so sharp, that Stan actually had to back up in order to make the turn!

A cute little potty stop -- & with this road, not a moment too soon!

We made it down safely & a few more miles away, we've found a little park that we think is another large burial mound like the one we found in Yanai. This area is sunny & protected, so some of the cherries are already starting to bloom!