After a pleasant flight with Cathay Pacific we were met by Gairhe and his colleague from Vantech and taken to pick up the hired motorhome which will be our accommodation for the next six weeks. It has taken some getting used to after our own motorhome which is 2.2 metres longer and 400 mm wider. Here we are three days later and hopefully we have it sorted !!

Not having any set plans for the first week we set off north to avoid the incoming Typhoon which satellite pictures showed hitting mainland Japan south of Tokyo. Our set destination from 18th to 21st August was Sado island to enjoy the Earth Festival hosted by the Kodo drummers whom we had seen a couple of times in the U.K. and had always wanted to visit their home island.

Our route to Sado was dictated by places of interest and Michi stopovers (these offered free parking , access to toilets, eating houses and small supermarkets) our first experience was just outside of Tokyo on what would be a U.K. equivalent of a service station yet there was no comparison. In the morning we woke up to frenetic buzz of local people who had come to buy from local food producers, eat at the cafe and visit the fermentation market. In contrast the following evening found us surrounded by a local park and tennis court at the top of a lake, a very relaxing and calming experience after the few hectic days of travel.

Leaving the local park area we headed to the nearby town of Tsukuba being intrigued by their botanical garden which was in the grounds of their university plant biology campus. The layout was amazing as they had tried to show plants in a natural setting either outside or within specific hothouses. After spending the morning around the site we tried to visit their Art Museum but parking was non existent so we continued our journey westward.

Today has been the best so far having visited the local Onsen ( a communal bathhouse) nearest our overnight stop at a Michi overlooking the Watarase lake. It was not our first experience but for both of us it was our best. Following Japanese custom we left our outdoor shoes at reception and armed with our towels headed off to our gender specific areas. Custom requires that you go fully naked and wash from head to toe before entering the Onsen itself. Having locked away my belongings I was immediately taken in hand by this lovely older lady who at first I thought was just going to show me how to use the wash area but no she insisted after sitting me on a stool to wash me head to toe and then shepherd me into the first mineral pool. After which she acted as my escort through the various areas ( which consisted of a variety of Jacuzzis inside and outdoors, steam room, sauna and the area I loved most a mineral lavender pool which smelt divine) I don’t believe Charlie was blessed with the same personal service.