Last weekend.....

...I took a weekend trip to Yamanashi ken to visit my friend Chelsea. I met her in Atlanta before we came over to Japan, and I hadn't seen her since. Here she is looking tough in crocheted hat and scarf combo.



She lives in a delightful little town called Minobu. She met me at the station on Friday night and took me to dinner at a local restaurant and from there the weekend was a whirlwind of fun, new people, blueberry pancakes, delicious curry, temples, steps to temples, fruit parks, onsen, hot sake, and noodles.

Lots to say, we did a ton, and it was great to see Chelsea.

Minobu is famous for wine.

View of Fuji from the Fruits Park onsen. Can you see it? It's behind those smaller, insignificant mountains.

Minobu San-287 steps to Enlightenment.

After the steps. If achieving enlightenment really means feeling the embarrassment knowing that two people in their 60's beat me to the top of the steps, then yes, consider me enlightened.





Houtou, famous Yamanashi noodles.