After Hikone (coming from Kanazawa) we took the train down to Tanabe

as this was the gateway for the “Kumano Kodo” – a system of paths towards 3 shrines with UNESCO listing as well (like the “Camino de Santiago”). We never intended to do all the hike, just some part. In addition we had a booking for an onsen (a thermal bath) in the middle of the peninsula and getting  there is not easy…

As Ursula was stung by a stingray in Sri Lanka this advertisement caught some interest  

So, we stayed in Tanabe for 2 nights and enjoyed their temples as well

These stone figures are always very nice

And I love the water dragons

People were collecting pebbles (I assume because they brought good luck – Japanese are very, very superstitious)

Towards the evening, having covered most of the city we headed a bit out for a last temple and were pleasantly surprised…

Yoda was here as well…

Isn’t that nice?

Very Japanese…

A typical graveyard

With ancestor shrines and stones

Who finds the frog…

On the very top of the small hill an assortment of temples and tea-houses

A very young Buddha

And very old wood…

serenity and peace

The whole complex was extremely nice

Wonderful flowers, too

lush and colourful

The roof ends are covered

with nice monsters

and mythical beings

Just absorbing the view…

As we had to eat as well, you look for signs… This one made no real sense to us… We tried as a “translation”: Soul Kitchen – Food – Diners, open 7 days a week, 31 a month, strong coffee… but what means stock? They have it in stock?? They serve in stockings??

A samurai designating the food quarter of Tanabe

The first night we eat in a lively bar, but as they smoked too much the 2nd night, we changed to another place… This time well prepared with freshly washed feet and new socks Fortunately we just had to take the shoes off, yet a normal table was present…

When you are ready to order just call…

Delight

Tastes much better than it looks…

nice & tasty variety…

No, this one we didn’t try…

We called it the “laughing shrimp” restaurant…

Afterwards we strolled around a bit in the amusement district (which is the same as the food quarter )

Fancy some karaoke?

Working ladies…

These places are just the same everywhere

Communist party slogan??

Hmmm… drag queens? Genitive ‘s…???

We assumed you can get (female) love for cash there

Either they don’t have a menu (some of the night diners don’t – really… You order what you want and the cook makes what he can ) or Google translate failed abysmally…

That would be the other amusement in Japan – Pachinko (video games) and slot machines. Some people spend the entire life in these places…

Anyhow our aim was to do a part of the Kumano Kodo and so we went to the middle part and walked back. Simply because the busses at the beginning (our goal) we running far later than at the “normal” destination. We are not Japanese who get up at 06:00 for some 15 km…

The weather was perfect, we even visited a museum in the beginning at the start of the trail and then off we went. Up / down all the time through forest – really nice…

Following an old hillcrest

With a nice place to rest your weary bones

Most of the time the forest looks like this:

With these special trees

Which have a very funny bark…

Finally after some 15km we made it and were quite exhausted. 500m altitude difference and all the time up and down… Ufff… Yet the biggest problem is the classical Japan phenomena – hundreds of people everywhere. The usual group is 15 – 30 people strong. With bear-bells even… Here… Any bear stupid enough must be deaf by now

But that’s Japan for you – don’t expect real nature. This is as close as it will ever be!! Most Japanese won’t have been to a forest anyhow…