Ashita-no-Mori Guest House

We loved staying at Ashita-no-Mori あしたの森 Guest House right in front of Kawayu 川湯 onsen hot spring "Sen-nin-buro" 仙人風呂, one of only three such popular hot springs, actually etched from a natural river, in Japan!

The guest house's specialty of a Kumano beef dinner was absolutely delicious and our family loved the wooded guest room we stayed in, despite its petite size.

Our view from our room looked out over the river which was quite picturesque: steam rising like twisting dragons from Oto river and morning frost limning the edges of solid objects epitomized the rustic oriental image of ancient Japan! (see link for area pictures)

Breakfast was great, too!

Family Visits Kumano Kodo

NAKAHECHI-CHO, Tanabe-shi, Wakayama Pref., Japan


On our return trip from Hongu Taisha, we stopped in at Nonaka-no-Ipposugi in Nakahechi to visit giant cypress ヒノキ trees in front of Tsugizakura-oji.


Three of us posed inside one of the trees along the stone stairs to the shrine.



Behind Alex, to the right, is Hidehira-Zakura, a Japanese cherry blossom tree (sakura) 桜 which apparently sprung from the blessed cherry oak walking stick of Lord Hidehira Fujiwara while he walked the Kumano Kodo hundreds of years ago.


Hidehira was blessed with the birth of a son upon reaching the edge of the Kumano.


The son was left - if legend be true - in a small cave, now known as "Chichi-iwa" - where he was nurtured from the "milk" of the rocks and wolves while the lord made his spiritual journey.

Toganoki-jaya is a teahouse serving tea and sweets near the Nonaka are on the Kumano Kodo.
During the regular hiking season (spring, summer), pictures taken in Edo-period costume can be had for a fee.

New Year's Grand Shrine visit 初詣 Hatsumode

HONGU GRAND SHRINE, Tanabe City, Wakayama Pref., Japan -
The family poses in front of the three grand shrines of the Kumano area, Kumano Hongu Taisha on January 5, for our official New Year's shrinal visit.
My son, Alex, purchased a fortune lot for 200 yen which told him this year would be extremely good for him (大吉)!
The shrine reported 315,000 people had visited just over the New Year's holiday. Luckily, we arrived after the rush although they were still very busy!

The 12 Days (or so) Around Christmas

Holidays are always a blur. Celebrating two kinds of holidays in two weeks makes for a busy time. Here are some of the highlights:

12/24 (Friday) Christmas prep

12/25 CHRISTMAS in the morning, but Xmas not being a national holiday in Japan, I had to teach lessons in the morning and afternoon.

12/26 Alex had rehearsal for a multi-group hip-hop dance performance in the morning, then we all returned in the evening for the actual 3-hour event -- three-year-old and one-year-old in tow ... loooooonnnngggg day.

12/27 and 12/28 大そうじ Major year-end cleaning! Windows, bath, entrance area, car, kitchen ... everyone helped.

12/29 Kids relaxed. The wife and I printed our New Year's Cards and mailed them off!

12/30 O mochi tsuki お餅つき at a friend's friend's house. Wound up spending morning and afternoon there eating rice mochi cakes, new year's foods.

12/31 New Year's Eve spent in living room watching countdown programs including the annual Red and White Singing Competition on NHK 紅白歌合戦 and a six-hour comedy special about a team of comedians who are swacked in the behind each time they laugh (the loser was whacked 186 times ... I know, but we still watched it all).

1/1 RELAXED AT HOME. Food, snacks, champagne, beer, cola, pizza ... zzz.

1/2 Family gathering at in-laws. Delicious food. New Year's money envelopes お年玉 (o-toshi-dama) for the kids.

1/3 Went to the park. Unsuccessfully tried to launch kites. Had Belgian Waffle snacks at FAB restaurant in Shirahama.

1/4 & 1/5 Stayed at the Ashita-no-Mori あしたの森 pension-style inn in Kawayu　川湯 town along a river that doubles as a huge onsen spa. Ate Kumano beef!