Japan (Hyogo) Apil 2010 D-5

After a two night stay in Kyoto, we moved on and our bus had a stopover in Kasamatsu Park, Amanohashidate (called the bridge over the sky) in Northern Kyoto. Japan has 3 top scenic spots (ie Miyajima in Hiroshima & Matsushima in Miyagi ) and Amanohashidate is one of them . For this trip, we had the pleasure of visiting two of them ie Miyajima in Hiroshima & Amanohashidate in northern Kyoto.

1) The charming Kinosaki town - we took an evening stroll along the canal, both sides lined with rows of cherry blossom trees - the scenery was so spectacular when the pink color lanterns were lighted up hanging on the trees !!!

2) Kasamatsu Park, Amanohashodate, norther Kyoto - a top scenic natural beauty in Japan. Amanohashidate is a sand bar of 3.6km and the sand bar looks like a bridge over the sky. This place looks spectacular when viewed upside down through your legs at the top of the Katsamatsu Park. Cable car ride Y320 (RM12).

3) Kinosaki Town (Northern Kansai) - the best place in Japan to sample the classic Japanese onsen (hotspring bath) experience. A willow-lined canal runs through the center of this town and many of the houses, shops and restaurants retain something of their traditional charm .... At the Kinosaki Spa Ropeway, each of us had a bite of a hard boiled free range chicken egg boiled from a hot spring well - the water was sizzling hot !

4) After visiting Amanoashidate, next was a visit to Kinisaki town in Northern Kansai where we stayed for a night in a small country town in Hyogo. The capital of Hyogo is Kobe, famous for its Kobe beef.

Homestay in Hyogo - one of our Hospitality Club members, a Canadian (an English language tutor and a pub owner) known to Mochan, owned a country home in a small town in Hyogo. Our group of 15 people put up a night at his house and we also had a happy hour evening in his pub in the country town area. Our Malaysian group shouted Yam Seng to all our members drinking in the pub ! What a great hospitality provided by our Canadian host and also our most memorable first home stay experience in this trip.

" The Secret of Life: Life is a big ice cream. Have it before it melts "