Summer Slips In

Ginzan Onsen in Spring

June seems to have run away on me.

On our return to Akita I sent mum and dad on various outings while I was at school. On their last full day here we made it to Ginzan onsen, which had a completely different atmosphere to when I had visited in snowy December with Henry.

Saturday 17^th June

Maruike Blue Pond - Yamagata

Though at some stage during that month, Liam and I managed to hop in the car and head in a general South direction (let’s face it, when you’re Akita, there’s a LOT of South).

Dipping down into Yamagata we caught the Maruike Blue Pond. Surrounded by a grove of trees and aesthetically twisted vines, the 3.5m deep pond was Crystal clear and believed to be home to a deity, making it a sacred area.

Maruike Blue Pond - Yamagata

Following the rugged coastline dotted with small fishing villages, we eventually crossed the border into Niigata. The Siren call of salt sprinkled ice cream caused us to stop just North of Murakami City. The small salt farm-come-ice cream parlour offered a veranda looking out over the glistening ocean, with views of Awashimaura Island.

Sunday 18^th June

5 storey pagoda - Dewa Sanzan - Yamagata

What better way to enjoy the first few stinking hot says of summer, than with a craft beer festival in the city. The warm weather acts as a constant reminder that the departure dates for a number of our group are drawing nearer.

Goshado Shrines - Oga

There is one perk to school’s holding sports tournaments on the weekend (which you are expected to attend), you get the next couple of weekdays off; Which meant that I didn’t have to use annual leave to go up to the driving centre in Akita city. The fact that it wasn’t open on the weekend was the least of my problems – I also had to be at window 50 (sensibly stationed right next to window 19) between 8.30 and 9.30 am.

If you want to read up about the whole ludicrous ordeal that is changing over a license, the Akita JET wiki page has a detailed rundown http://akitajet.com/wiki/Changing_to_a_Japanese_license

Godzilla Rock - Oga

I will limit my rant to the following: When I entered the US 2 years ago, my passport was stamped. However it was not stamped on my departure. This was not a problem until the license centre said they needed proof that I had left the United States (they oggle every single stamp in your passport). The fact that the stamp on entry also had the date by which I was required to leave the US, and that my Japanese visa stated that I had departed for Japan from Wellington was apparently not enough. The officer implied that I would not be able to get a license if I could not prove that I had returned to NZ after this trip and proceeded to ask me if I had the plane tickets at home.

Yes, I brought plane tickets from 2 YEARS AGO WHEN I MOVED TO JAPAN. And I wondered why I was started to fall out of love with this country… One panicked email to a very efficient dad later and I was able fax (not scan, FAX) the evidence through to the centre.

When they had finally decided that yes, I was allowed to drive in Japan I was able to return to the centre on the Monday after sports day and spend 2 hours jumping between windows, eyes tests and fiery hoops, before being sent on my merry way with a (very plain and easy for forge) piece of plastic.

Sealion of Gao Aquarium

As a treat to myself for surviving this bloody stupid circus, I took myself to GAO aquarium in Oga. Sitting in front of an enormous tank, watching various schools of fish flitting around and a turtle cruising in lazy circles near the surface was exactly the downtime I needed.

Coupled with about half an hour of watching the spotted sea lions gliding carelessly through the water, I in a much more reasonable mood that when I had arrived.

40 degrees Latitude

With the only planned activity off the list I followed the signs to Nyudozaki peninsula. Here can be found the 40 degree north latitude line, marked with a stone monument. The wind running over the rolling grass hill tumbling down to a ragged coastline reminded me of Ngawi back home, and I took a moment to appreciate that this is actually a beautiful country, and I’m not quite sick of it just yet.

Reluctant to leave the view of the ocean I meandered down narrow coastal roads before heading up into the hills to find the Goshado Shrines. Local legend says that the river like path composed of 999 stones was laid by demons.　

After enjoying the stillness of the Shrines (and reassuring I a local that I hadn’t encountered any wildlife on my way up) the journey back south along the coast brought me to the world-famous-in-Akita Godzilla Rock. Only in Japan.