Day 3 started with real excitement when we all dressed as Japanese ethnic people, Ainu, at Mt. Iwo. The clothes of men of women are the same, only the head bands are different :)
Mt. Iwo is also a volcano. Smoke from hot springs wells covered part of Mt. Iwo. Hot springs smell like boiled eggs. Very strong smell, not really pleasant :) but because they are good for health, they are so popular in Japan. Hot springs have different effects to health depending on locations. Those in this area are said to be good against skin aging. That’s why the 2 hotels we stayed at name their hot spring bathing service Cute and Beautiful Onsen. ^^ I didn’t get to enjoy any of them :( I wonder when and how I can get used to Onsen ~ ^^
Mr. Sawai & ...
... Mrs. Sawai in traditional Ainu clothes
Mr. Sawai
Mrs. Sawai
Leaving smoky Mt. Iwo behind, we head to the so-claimed clearest lake in the world, Lake Mashū, which, for me, the most impressive spot at Akan National Park.
Lake Mashū 摩周湖
Lake Mashū 摩周湖
Sightseeing cruise at Lake Akan 阿寒湖
Lake Onnetoh, the ice surface started to melt ^^
our flight back to Tokyo
22:40: back to Haneda Airport
Exhausted by the time we got home. But the trip was great!
