Akayu-Onsen in Yamagata 4

On the 24th November we stayed at another hotel.
Onsen  here was so lovely .I enjoyed the  beautiful  moon at the Spa which was made of a very big stone outside..It was amazing!!!
Yamagara produces very good quality of fruit , rice and beef.
You can pick up  strawberries in May, cherries in June ,peaches in August , grapes in September, pears in October and  apples in November!
(http://macromacrobiyoko.blogspot.jp/2012/07/japanese-cherries.html)
(http://macromacrobiyoko.blogspot.jp/2012/08/japanese-peaches.html)

                                    They  show the names of guests and companies to welcome .

                                      Ryokan (Japanese style hotel) lobby.

                                        guest room

                                      Dried plum and Japanese soft cookie with green beans paste

Dinner

                               
This big stone was dug to make a hole. The stone standing behind the spa  was the inside of it!

                            My husband enjoyed the local fresh rice wine(sake)

Breakfast

Public bath for the locals 

                                     Free foot spa

                                  My husband bought the beef .

                                     100g 2000yen for a steak

                                  The train for Tokyo is comming!

                                         The rice balls for  our lunch  were prepared by the hotel staff .

                                      You can see a honey ring inside the apple.

Akayu- Onsen (赤湯温泉）in Yamagata ３

The colored leaves near here were amazing!!!
After we enjoyed it in the morning on the 24th November  , we move to JR Yonezawa(米沢） ,the castle town which is a few stations away from JR Akayu  to go to Uesugi shrine . After that we returned back to Akayu- Onsen to stay  over one more night.

These naked  trees are Sakura.We must come here early May again.

So many Sakura trees are here!!

                                       Uesugi shrine                                    

This statue is Yozan Uesugi(1751-1822) who was the greatest statesman in the Edo period.
Former U.S.president John F.Kennedy admired him most as the Japanese leader.
I do wish he was in Japan now!

                                             
His most famous saying is Do and it will be done; don’t do and it will not be done: if something is not done, that is because no one did it.

My husband  respects him very much.

 The pine tree`s protection  from deep snow.

                In February this year the snow was 90 centimeters deep here.

•             Yozan encouraged  local people  to plant this weed,Ukogi  which came from  China as tonic medicine  for food and prevention against   invasion of  enemies  because  it has many thorns.

Akayu -Onsen(赤湯温泉） in Yamagata 2

 

 This simple looking Japanese-style hotel(Ryokan) which we were introduced to by a travel agent ,was opened 200 year ago.All the rooms were fully booked up.

 

After  checkin when we enter the tatami rooms,  Japanese tea and sweets are  already set on the table.

The dinner here  was fantastic  with beautiful antique dishes .

 Normally ,we enjoy spa some times at a Ryokan  , before dinner , sleep  and breakfast . Having bath at Onsen is good fun for Japanese!
 

 The cost is 12800 yen which includes dinner and breakfast per person.We were satisfied!

 

                                          

 

                                                  Yukata (summer kimono)and Hanten (jacket)

 ..This plate of the  appetizers  shows the chef's ability and hid fine sense of art .It was just like a picture to express the current season with flowers or leaves..

 

                                   The yellow and purple flowers of chrysantheums were used for the mixed sushi

 

 

                                                   This  pumpkin pudding was delicious!!

 

                                             Onsen for ladies

                                                      Onsen for males

                                                    In the spa , we can smell sulfur..

                                         We can bring this towl printed the  hotel name for memory.
                                        The plastic bag is prepared  for the wet towel!

 

 During the dinner, futons are spread by a hotel staff.

 

                                           Lovely  breakfast!!

                                   Many shoes were set for the guests before checkout!