The little village (Fukawa / Yumoto) next to the hotel where we had a walk along the Otozure river while we were waiting for our room at the hotel to be ready.

Another view of the Otozure river.

Lunch in a little park in the village.

Some local Yamaguchi beer.

There was an ashi-yu (a foot bath fed by hot spring water) in the park, which we took advantage of.

Erika rather enjoyed splashing about in it.

Me, Chie and Erika all bathing our feet in the hot spring water.

Erika, Chie and Yuka.

Our room at the Otani Sanso. It was a bit more Western style than the usual ryokan.

These horrid, horrid things were left out on the table, I thought they were mochi.

The private bath fed with onsen water in our room. Wherein I figured out what that wooden bowl was for.

Erika, Yuka-chan and Yoko-san in their yukata.

At dinner now. Here's the menu for my special vegetarian version of the meal.

Erika sat across the table from me.

Erika and her special kodomo plate.

Yoko-san and Hirofumi-san at their end of the table.

Yuka-chan and Chie at their end of the table.

My first course.

My second course.

My third course.

My fourth course.

My fifth course.

My sixth course.

My seventh and final course.

Erika looking very Japanese after dinner.

Me in the bath again after dinner.

Chie's friend Kayo-chan recently got married to a member of the family who runs this hotel, part of the reason Chie decided to go here on this trip. She came to see us after she finished her shigt.