on the long drive to Hakone, we were watching a movie in the car. it was called “The Way.” it’s about a father who went to spain to do the same thousand mile pilgrimage in his sons footsteps where he died. i was blown away by the amazing sceneries in spain. then looking out of the window and getting blown away from the sceneries in japan. i was thinking of spain while looking at japan’s beauty. one part of me wanted to go to spain, and another part of me wanted to explore japan even more. if i had to explain yesterdays drive, i’d have to say it was “heaven on earth.”
no, this is not a postcard, this is a photo i took with my iPhone. as i look up to the top of this beauty, i could see and remember placing my grandma’s little owl on the very top of Mt. Fuji looking down to where i was. shortly after my grandma passed away 7 years ago, i climbed Mt. Fuji to be in my grandma’s footsteps and to feel her way of life. it was one of the best moments of my life. and watching the movie “The Way” during all this, i could really feel how the father felt.
then i arrive at the onsen, get pampered by professional staff, and was led to my room. i open the back door and there it was, my private outdoor hot onsen calling my name. i jump in, felt my body go from freezing cold to sleepy hot, and i thought to myself, “welcome to heaven on earth.”
then we had an amazing authentic “puffer fish” dinner, sat at the bar for a drink, i jumped in the onsen again, and slept like a baby. thank you Inaida-san and Yuki-san for always taking me to “HEAVEN ON EARTH.”
