I Stopped At...

2014/08/09 After a long time, I had the chance to go on a road trip to Hokkaido, Japan. Today's topic is one of the stops I made while enjoying the drive across the southern part of Hokkaido. This post is about is Mount Usu, a famous volcano near Lake Toya. Originally Toya is a caldera (Toya caldera) of a huge volcano which errupted several times leaving a lake(Toya Lake) in the middle. Toya caldera and the Usu volcano area is now a recognized geopark. It is one of the first geoparks of Japan to be nominated as a Global Geopark. Take the cable car to the top of Mount Usu to enjoy a beautiful view of Toya caldera. A calm and  picturesque view point is situated at the top. The area around Mount Usu is still have many terrestrial movements. This area is called [Ever Changing Earth] as the geological features are changed very often due to the reasons such as formation of new lava mountains, new craters etc. This is a photograph of the crater of Mount Usu which was formed...

02/01/2008 Owakudani is  a volcanic vent where sulphur and other volcanic substances still come out of springs. The water is higher than 100degrees in most springs and very poisonous. Sulphuric vents with volcanic activity Hot water springs Slight volcanic activity The famous black eggs  boiled in the hot water springs It is said that eating these eggs you can extend your life span. Well,I ate one. Even though the shell turns black due to the hydrogen sulphide released from the spring, the inside is of  the  same taste of a normal boiled egg. As rumors say, it is not good to eat three black eggs. Do not know the mystic reason, but I think too much sulphur in the system might shorten your life span. Mount Fuji from owakudani hotwater springs Hakone Ropeway and kanagwa prefecture beyond My special thanks to my host family , Mr and Mrs. Deguchi All Rights Reserved.

Mount Fuji is my favorite  scenery spot. I used to go to see Mount Fuji every dawn of the new year. First it was at Hakone and then next year it was at Izu in Shizuoka. it`s  always the most enchanting view and mount Fuji always manages to calm me down.  I have seen different Mount.Fujis through out my 2 years in Japan. Sometimes it is blue, then again it is red. Again it is of a dull brown colour and then no snow at the  top. Mount Fuji is so  beautiful that it always had been a favourite matter of discussion among painters and nature lovers.  13.1 Mount Fuji from the Hakone mountains The photo above was taken at Odakuwani Hakone of Kanagawa prefecture . I was out on a trip to tne odawakuni hot springs and this photo was taken at the car park. The blueness of the clear blue sky and also the clearness of the winter air has given mount Fuji a blue aurora. Just imagine the wonderful meaning I felt when I see this with my naked eyes. 13.2...

26/08/2009 It was just after a morning at kikuchi gorge. It was nearly 1 or 2 in th e afternoon when suddenly my friend decided to give an ear to my pledge to go to see Mount Aso,a living volcano located in the Kumamoto prefecture. We had nearly 2 hour or more trip towards Mt.Aso which was just 28 kilometers away from Kikuchi. On our way to Mt.Aso , we were in to a drive on green mountain tops where green layers of plain were all you could see everywhere. It was too good to be true. It was all green plain running till the far end your eyes can reach. Suddenly we came across a stop, a place where the road was broadened so that the vehicle could be parked. One glance down the valley, it was the most magnificent view I ever saw. Little town situated in the plain far below surrounded by the range of volcanic mountains. It was plainly a hand drawn oil painting. I could not believe my eyes. It was so simply amazing. 8.1 View of the Aso town from the roadside of the mountain top. ...