Today, I woke up with a slightly swollen right knee. I guess this must be the effect of yesterday`s intensive climbing up the slopes towards Mine City. Anyways, after putting some of the ointment given by Eileen`s grandma and wrapping my knee in a kneeguard, it was still a little sore but I was good to go!
Left Mine Grand Hotel at around 8 in the morning and headed straight for Akiyoshidai which is the most well-known attraction in the area. Akiyoshidai is a limestone plateau that was supposedly a huge coral reef 300 million years ago. This means that 300 million years ago, the area where this plateau was situated was totally covered with water!
Underneath this plateau, erosion created a very large cave called Akiyoshido. Below, you see the entrance to this cavern as well as a dark shot of the cavern`s interior.
Entry into this area cost me 1,200yen and it covered entrance both to Akiyoshidai and Akiyoshido. I first explored the cave, and from the center of the cave, I took an elevator that went straight up to the top of the plateau. From there, it was a short hike to Akiyoshidai observatory where I could get a good view of the entire plateau and the surrounding highlands.
After spending about 2 hours at the Akiyoshidai area, it was time to head towards my destination city of the day, Hagi City. Although Hagi is situated in the Chugoku Sanchi as well, it was located along the northern coast of western Honshu. Being a coastal town, this meant that it had an altitude of 0m above sea level. This translated for rather easy riding for me as I cruised downhill most of the way from Akiyoshidai (225m above sea level) to Hagi (0m above sea level).
The Downhill Route to Hagi City
Upon reaching Hagi City in the evening, I decided to give sightseeing a pass as I was quite tired. However, I did go check out the famous Hagi-yaki. Hagi-yaki is earthenware that is specially made in Hagi City. It is said to be the 2nd best quality in Japan, coming after Kyoto earthenware. So, I went to a shop recommended by the Lonely Planet guidebook and bought a nice coffee mug for my mom at 2,500yen. It was beautiful!
After my shopping, I attempted to look for Hagi Youth Hostel. The map wasn`t very clear so it took me about an hour to locate it. Checking in, I found out that I was going to share a room with 3 other persons. Naturally, I expected it to be people of around my age, it being a youth hostel and all.... but, after I came out of my shower, I saw 3 guys in the room, all in their 40's! hahaha... it is soooo not a youth hostel man!
Anyways, it was a great fun sharing the room with Yoneda-san, Sekihara-san and Murakami-san. Yoneda-san was also on a cycling holiday, but his was a short weekend ride to the city of Hagi. He`s a really nice guy who gave me a packet of his favorite Japanese crackers specifically to be eaten with beer, according to him.
Sekihara-san is a portly salaryman who was in Hagi for a course that he had to complete for his long-distance degree. He was really helpful in showing me the terrain and the way for the next few days as he had a Japan driving atlas... lol... it was even more detailed than mine....
As for Murakami-san, I didn`t have a chance to talk to him much as he went out for a movie after dinner, but all I know is that he was very friendly and he stays in Eastern Hiroshima City.
Oh well, although Hagi Youth Hostel isn`t really a youth hostel, I must say that it was really great fun and a wonderful experience getting to meet and talk to these people!
No comments:
Post a Comment