Sunday 29 April
After onsen time we headed to breakfast clad in kimonos. It was self service but still interestingly complex given tray, plates and bowls self service but interestingly complex given tray, plates and bowls.
Our first stop was the viewpoint and then on for coffee. The road passed a sign advertising coffee and lunch we headed to a couple of traditional fishing villages with wooden houses and seaweed drying on racks.
Back on the road in search of coffee we followed the sign which ended in the car park pf the Kinosaki Country Club. We wondered in search of a cappuccino but only the found the men’s locker room. We headed off to, what we were reliably informed by our driver, was Kinosaki. We drove round aimlessly passing fishing boats and a fish market all of which did not quite match the description of a quaint Onsen as reported by the Lonely Planet guide.
Back on route 3 we drove on and saw a cafe which was the living room of a charming middle aged lady. Using Google translate we managed to order drinks and sandwiches and a cheesecake-o. The sandwiches came without crusts beautifully presented but half loaf each.
Having eaten well we carried on to the real Kinosaki which was as the book described - treelined canals, onsen baths and craft shops. Fortified by an ice cream - mixed berry and milky milk flavour - we explored the town.
After a couple of hours we needed to head back for the ‘free’ dolphin show but we first had to navigate payment at the car park. Luckily the man in front managed to press the right buttons and we followed suit.
Back at base and a quick cup of tea and down the hill to the marine park. With 5 minutes to spare we searched for the auditorium - in vain - the Japanese signs not being that helpful, But we made it as they began. Dolphin, sea lions and porpoises and an elderly Walrus which growl a lot.
Back at the hotel it was bath time - Joy’s first Onsen experience. Duly tutored off she head behind the ladies curtain. The tale, as related over dinner, was that she was the staff of the show and all conversation ceased (fuller details on request).
As dinner at the hotel was to be ‘traditional’ and Joy eats no fish and Stuart no meat this unlikely to be a successful evening! So we headed to Toyo-oka en route stopping at the supermarket fr corkscrew as we had been unable to open the wine which was corked.
We chose a likely looking restaurant which had a menu with pictures but no english. Amid much giggling from the staff and debate finally one waitress was pressed ganged into taking us to a table. She had a much efficient translator on her phone and we almost had a conversation and great meal.
After onsen time we headed to breakfast clad in kimonos. It was self service but still interestingly complex given tray, plates and bowls self service but interestingly complex given tray, plates and bowls.
Our first stop was the viewpoint and then on for coffee. The road passed a sign advertising coffee and lunch we headed to a couple of traditional fishing villages with wooden houses and seaweed drying on racks.
Back on the road in search of coffee we followed the sign which ended in the car park pf the Kinosaki Country Club. We wondered in search of a cappuccino but only the found the men’s locker room. We headed off to, what we were reliably informed by our driver, was Kinosaki. We drove round aimlessly passing fishing boats and a fish market all of which did not quite match the description of a quaint Onsen as reported by the Lonely Planet guide.
Back on route 3 we drove on and saw a cafe which was the living room of a charming middle aged lady. Using Google translate we managed to order drinks and sandwiches and a cheesecake-o. The sandwiches came without crusts beautifully presented but half loaf each.
Having eaten well we carried on to the real Kinosaki which was as the book described - treelined canals, onsen baths and craft shops. Fortified by an ice cream - mixed berry and milky milk flavour - we explored the town.
After a couple of hours we needed to head back for the ‘free’ dolphin show but we first had to navigate payment at the car park. Luckily the man in front managed to press the right buttons and we followed suit.
Back at base and a quick cup of tea and down the hill to the marine park. With 5 minutes to spare we searched for the auditorium - in vain - the Japanese signs not being that helpful, But we made it as they began. Dolphin, sea lions and porpoises and an elderly Walrus which growl a lot.
Back at the hotel it was bath time - Joy’s first Onsen experience. Duly tutored off she head behind the ladies curtain. The tale, as related over dinner, was that she was the staff of the show and all conversation ceased (fuller details on request).
As dinner at the hotel was to be ‘traditional’ and Joy eats no fish and Stuart no meat this unlikely to be a successful evening! So we headed to Toyo-oka en route stopping at the supermarket fr corkscrew as we had been unable to open the wine which was corked.
We chose a likely looking restaurant which had a menu with pictures but no english. Amid much giggling from the staff and debate finally one waitress was pressed ganged into taking us to a table. She had a much efficient translator on her phone and we almost had a conversation and great meal.