Last week I went to an onsen about 30 minutes from Ogaki City called Yuge no Sato. It is up on a hill so you can see the whole valley around Ogaki — you can even see Gifu Castle and the 43 Building! From far away, Ogaki looks like a big city with tall buildings and lots of lights. The countryside around Yuge no Sato is really pretty and I was surprised to see so many tea fields. My friends and I walked up the VERY steep hill to the onsen so it was a relief to take a hot bath afterward!

In the evening, we had a vegetarian meal with several courses. I was vegetarian for 12 years, and I still prefer eating no meat at most meals. There were some things I had never eaten before, like thistle stalks, sesame tofu and a lot of mountain mushrooms. I felt very relaxed after this day trip, and I’d like to go to more onsen in the area!