Go Soak Your Head!

A few weeks ago, I was driving around looking for an onsen to soak in and decided to check out the Yakurai Garden in Kami, Miyagi. I'd seen an ad for pumpkins so Woohoo I'm all in. 

Unfortunately, ALL the pumpkin displays are made of plastic or paper mache. So although they are very cute, I couldn't justify spending ten bucks to walk around a garden just to look at some phony gourds.

The restaurant was suitably decorated for the season, but there wasn't even anything kitschy worth buying.

It IS a very lovely garden though, so check the link at the top if you're into that sort of thing.

On the way there, I saw a billboard with a sexy Kappa bathing on it and I just had to check it out.

Sure enough, this public bath had its fair share of Kappa but this sexy one was nowhere to be found.

A nice place for a soak but it didn't fulfil my expectations. Perhaps one of these other Kappa Onsen locations will.

The nice thing about the hospital in which I lamented for a few weeks is its proximity to Ikea. I popped in there for some Veggie meatballs and they just happened to have some dessert items that piqued my interest.

Starting tomorrow, I have a week off for an Autumn break. Once I return, I'll have to break out these masks to frighten the little waifs. That week will give me plenty of time to check out other bloggers, such as The Grim Gallery. I haven't visited there since last year.

Cheesy.

A slightly hungover Michael trekked out to Zao with the Hutton family today. First stop was a soothing bath in LaForet Spa and Resort. I haven't been in an onsen in ages and it was a nice relaxing way to soothe some weary bones.

For lunch, we popped over to Zao Cheese House for lunch. Thanks to my NO FAT diet, I had an Edith Piaf Ebi Pilaf.

 The Huttons had yummy pizza, drooool.

 Seita's Transformer Robin Hood.

In the Cheese House, there were all kinds of homemade cheeses but even the yoghurt had fat in it. Fortunately they sold a low-fat cream cheese so I didn't have to leave empty-handed.



There was a mini-bakery there as well and outside, a guy was showing off his Italian Greyhound puppy.

I also bought some very cheap veggies including the largest carrot I have ever seen (these two carrots cost a buck!)

I beg your pardon, I never promised you a Rose garden yet here it is. There are well over a hundred varieties and some were still in bloom.

Some mere scenic shots.

Just so I don't lose my nerd credentials by having a geek-free post, I popped into Mandai on the way home. I like the illustration on the sliding doors.

They had a promotion where you pull a giant Pocky and win a random snack. I won a cheese puff (which I won't be able to eat.)

Finally, for no particular reason other than that it is cute, here is a crossover I'd love to see.

More Penguins!

I haven't had any penguins for a while so I was fortunate enough today complete the set. I don't get out to the Onsen/Hot Springs often enough to emulate what these penguins are getting up to, but do they really hang out at places where the temperature soars?

Remember my woodland creatures named こびとづかん or Kobito-zukan? They're back with stickers.

Toweling Off!

As you may have discerned by scrolling through the last four years of posts, you'll find that I was fairly adept at the UFO Catch games. For example, these Star Wars pillows et al were tough to catch but worth the price.

Another batch of Star Wars goodies that I acquired were these face-towels, perfect for your trip to the onsen to show off your nerdiness and cover up your shortcomings. At present, I have three Darth Vaders, two R2D2s but only one Yoda and Boba Fett (that's not including the half dozen or so that I've given away as presents over the years.) I've opened up one of the Darths...Take a peek!














As part of Universal Day of the Jedi and in honour of Douglas Adams' Towel Day, I'm willing to send a Darth Towel to the first person to comment on this post! (Don't worry, other commenters will get a booby prize!)