Kushiro: Guided

I always try to keep in touch with the people I've met, especially my adult EFL students.

For the year I was in the States after Poland (June '16 - June '17), I taught English online through SkimaTalk. My students were predominantly Japanese adults (there was 1 Japanese child and a couple of Korean adults I taught too).

I've been able to keep in touch with one former student all this time. She recently moved to Hokkaido. She recommended I go visit and offered to show me around. Of course I took her up on her offer! The question was "when." This trip answered that question for me.

We made arrangements to meet in Kushiro and she showed me around.

Below are a few of my pictures.

1st Stop: Kushiro Shitsuken National Park (Wetlands)

About to go to the Observatory

Largest wetlands in Japan

Ugh, short signs . . . 

2nd Stop: Lake Mashu, the Clearest Lake in Hokkaido/Japan

It's here, but it was too foggy to see. Whoops.

You can't even see the rest of this mountain, it's so foggy.

3rd Stop: Sulfur Mountain

I was amazed at the scale and how close we could actually get to it.

Can you smell the sulfur?

Brilliant!

Why don't we use masking tape to deshell hard-boiled eggs more often?

4th Stop: Sunayu: Onsen Beach

Want to make your own onsen on a beach?

Here, you can!

Apparently, you don't have to dig far for warm, thermal water.

You can even drink this water!

5th Stop: Town by Lake Akan

Lunch, freshly caught from the lake just across the road.

Lake Akan Ainu Kotan

Lake Akan Eco Museum Centre

"mud volcano"?

Info over Lake Akan

Lake Akan

Oh, so mud volcanoes are a thing.

Who knew?

Below is a my photo and video slideshow of this wonderful day.
Indeed, I am very grateful.