Yamazoe Home Stay

In front of the amazing black rocks that go on and on with an unseen river below. NOT human-made.

One thing I did before I came to Nara that I am proud of and satisfied with is my preparations. One preparation being communication o various interests and goals.

Where I slept, in a tatami room with a wood table.

Taking a tour of the local tea factory.

Since I did this in advance it gave faculty and advisors time to help me make my goals a reality. One such goal was to experience life outside of the normal college scene. So getting to know non-college students was a must for me.

This past Monday and Tuesday I had a homestay in Yamazoe village which is quite different from Nara city though it`s only about 40 minutes away by car.

The size of the place, the scenery, products produced and the personality of the area were a great relaxing time. I especially liked the sheep raising culture that exists in Yamazoe.

The lifestyle seems less fast paced and definitely not a huge tourist draw, which is a relief from Nara Citiy`s large tourist base.

A view of recently cut tea fields in Yamazoe.

Don`t leave Yamazoe without some sheep meat, or tea though or you will definitely be missing out.

Under the Kaki (Persimmon) tree near a local shrine.

I visited a tea factory, tea fields and farmers, and also learned about the local recycling program and recycling efforts among other experiences.

I would highly encourage others planning to study abroad to supplement their studies with outside NON-college student teacher relationships as well as it was such a rich experience and also

In front of a large tea field while it is being cut.

pretty intensive in the Japanese language since people outside of the college scene often don`t speak any or much English so you are forced to constantly speak strictly Japanese as compared to at the dorms or at school where you can either speak a mix or straight English at times.

A view of my homestay family`s house.

It can get stressful only speaking Japanese but if you coordinate a short homestay, you can gain proficiency and not be too overwhelmed at the same time.

Bamboo forest near the local shrine.

Behind me is the amazing mountain scenery of Yamazoe area.

Making mochi a traditional rice flour sweet.

I know when I came back to classes after my homestay I actually was much more proficient.

Toushi Jima (Part 2 photos)

Courtesy Photo Akikosan.

Non poisonous but large, spiders found on Toushi Jima.

The symbol for 8, and the bamboo planters were all over Toushi Jima.

Boats in the harbor.

The delicious senbei crackers.

A view of the main road on the Island.

Innovative use of bamboo as a planter.

For tourists of Mie Prefecture, you can be a Ninja too.

A view of the Pacific ocean from the top of the hill mountain Onsen

Toushi Jima The weekend trip to Toushi Island (Part 1)

At the Toushi Jima Guest house

What a difference a change of scenery can make in one's own mindset, even if that scenery comes with torrential rain.

This weekend I went with a group of school faculty to Toushi Island in Mie Prefecture just South East of Nara Prefecture. To sum it up it was amazing.

That, is a ninja, in Mie prefecture.

I had been feeling a little down and it was just what I needed. It was raining off and on (mostly on) Saturday when we left early in the morning, driving through a little ways South of Nara City.

Watching, the scenery through the car window and in the rain in no way tainted my feeling. I was mesmerized. The faculty made polite and interesting conversation but the scenery really held my attention.

Ninja Omiyage and rest stop in Mie Prefecture

Mountains, and mountains and more smoky mountains with mist rising after the rain in the peaks. Covered with trees to make them look almost unreal. It was something to remind me of Appalachia but it had its own special flavor.

Driving by tea farms, rice terraces, cityscapes that had hills, cityscapes that were flat, and then finally the seaside city of Toba where we left the car and took a ferry to Toushi Jima (Island). Tucked into the Pacific Ocean the trip was mostly in the bay area but I still was really at the Pacific Ocean.

Hosonosan courtesy photo: Arielle as an Amachan.

On the trip there we could really feel the difference when we crossed from the bay to the Pacific coast area and the boat rocked in a way that was safe, but made a trip to Cedar Point unnecessary.

After we arrived we got our fishing poles and went for fishing! I caught maybe 3-4 puffer fish that were so cute looked like little frogs and sounded like squeaky toads when you poked them.

Courtesy Photo from Hosonosan: Puffer fish first catch.

Then I caught a pretty Damsel looking fish with bright yellow and black stripes and a Cowfish that has a horn you have to be careful around. They went for about $20 for a smaller one than I caught in the nearby restaurant- so I'm pretty impressed with my catch.

We went to our rooms at the Guest house with tatami mat floors and that prepared your catch of the day for you along with a nice Ryokan style dinner.

As a result of Saturday and Sunday I ate so healthy I am craving a dough-nut which is something unprecedented. Lots of seaweed, shrimp, various types of fish, other types of seaweed, and the area's huge crab sized shrimp called Ise Ebi, and more seaweed.

I shared a room with the other woman and we slept on the futons on the tatami floor which was so much more comfortable than my bed I am a little envious right now just typing this.

Then Sunday morning we had an amazingly delicious breakfast with seaweed and Ise Ebi soup (with half the huge shrimp still in it), rice, grilled fish, ham, egg, and freshly made hot soy milk. It has to be the breakfast of champions.

The soup inside the shell was delicious!

We got to meet one of the Amachans- the lady divers who are famous and even had a television show about them for a while, which of course brings tourists to the island.

The torrential rain was pretty intense and we didn't go fishing again, but were content to go to the onsen (hot springs) which was so cool. I was really impressed with myself because in Japanese hot springs everyone gets naked- to soak in the waters, no swimsuits.

Inside the onsen. Hot water comes out of the rock pile in the corner.

Outside portion of the onsen with a view of the sea.

It was pretty cool, but it made it easier because the other woman was just as blind as me without her glasses so you really can't see much and she was really polite so it all worked out to be a really fun, and interesting experience that left my muscles feeling much better.

The tiny streets on Toushi Island barely fit a car through.

Narrow alley example.

Then we went to the local restaurant and had nigiri sushi and went back to wait for the boat back to the mainland and then drive back to Nara.

 It was a long weekend but since I have Mondays off as well, I had a homestay planned as well for Monday and part of Tuesday at a tea farm in Yamazoe, (south of Nara city).

Boats at the Toushi Harbor, a bird visitor as well.

Next time I will update on my Yamazoe home stay experience.

A view from the rooftops from 3rd floor at the guest house.

Possibly the oldest Pink Panther toy in existence.

Toushi jima business or house

Part of our dinner

The fish we caught.

Ise Ebi