So different but both in Rusutsu!

Amusement Park

　Actually I am in the age when you are not supposed to enjoy laughing like mad or screaming on roller coasters any more. Or is it just that I think so?!

　Last week my friend asked me to join him, his wife and two kids for a day in Rusutsu Resort Amusement park. We took a map at the entrance and headed into the park. The very first attraction was a difficult choice. This one was too scary, this one was too childish, this one was too speedy, this one was too … red. There was a reason each time to postpone the first step but finally it was done. And it happened to be a key opening a door inside ourselves, a door to freedom and

adventurousness. We couldn’t have enough of it, running to every next attraction, taking it 3-4 times in a row. My personal record was 6 times on the Viking. The feeling when the boat goes down and your heart sinks or vice versa flies to the sky (which one was it??) is pretty addictive, I should say! Every time I thought it was the last ride, but I finished staying for one more round!

　I used to love ice-cream when I was a child but becoming adult and living in “you have to be very slim” society I stopped eating it as I didn’t enjoy something that was that high calories. But running from one rollercoaster to the other I felt I need an ice-cream. How delicious the melon-vanilla soft cream was! I enjoyed every bite of it as well as I enjoyed every minute of the day. I got really tired on that day, but I am sure I’ll have another “back to childhood” day.

Shiribetsu Dake

　Proudly standing next to Rusutsu Resort, Shiribetsu Dake Mt. is a symbol of Rusutsu, a dream for many skiers and snowboarders. In my case this dream can never come true as a skier so I decided to fulfill it as a hiker!

　I wrote my name and contact details in the notebook (yes, you are supposed to do it just in case) and started my trip at West Mt. The day was very sunny and the walk though sasa (bamboo grass) was like swimming in the green sea. I passed by Tiger course base and went up to Sorioi Mt (the one between West Mt. and Shiribetsu Dake). The view was terrific with all of Rusutsu Resort Amusement park in the palm of my hand, and with East Mt. and Isola Mt. creating a fantastic backside of the picture. The path I was walking meandered along the mountain showing glimpses of Mt. Yotei, each time in a different frame of trees and bushes. Flowers that I saw on the way were beautiful with modest but unforgettable beauty. And you’ll be surprised to know how many plants along the path that we treat as weeds are actually edible! Mugwort is much appreciated in tempura and Japanese rice cakes, kojaku, which smells like carrot, and is very good in tempura and green salads, butterbur is good in stir-fries, long rooted onion, which smells like garlic and can be used in a wide variety of dishes from sauces to side dishes. And many, many more, whose names I don’t know but which are loved by Japanese. People from cities will often travel to the country to enjoy gathering mountain plants.

　Enjoying the view, smelling the plants I walked and walked. The view that was beautiful all the way through got really stunning when I reached the middle of Sorioi Mt. I wish I could draw pictures or write poems or music to put all my feelings into them but unfortunately I can’t. I took tens and tens of photos but they just can’t put in them all the colors you can see. I continued my way to Shiribetsu Dake meeting people who were walking back. It was really nice to be greeted and wished a safe trip by people you don’t know and will probably never meet again. Once it was especially good as the path was going steeper and steeper and I felt like I’d never do that, and just two words “you can” that a Japanese couple told me were very much inspiring! I reached the peak point of Shiribetsu Dake exactly 2 hours after I started my trip and felt so proud of myself! I had a short rest there to enjoy the view, (which was good but to be honest I rather preferred the ones I enjoyed on the way,) and some snacks and headed back. The way back took me a bit more than one hour and was a good exercise for my legs after sitting long hours in the office. I was pretty much exhausted when I finally reached the parking area. In some places I thought I’d never do anything like that again, but I felt I want to do it again the moment I sat in the car to go home! I think autumn with its splashes of colors will be good! Anyone fancies joining me?