Hendricks' Happenings: Yufuin, Usuki, Oita, Beppu

Lori planned a wonderful weekend for herself, Dayle, Tim, and me! On Friday, we took the train to Yufuin and stayed in a traditional Japanese Inn called a Ryokan. It had an onsen (hot spring). We arrived, checked in, ate a huge dinner, and everyone except Dayle relaxed in the onsen. It was heavenly. Then we hit the hay so we could shop all day Saturday!

on the train to Yufuin...Dayle, Sarah, Lori

dinner at the ryokan...Tim, Lori

Sarah, Dayle

Dayle decided to relax in the hotel room instead of joining us at the onsen.

She missed out!

Sarah and Tim ready to relax in the onsen in matching yukatas.

inside the onsen

onsen...outside

We slept in a bit on Saturday, ate a huge breakfast, checked out, and explored the town of Yufuin all day. We stopped at a hot foot bath to relax, enjoyed meeting the friendly people at the Information Center, walked and shopped along a cute street, walked around a lake, ate a delicious lunch, and shopped some more!

Japanese breakfast

Dayle enjoying the hot foot bath.

Sarah enjoying the hot foot bath.

Mt. Yufu

Information Office guy and Lori chatting about Sacramento.

The sweet lady who served us tea at the Information Center.

cosmos and a stream in Yufuin

Edamame...LOTS of it!!!

shopping street

Tim found a spider!

lake in Yufuin

Lori and Dayle at the lake.

Tim and Sarah at the lake.

lake in Yufuin

fall foliage

Gingko nuts!

lunch!

Dayle had TONS of change so Tim decided to neatly stack it after we counted it. Unfortunately, after he spent so much time organizing, it all fell on the floor in front of everyone at the restaurant! Entertainment for all!

wedding!

Mt. Yufu and Yufuin from the train station

Mt. Yufu

After we were shopped out, we took the train to Usuki for a bamboo lantern festival. The lanterns were all spread out so we did quite a bit of walking. The designs were all fascinating! I'd like to learn how to make them! We also saw a parade of a princess going to the shrine and a lady playing a beautiful Japanese instrument. The pictures that did turn out are really neat. Of course we had some festival food while we were there.

princess parade

(There is some story behind this but I don't remember what is is!)

beautiful Japanese instrument

Love is in the air!

Adorable...the kids, not me!!!

We were quite tired from our busy day so we took the train back to Oita where we stayed at Daiwa Roynet Hotel for 10 hours. We were a little worried...well, maybe really worried that it was going to be a sleezy, "love" hotel! However it turned out to be a fairly new, very nice, cheap hotel! Comfy beds after futons the night before were very nice!

Checking into the 10 hour hotel!

our hotel behind the tree

Starbucks was our Sunday morning gathering spot. We enjoyed coffee and tea together before doing some shopping. Lori headed home. Dayle, Tim, and I took the train to Beppu and ate lunch at a great tempura restaurant before taking the bus to the Beppu Ropeway in the mountains. We took the gondola to the national park and then hiked to the very top. We were able to see some fall foliage, though NOTHING like Virginia! It was worth visiting! I'd like to go back in the snow to Beppu and Yufuin! Great weekend!