I started my day at 3:30 am. I was trying to beat the traffic into the baths so I could take pictures. As I walk into the bath two guys are walking out. Which I think is a little unfair due to the fact the bath opens at 4 am. I at least waited until the custodian said I could go into the bath at 3:50 am. Oh well. I got my pictures. But it was odd. The whole time I had been on this vacation, I’ve had to wake up pretty early almost everyday. Not once did I have to worry about anyone coming into the baths that early in the morning. But at like 4:10 am, there were like 8 guys coming down. So I put my camera away and went to enjoy a soak. As I was leaving there must have easily been at least 15 guys in the bath. I was very surprised.
At the hotel in Touka machi, it was snowing. Here in Shiibata, it was raining. I suppose it is kind of fitting. Either way I enjoyed my soak. You notice the color of the water? A beautiful emerald green. One of the head honchos of the hotel was telling us at dinner that depending on the temperature of the water, it will change colors. Neat huh?
So then I ate breakfast and we had to go back to Niigata. Our time in Niigata was limited since we were going home but we had time to make one stop. We stopped at the Niigata History Museum. I do love my history. This place was no exception. They even have ear devices that you can listen to the history of Niigata in English. When I say English, I do mean English. As in narrated in an Irish accent. Here is an exhibit I really wanted a picture of. This is the process they use to harvest rice. Some areas still use this same process of cutting the rice and then drying it in the sun.
This building is the old Tax Building. It was in charge of all the shipments coming in from other parts of the world. Niigata was one of only five ports that were open to trade with the rest of the world. Of the five ports, this is the only tax building still standing.
We then headed back towards the station to eat lunch and prepare for our departure. I bought some last minute gifts and we boarded our train. About an hour later we arrived back in Echigo yuzawa. My first post showed a picture of my first view of “Snow Country.” It was actually my second picture. It turned out a lot better than the actual first picture.
Here is my actual first picture of “Snow Country.”
Here is my last sight of “Snow Country.”
As I first arrived in “Snow Country” I remember feeling the thrill and excitement of seeing the snow. The sense of wonder at what types of adventures will unfold. I remember feeling a sense of connection with the past, with the author of “Snow Country,” Yasunari Kawabata. I tried to imagine that I was seeing the same thing he saw, the first time he went through the tunnel. The first time he was transported to a world that was detached from the real world. But now as I right this and I look at my final picture, the flood of memories and experiences comes back at me. Tears start to well up in my eyes. My trip is over. I’m no longer in that world anymore. I’m back in the “real world.” The world before the tunnel.
I look fondly on that tunnel now, and its power to transport you to a world that isn’t real. I look forward to taking Kana with me to the “Snow Country,” and to share with her the experiences I had. The magic of finding art exhibits buried in snow and meeting enchanting people who love their jobs. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get back to the land beyond the tunnel, but I’m already making plans.