A bath in gorge

The Hanazono gorge is situated in the middle-east of Abukukama plateau. There are two main accesses to get there. One is from Takahagi city to east; the other is entering from Tochigi Prefecture to south. It's easy for people living in east coast of Ibaraki Prefecture to access from Takahagi city.

I believe the Hanazono gorge in autumn is one of the most beautiful place in Abukuma plateau.

The day I visited the Hanazono gorge I accessed from Tahakagi city. On the way to the Hanazono ravine, I found a small inn with a sign saying that our inn had an open-air bath. I thought it was strange, because there should be no hot springs in the Paleozoic metamorphic area on the Abukuma plateau. I was just on the Paleozoic rocks. I felt some curiosity and entered the inn and asked the owner whether you had a real an open-air bath. I explained why I asked. He said, " You are right, we actually heat up water of the Hanazono gorge. But you can enjoy our open-air-bath."

I decided to bathe it. I pained 500 yen for the bath. When I entered the bathroom, the windows of the bathroom were opened. They called it an open-air bath. It's a real lip-off.
(11/05/2000)