We contemplated another day of skiing, having gotten slightly better at it and all, but yesterday while leaving the resort I had actually slipped, smacking my right arm and cheek on the ground and they still ached, so we finally decided to abort all skiiing plans. Besides, there were still many other sights we should visit, Takeshi suggested.

First we headed for the Kusatsu Hotsprings area, home to some of the most famous onsens in Japan, like Nishi no Kawahara Rotenburo (西の河原露天風呂）, an amazing open air onsen. (below) What better way to warm up your body in such freezing weather, not to mention in such beautiful surroundings.

The onsen is situated on the top of a small hill, the source of a hotspring stream which flows down to the summit. The sights on the way up to the onsen was equally picturesque.

After lunch in a restaurant with excellent food but rude waiters we headed for the Tsumagoi Cabbage plantation fields, where we also visited in summer last year. See this old post.

(above) Some spectacular icicles from the roof of a Manju store where we grabbed some snacks. Takeshi mentioned that when he was young they were used in sword fights with other kids. Well, that’s what I would have done too. (below) From a distance these snow covered rocks really look like a wall of chocolate chip ice-cream.

As we neared the cabbage fields we soon realized there was absolutely no way to get there; so much snow had fallen that the roads leading to it are no longer discernible and traverse by car is now impossible; we must have been the first people there in weeks. As we proceeded on foot the snow came up to our waists and we were quickly reduced to playful kids, snow fighting, jumping and falling merrily into the soft, inviting snow.

And that was the last thing we did before heading back to the log house to pack up and then returning to Takasaki. Its New Year’s eve, and we visited a shrine at night to ring in the new year. You can see it on this older post.