On Top The Nasu Mountains..........:-)

This is the sun starting to come up aww its  beautiful I did not take this picture but my best friend Teresa did.  Just had to show all you how beautiful sunrise in over here.  But as I have found out with travel sunrise and sunsets are beautiful know matter where you are in the world isn't that grand?  My day started off with a beautiful sunrise and perfect weather that lasted all day.
Met Teresa and Rick at the back of the Utsunomiyia train station and headed out to Nasu.  I am excited as I have never been there but it is a travel destination. The people here call it Little Gatlinburg; which makes it even more exciting to be going.  It took approx one hour to drive and we drove with the windows down enjoying the beautiful day. As we got closer to Nasu the roads were lined with a canopy of trees making the drive peaceful and beautiful scenery. 

Going t the top of Nasu there was a line of traffic coming down the mountain as far as you could see. Rick and Teresa said they have been here several times and have never seen traffic like this. Told you about the perfect weather we are having today well its a beautiful day to climb and enjoy the outside beauty that awaits us. of course when we got to the top of Nasu mountain there was no where to park so we turned around and got in line like everybody else waiting to be admitted into a parking lot. Rick had decided that he wanted all of us to get out and walk down to the cable car and go ahead up the mountain without him, he would stay and wait in line.  

We felt bad for leaving him but he said he had been here before.

We arrived at the Nasu building and enjoyed the view from the mountain and then went inside to purchase our tickets for the Rope Way station which will take us partial way up Nasu mountain; we will then start our journey to the top.

Purchased our tickets while Marlon ran some money back to Rick to buy his tickets. Marlon is back and tickets are purchased its time to get on the cable tram and head up the mountain.  The view from the tram was beautiful.  Totally breathtaking and yet a little scary from the tram swinging the minute it takes off .

Riding the Tram

Finally we are at our drop off point to start the journey to the top of Nasu Mountain. I don't know if I'm ready for this challenge the grade is somewhat steep and not easy footing. You must be careful that you place your feet on solid rock to push off or you will slide.......there is rope along the path to the top.

We did almost get to the top, at one point we stopped and i said let's go just a little bit farther. We did not go far enough to get to the top.  I feel bad that I could not do it maybe next time that's if there ever will be a next time. It looked like the top was not that far away but guess it was the grade got so steep it took lots of energy to climb. Wished I just would have rested more and kept going. 

end in sight

Didn't make it oh well now its time to climb down the mountain which to me is just as hard also.  You don't want to loose your gripping and start sliding down the mountain on all that  loose gravel. We are slowly making our way back down Nasu Mountain.

All of us are back down the mountain and getting ready to catch the next tram to the bottom where we will hopefully meet Rick who was waiting in traffic to get in a parking lot.

In the tram and heading back down the mountain wow its been an adventurous day. I never ever pictured myself ever climbing on any mountain. Thanks Rick and Teresa for making this happen for Marlon and myself. We will never be able to repay you for all the adventures you have taken us on. Thanks also for making time for us in your busy schedule.  

 Met Rick at the bottom of the mountain he had finally made it into a parking lot perfect timing for all of us.  Taking the journey down the mountain to the town of Nasu which has lots of places to eat that are so enchanting drawing you in with their charm and beauty. Rick and T took us to one of those enchanting places called PENNY LANE. Can you guess who they say had come here many times to eat? 

Across the street was a Dog Spa and several people had their dogs out today walking them.

Inside Penny Lane there were lots of Beatles memorabilia and also lots of great looking and smelling pastries. yummy Alot of the pastries had peace signs on them just an amazing place to be.

I did not know but outside they have an outdoor cafe garden. Wow beautiful!!!  The waiter directed us outside and we all sat down and just admired the beauty around us.  The cafe garden had a canopy of trees covering it and they had built a 3 level platform to make this place even more unusual.  Everybody had a great view of the garden.

All of us ordered and the food was so tasty. This is a location that all of us girls need to come to its a great destination.Before we left Penny Lane we made it a point to stop and get some of their home baked pastries for our Sunday breakfast.

Outside the restaurant a little Japanese girl was playing with her doggie.  Had to get a picture she was all squatted down to the dogs level and talking to him.  Don't know what she was telling the dog but she seemed so serious what ever it was. When Marlon came out with our goodies the bag that they put the pastries in was so neat. The handle was a peace sign.......wow.....

We are on our way again heading to Nasu City.

Traveling down the road was beautiful again we even saw some purple hydrangeas.  Rick stopped so we could get a picture but ours didn't turn out. :-( Saw a farm market and decided to stop and take a look around; along with the farm market were several other buildings housing places to eat and arts and crafts. Love to shop never know what you might find here. :-)

Inside the building where crafts were being sold I just loved these plant holders made of recycled plastics.  If I could have got that home I would buy it for $20. LOL

 Two little Japanese women on their hands and knees picking grass out between the tile slates where people walk. Wow I would have sprayed week killer on it but they are not going to do that.

Rick and Teresa want to stop at this sausage house next so we are going to our next destination. We sampled several varieties of sausage and most were good. Next stop the Cheese Garden...hope i can find some EVO with red pepper flakes for the french bread we bought at Penny Lane. Inside the Cheese Garden we sampled many varieties of cheesecake, cookies and cheese.

 

 

We are headed for our last stop in Nasu which I don't know what the destination is they were talking about grapes so I think we are headed to see how they grow grapes and buy some.  Teresa tried to find the grapes to buy some Friday but we couldn't find them.

Going through the town of Nasu I loved the street lights all those wires though do take away from the beauty of the town.

Saw Nasu mountains from the car awwwww so pretty. Rick also stopped and let Teresa and Marlon out of the car to get pictures of rice being harvested so awesome. when the rice is laying down its ready to be harvested. The rice gets heavy on the stalk which lays it down to the ground.

When we pulled into the winery I was impressed that they have any wineries in Japan.  I mean I know they grow grapes but they don't sell grape jelly so why would they make wine?  Teresa and I did a wine tasting; I personally did not like any of their wines red or white. Took a small tour around the winery and left to head out to find some grapes for sale where they had bought grapes before.

 Walking across the street to go look at the grapes they are using to make their wine.

 

going to the place that sells grapes, Rick and T had bought some from this place before and they want to find it again. We are here standing in front of the place that sells grapes and they have grapes set out of the two types they sell for you to sample.  We bought a big bunch of grapes for only $5 and they gave us some that were packaged to sell for $10  grapes in Japanese is boo dough say just as i spelled it. They let us sample the different types of grapes.

 

Heading back to Utsunomiyia but before we get back we are going to stop and eat dinner. I'm getting hungry. Rick and T stopped at this place that had a unique style of ordering.  There was a key pad on the table and a menu.  When u wanted to order you just type in the number on the menu of the item you wanted WOW this is pretty cool.  Have to mention that the bathroom even had a unique toilet that had a saying on it.  This place is just so awesome including the food.  Its close to FKD so I'm thinking the guys will like to know about this place. YUMMO........delish......

Rick and Teresa thanks for one the best days I have ever had while staying here in Japan.