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This is Page 1 of 2 - the best of October 2008!
posted: October 31st, 2008
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This page begins with October 11th and takes you part way through the 12th - a trip to Kusatsu. Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin October 11th
  For the 3-day weekend of Oct 11, 12 & 13 Kazuya and I traveled to Kusatsu, in Gunma Prefecture. You can find additional Kusatsu photos if you visit the September 2006 pages HERE   AND HERE and the April 2005 pages HERE   AND HERE. These first 3 pictures show "Yubatake" (Field of Hot Water) in the center of Kusatsu Town. The water temperature is 50 C (122 F) - so don't try to stick your hands in the water!
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Yubatake05_KazuyaRC

  The first picture here shows the "Yubatake" Sign. The 2nd shot shows Yubatake from the bottom of it and the 3rd shot shows a free hot bath which we went to. There are 18 free hot baths in Kusatsu Town.
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  We went to Sainokawara Park on the edge of town and these photos show that fall colors are coming. In Sainokawara Park there is an outdoor hot bath which is VERY LARGE. We soaked in that for around 2 hours. You can see a photo of that pool if you go back to April 2005's Photos and go to page 2, row 7.
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End October 11th, Begin October 12th
  On October 12th we took the bus from Kusatsu up the mountain to Mt. Shirane and found ice here and there around there and also found some good fall colors. In the 2nd photo in this row you can see how popular the area was on this day.
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FallLindouRC

  Here is a beautiful Mountain Ash tree and 2 photos of the Mt. Shirane Caldera. The 3rd shot is 2 photos "stitched" together, which is why the thumbnail appears long and skinny.
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  Here is a final shot of the Caldera. The 2nd shot shows a blueberry plant. We picked and ate lots of blueberries (cranberries too) as we hiked from Mt. Shirane to Mt. Moto-Shirane. The 3rd shot shows some beautiful colors as we descended Mt. Shirane.
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  Here are 3 more shots showing pretty decent fall colors on the hike from Mt. Shirane to Mt. Moto-Shirane.
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  The first shot here is a "Bunchberry", the 2nd shot is a Blueberry patch which is turning beautifully red and the 3rd shot is along the trail.
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Colors13_BunchberryRC
Oct12_MotoShiraneTrailColors17_BlueberryRC.jpg
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Colors17_BlueberryRC
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  On the other side of this lakeless caldera shown here is Mt. Moto-Shirane. The 2nd shot shows a patch of Lichen (Reindeer Moss) and the 3rd shot shows the trail we hiked a few minutes ago.
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  Here is that lakeless caldera again, followed by a shot of Mt. Asama with smoke coming out its top (yes - it is smoke, this volcano always smokes). The 3rd shot is another photo of Bunchberry (inedible).
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Trail35RC
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Oct12_MotoShiraneTrail53_BunchberryRC.jpg
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53_BunchberryRC

  From Mt. Moto-Shirane we hiked to the Ropeway and as we hiked we saw this Mountain Ash and this pond surrounded by nice colors. It was quite windy so the reflection on the pond did not show up well. The 3rd shot was taken as we rode the ropeway to its base (which is NOT the end of the hike).
Oct12_MotoShiraneTrail57_MtnAshRC.jpg
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60_SmallPondRC
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  The first shot here was taken from the Ropeway. The 2nd and 3rd shots were taken after we got off the ropeway and hiked the trail back down to Kusatsu Town.
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11_RopewayColorsRC
Oct12_TenguyamaTrailColors02RC.jpg
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Oct12_TenguyamaTrailColors12RC.jpg
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Colors12RC
End Page 1, but October 12th continues on Page 2
And, that shows you what we saw on October 11th and 12th. Thanks so much for taking the time to look. Please continue on to Page 2 for the continuation of photos taken on October 12th. Go To Page:


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