Day Eleven

9:30am Tour up Zao Mountain

Professor Mori tells us how the people of the mountain use farming techniques such as greenhouses to grow cherries and grapes. Also, on many areas of land on the mountain rice fields are planted. Beautiful views of Yamagata City can be seen as we head further and further up the mountain.

We met at Tohoku University of Art and Design and boarded a bus headed for Zao Mountain. Professor Mori who taught us about Noh Dancing joined us to guide us on the tour of Zao Mountain. It was on this tour that Professor Mori told us about the meaning of Yamagata. Yamagata means city hidden in the mountains. Mori also told us about how the people of Zao Mountain used the mountain to sustain their everyday life.

10:30 Hot Springs

Near the top of Zao Mountain we got off the bus to hike to the Hot Springs. The smell of sulfer became very strong as we hiked up the mountain. The hike up the steep mountain worked up a sweat and the hot spring baths were very anticipated by many of the Koshares. The city near the hot springs is a very popular resort area for many athletes. Near the hot springs is a ski resort and many of the visitors during the winter enjoy skiing and then taking a dip in the hot springs.

11:00 The trip down

The bus parked closer to the hot springs and the hike down the mountain was very easy compared to the tough hike up. We boarded the bus and were ready to leave, but the translator forgot his hat at the hot springs. We waited ten minutes and he found it on a bench right outside of the entrance to the hot springs. Our next desination would be Tohoku University for lunch. Professor Mori planned to join us all day, but meeting interupted his plans so he said his farwell to us on the way down.

1:45pm Downtown Yamagata City

After a salmon lunch we headed to the heart of Yamagata City for shopping, sightseeing and banking needs. We were brough to a bank to convert American dollars to Yen. Many Koshares had already converted their dollars to Yen, but a few had more dollars to convert. The hour wait for the change held some Koshares back from hitting the shopping district right away. During the wait some toured the castle ruins near the bank. This castle may have been destroyed during World War II and is now being reconstructed.

Shopping

The Koshares went to the shopping district and many were drawn to McDonalds. Although it would be suspected that a double cheeseburger would be purchased, many who visited McDonalds chose the Teriyaki Burger. Another popular resturant for the Koshares was Mister Doughnut. There they enjoyed doughnuts and ice cream a wonderful combination. The Japanese sweets are not as sweet as those of America. The Koshares shopped for gifts for their family and found gifts for themselves. A popular store was the bookstore which had a wide selection of popular music - American artists.

3:45 Return to bus

We then departed the shopping district for Tohoku University. At the university we waited for our host families who were scheduled to pick us up at 5:15pm. This actually gave us time to sit and relax for a few hours. It was most enjoyable as we reflected on much of our trip and some caught some much needed sleep.