Our last day on skis of course started with an Onsen and a western breakfast which was a delight. The face shots were again not missed, we couldn’t avoid them if we tried. I cannot believe the amount of snow that falls on the North Island of Japan, it is mindboggeling. We did not have a day without constant face shots! The trees we skied through made each run even more amazing, see photos! Our group peeled of the hill in the afternoon to hit Hakuginso, the best of all Onsens on the area. We arrived and found the amusement park of Onsens, again, see photos. We relaxed among the lava rocks and snow outside in boiling waters. There were pools of all temperatures, whirlpools, saunas and a cold plunge pool. We spent 2+ hours getting pruned in the water and got out to eat french fries out of a vending machine, there is something the US does not have and I’m surprised. Our last night brought another fabulous Japanese dinner complete with sashimi, hot pot, rice bowl, soup and cheesecake. We decided we better celebrate with some Saki before splitting up and traveling home in the morning. It wasn’t until we all had way too much Saki that we were informed that our driver would not be making it up to the Barden and that we had to get down the pass with all of our baggage by 5am. The biggest storm of the season was coming in and the pass was closing tonight. The winds blew 60+ knots all night, keeping us all from sleep and wondering how we would get out of the Barden.

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