As the Autumn temperature settles in, we decided it was time to go on our tried and tested onsen journey once more. It is mere 20 degrees now (if you are reading this in the UK, this is actually pretty cold after the summer!) and so the warm natural spring baths of Kawatana Onsen are calling.

The weather was extremely average with a rain storm here and there. The Suo-oshima crew (Lauren, Brittany and Mitch) had ventured off their island home to join us for another delicious meal courtesy of Cafe Jam Jam and a soak in our favourite local onsen. We ate, yet again, delicious curry and pizza sets. Meals good enough to Instagram! An evening of beers on a walk and tasty tempura followed!

On Sunday we ventured to Chofu, the old Samurai castle town area of Shimonoseki, to enjoy the beautiful garden in the rain and another surreal meal. The garden is full of bamboo, a mini waterfall, and secret shrine. Even in the rain it was beautiful. The surreal meal was in the nearby museum cafe, in a restaurant that actually understood the meaning of the term ‘vegetarian’…a new one for my Japan living experience! We enjoyed pasta and pudding for a very reasonable price! We then wandered further into the old town to enjoy traditional tea at a local cafe. Yum.

The evening was polished off in perfection with another onsen overlooking the Kanmon strait and infamous Shimonoseki bridge, followed by a gig from a Danish two-piece called Time Masters. More to follow on that unique experience…

#Yamaguchi