Urashima hotel.Suzuki Skywave adventure

[Nick]

Here we go again.

This time a nice 300 km ride from Osaka down to the pacific ocean on the far southern tip of Wakayama prefecture.Welcome to Urashima hotel.An onsen(Hot spring) resort that takes up an entire island.A bit like Fantasy island from the 1970s TV show but with a funky 80s Japanese twist.They havent renovated it since then.

A nice day trip.Almost 600km in one day.About 4 hours each way.Some of it Expressway but most of the journey,my favourite road in Japan,Route 169.Unfortunately I didnt want to stop and take any pictures of the road.I was in a big hurry.Next time I use it I will dedicate a thread to this wonderful section of Japan's mountainous countryside.

Here is the map in realation to Osaka.Wakayama prefecture is in the blue.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/japan-sap.gif

This hotel was F""KING HUGE.Just a small section.Sorry about the tug boat in the foreground.An ugly warf runs its course just of the mainland.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6391.jpg

All aboard the boat to Urashima Hot Spring hotel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6384.jpg

After a 2 minute ferry ride.You arrive at the front entrance.There are 6 onsens(hot springs) on the island.You can see some of the pictures of the onsens above on the canopy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6398.jpg

View from the Hotel front desk.It strangely reminded me of something out of Bond film from the late 60s

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6380.jpg

Here is the Hotel Map with all the happy onsens and the happy onsen family down the bottom of the picture

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6399.jpg

There are two ways you can visit Urashima hotel.You can stay over night and pay 200 US dollars.Or you can visit for the day and just use all the onsens for only 10 US dollars!.....Thats right 10 lousy US dollars.What a bargin.Here is the guide to all the different onsens pointing you in the right direction.Which one do I want to visit first.Let me see....Mmmmmm.....I think I'll goto the most famous one first.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6400.jpg

These pictures aren't mine.Any photos in an onsen are strickly forbidden by law.Everyone is naked.In case you are wondering.Females and males are seperated.These shots are from a website.Notice the view of the ocean in the first picture.The experience was unforgettable.Soaking up in the surphuric water with the waves crashing against the rocks.

Ocean cave onsen.My favourite

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/wakayama/images/urashima_images/urashima_cavebath.jpg

The mountain Onsen.Another good one.This time the water was more mineral rather than Sulphuric.

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/wakayama/images/urashima_images/urashima_mensbath1.jpg

This onsen was Nasty.The water was too hot for me.I only lasted 1 minute.It was dark brown as well.Minerals I guess

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/wakayama/images/urashima_images/urashima_bath2.jpg

I was too tired to go to the other three onsens.They drain your energy.But I did manage to take a dip in the hotel pool.

http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/wakayama/images/urashima_images/urashima_pool.jpg

Back to my pics.
The escalators up to the top of the island and the mountain section of the hotel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6416.jpg

Ahhhh the view.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6411.jpg

Looking the other direction with the town of Katsura around the ferry port to the island.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6415.jpg

Another direction looking out into the Pacific ocean.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6409.jpg

The Skybar.....How 80s.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6405.jpg

Linking different sections of the hotel are tunnels under the island with slot and game machines

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6419.jpg

There were about 4 tunnels I walked through

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6425.jpg

Here is a model of the hotel.Notice the white marker in the red print.That tells your location.These models are all over the hotel so you dont get lost.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6427.jpg

Bad light in the picture.Sorry.The main dinning hall looking out to the pacific ocean.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6429.jpg

Ive had enough and I'm bloody tired.Ive got a 4 hour journey home.Time to get on this wacky ferry and beeline it for Osaka on the mighty skywave!!!! Total comfort all the way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6431.jpg

The weather aint looking good

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6396.jpg

Just as I left Kastsura I was stopped for about 5 mins to allow this danjeri parage to cross the road.Ah Japan.You gota love it

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Urashima/DSCN6436.jpg

Mmmmmmm......Skywave........400cc of pleasure.....black beauty!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/Weekend%201/Fukui035.jpg

[maxxam80]

nice pics as usual Nick

and and also nice bike as usual Nick

love how long and slim your bike is

[Draff]

Very nice pics. It's great being able to see places that I normally wouldn't see.

[Nick]

Thanks Max and Daff for your comments.

Here is a picture of the skywave taken today.I just got back from a breathtaking tour of Izushi.About a 600km return trip north of Osaka near the Japan sea.

Notice the comparison to the small car.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/DSCN6600.jpg

Just two photos from Todays tour.I will post the rest later in the week.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/DSCN6497.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/Nickkyobashi/DSCN6559.jpg