Lake Shikotsuko

Not giving Jacob the chance to even think about being jet-lagged, we headed down to Lake Shikotsuko last Friday for a weekend of camping and merriment with other JETs at the HAJET (Hokkaido Association for JETs) Central Welcome Party.  Although our visions of volcanoes (one active), mountains, and clear blue lake were chased away by overcast skies and the occasional rain, the weekend was still good, dirty fun--just like camping should be!

Apparently, this is a common site at these welcome parties:

Ahhh, the onsen...one of Japan's finer aspects.  Being quite the volcanic country, Japan is literally sitting on hot water, resulting in thousands of onsens, or hot springs, which the Japanese use as public baths.  Hokkaido has a ton of these things (lucky for us) and they come in all varieties, from free, naturally-formed, outside onsens, to large indoor spa resorts, and everything else in-between.  Like everything else in Japan, there is a long list of strict onsen etiquette which begins with thoroughly cleansing every part of your body beforehand.  Oh yeah, and you have to be naked.  To wear clothes in an onsen is like wearing shoes on a tatami mat...it just isn't done.

We got the chance to visit our first onsen while camping at the lake and it was, indeed, grand!!!!

We, of course, chose the "pabulic" bath as it was definitely cheaper:

The women's side had two indoor onsens, and then this amazing outdoor onsen sitting right on the lake-edge.  Forturnately for us, there were no jet-skiers that day!  By the way, this pic was stolen from the internet...apparently, naked onsen-goers don't really like having their photos taken.

Just up the ways from our campground were even more onsens situated in the little onsen village of Shikotsuko.  Perfect for getting a beer and some raman after a hot soak:




The people in Hokkaido consume more ice cream than any group of people I've ever seen in my life...not that I'm complaining:

If you can put fried cheese, hot dogs, cheese cake, and chicken parts on a stick, then you sure as heck can put a grilled squid on a stick:

Back at our campsite on the lake...getting ready to board the swan boats, reminiscent of bygone carnival days galore, and perfect for "bumper swans"

Fun-time JET friends representing the U.S., Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago:

Bring on the grillin'...also known as the burning hunger pics:

Mmmmmm...burgers (psychedelic burgers at that), dawgs, and yakisoba!!!  I LOVE campin' and grillin'!!!

Yes, it's true...yet another name-ala-sparkler finale!  Next party I promise to get a little more creative with the sparkler shots: