Niigata Prefecture Shibata City

Some eccentric body had the brill idea to get up at 2:30 a.m. to go hiking into the mountains and find a natural outdoor hot spring.

We finally arrived at 6:00 a.m., looking forward to a relaxing soak in the steaming mountain spring water, only lamenting that we'd brought no alcohol--but our hopes were dashed by a swarm of THE BIGGEST SON-OF-A-BITCHIN' HORSE-FLIES THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.  There was no escape and not a minute of let-up with these man-eaters.  If we could have stayed in the water up to our chins with towels over are heads it would have been alright, but the water was just hot enough that after several minutes we had to get out to cool off on the rocks.  And the horse-flies KNEW that.

What had the potential to be one of the nicest onsen  experiences turned out to be the worst ever.

Mark is only pretending to enjoy this for the camera.

Oh but, ha-ha--the stupid flies didn't know that we were sleeping just fifty meters away on some rocks in the middle of the river.

The lovely Frank fu-fu enjoy a few moments of rest . . .

. . . before we scale our way back out of the treacherous ravines.

We depart the scene of the Fly Plague at 8:30 a.m.

Behind Mark and Kumiko is a rustic lodge where you can rest or spend the night.