I’m not going to miss this bed! The pillow is flat and the bed quite hard. I woke up about 7.30 again. We needed to get going, so after our last breakfast at the hotel, we returned to the room, had a shower, and re-organised some packing to make things easier. Luckily we were still able to keep my second (smaller) suitcase in my main suitcase. So we checked out, with two suitcases, my laptop bag, and Kaoru’s big black bag (holding our clothes for the next couple of days).

We caught the train to Tokyo station. Kaoru went do do some quick shopping while I stayed with the bags. Then we went through to get on the Shinkansen. We didn’t have a reserved seat, and particularly with our bags, we wanted to be there early, so were a good 10 minutes before the train arrived. 10.07 they were still cleaning the train – I said to Kaoru that there is no way this train can leave on time, at 10.11. But somehow, the doors opened, everybody got on, and we left right on time.

It took about an hour to Nasushiobara. The train to Kurioso was running 10 minutes late, but eventually we got there. It was then about a 10 minute walk with our bags to the chinese restaurant, where Okasan and Ottosan were having lunch. So we joined them for some food, and then played tetris trying to get our bags into the car.

Eventually we managed to get it all in, and the doors closed. I had gotten my international drivers license, so I drove us back to the house. My first time driving in Japan (other than Mario Kart, of course). Pretty easy – especially as it’s the same side of the road. Ottosan was surprised at how careful I was to not go over the speed limit. Kaoru explained how strict the penalties, and low the tolerance is, in Australia.

We got to the house, and brought our suitcases in, and went for a cup of tea and some treats. This trip we are staying at a hotel, rather than at the house. During the year, Okasan and Ottosan sold a part of their land, including one of the houses, so there isn’t room for us to stay anymore. I will be driving the car, so it means no beer with the inlaws this time!

We showed them photos of our house and chatted for a while. About 3.00 we decided to go to the hotel and check in, to give Okasan and Ottosan some rest time. It was about a 10 minute drive. Once we parked, somebody came down to the car park to grab our bags and assist with checking in. We were offered a herbal tea while doing the checkin process, and we had to pick a time for our “private bath”. Knowing that it was free drinks from 8-10, and that we were going to have dinner with Okasan and Ottosan, we booked for 9.30 both nights. We were taken to our room, and left to relax a while. It was much bigger than we’ve had the last week!

We decided that we may as well have an onsen. The public one is closed at times, but was open now, so let’s kill some time. There were separate mens and womens ones, so I took the key as I would probably be finished first. It was nice and relaxing to soak in the warm water.

There was a “welcome food” at 5.00, so we decided to hang around to attend that – it was already 4.45 so why not. It wasn’t much – just a small sample plate. Kaoru also enjoyed a glass of lemon sour, but I couldn’t as I was driving. So we left about 5.10 to go back to the house for dinner.

Dinner was, as always, a big spread. Okasan’s Gyoza is Kaoru’s favourite so she had made that.

We chatted for a while, and left to return to the hotel a bit after 7. We were able to enjoy “complimentary dessert”, which was a creme brule and (small spoonful of) ice cream. We returned to our room to relax for a bit, before going to the bar at 8.00 for “all you can drink” until 10.00. This was included in the room price! So I tasted a hot sake, and a cold sake, before leaving just after 9. We returned to the room for a little bit, and then went to our “private bath” at 9.30. This was on the 6th floor, and outside. It was a beautiful way to finish the day.