On the weekend I went up the Shiobara valley to take some photos, go for a walk.
I started at the one of the tourist maps by the road in the valley. This place has a cool foot onsen in the car park, where as hiker you can rip off your boots and socks and just sit and refresh your feet.. Found this neat little temple in the main Shiobara village area, I must have driven past a dozen times and never spotted the entrance.. The garden was amazing.
The river in the area was pretty, with frozen icicles all along the edge. Further along is another really huge foot onsen (not free) that you can walk around in while bathing your feet.
Just Life in Japan 
