I snapped this stunning little butterfly not far from Otosan and Okasan’s home.

We saw this land crab near the Shuzenji Onsen that we visited. I was told that this crab eats bamboo but will have to check the reference books on that.

This startled me at first. Discovered discarded near a water treatment facility.

Abandoned bicycle in a bamboo grove.

Close up of the bike’s chain guard.

I was told that this is one of Japan’s most common non-poisonous snakes. I captured this image one morning outside of a large onsen resort on one of my ‘walk-abouts’.

I just liked this image that I snapped in the Tochigi Prefecture. The top of the hill is possibly a grave site or maybe the marker is identifying where a temple once was. “steps to nowhere…”

Cool bike near Joren no Taki (waterfall) and stream where Wasabi is grown.

“Fish-Fry” Japan style, outside of the Joren no taki area. The salty fish goes good with Wasabi Beer.

Juvenile Wasabi plants.

More fully grown Wasabi. It grows only in very clean, clear, cool, fresh water streams.

Wasabi root for sale near the waterfall. The night before, we had fresh Wasabi which we grated on a board covered with shark skin (used because of its rough texture) with our meal and were surprised that it was not strong and nasal invading like the green paste sold in tubes and called ‘wasabi’. When we asked the vendor here about this she responded, “Oh, I see….you’ve only had Wasabi in the tubes…..”

I had to try the wasabi beer but don’t know why I think of Nikki Minaj every time I look at the bottle….