Owen started back to yochien (kindergarten) on Tuesday. So, on our day off – Monday- we decided we needed to do something to celebrate the last day of summer. We drove up to Mt. Rokko, the mountain that separates our part of the world and Kobe, the nearest big city.

There are two cable cars, or ropeways, that run up the mountain – one from Kobe. We ended up at the one that connects Mt. Rokko with Arima, a little town nearby very famous for their hot springs.

It was a fun, beautiful, twelve-minute cable car ride across a verdant stretch of mountains.

When we got to Arima, we had a picnic, walked a bit and came to a waterfall that was a great surprise.

We rode the same cablecar back up the mountain, marvelling at the beauty that is so near us.

While we were at Arima, Annie had to use the restroom. We went in the first stall, and I said, “Oh, it’s a Japanese toilet. Let’s try the next one.” (These are affectionately known to us as squatty potties, and are the traditional Japanese toilets still found in most public places across Japan). Here’s what they look like:

So, we went into the next stall, the kind of toilet you’re probably more familiar with:

Annie looked at it and said, “Phew, it’s an English one.”

It was a good day.