*First Snow*

We took off Sunday morning towards Kirishima, heading North. After stopping in at Starbucks, we really started making time..

Along the way, seeing a sign showing us that there was a waterfall, we decided we might as well take a break and check it out. It turned out to be a spectacular waterfall, that has what looks like a nice swimming pool below. I can't wait to visit again in the warmer months and swim there!

We ignored many of the misleading Japanese road signs (that's a whole other blog post!) and headed directly towards the snowy peak.

There were many points along our way up the mountain where the steam from the hot springs was really amazing. We got out of the car at this point to get a better look... it smelled like sulfur (ew,) but it really incredible hear all the gurgling and erupting, all powered by the earth!

At this spot, there were lots of pipes that were taking the springs to nearby onsens.

We made it to the T-O-P!!!!

The view at the top was beeeuutiful! Everything had a light dusting that had fallen the night before.
Majestic
We were so happy to make the trip on such a crystalline day.
powder.
I wished that we had brought lunch along, because there were picnic areas all though the trails, and no one around at all.
sparkly

Afternoon Moon.

We jumped out of the car on our way out of town because we spotted deer. I wanted to take this little cutie home with me as a pet.

Please look this way for the camera, dear. Ok, thanks, got it!

At the foot of the mountain

On the way home, as we get closer to home, the road is completely along the bay... the sunset was magnificent. If I didn't know better, looking at it, I would think it was a warm summer night. And of course, that's Sakurajima, our volcano!