Last week’s community event brought us up to the Nasu mountains, where we enjoyed snow-viewing. For many of our participants, it is the first time to experience snow and being in such cold temperatures – the second the less pleasant one. All community members enjoyed playing in the snow, building snow-people and some snowball fights. In the view of the white environment suddenly the joy of playing like a child gets reawakened in everyone. This was rewarded with hot chocolate and the great view.

To warm ourselves up we gathered in the nearby community center to eat delicious Adobo, prepared by Sarah, a now graduate, from the Philippines.

In the afternoon we split up in groups for various adventures, such as exploring the mysteries of the nine-tailed fox and a murderous stone, learning about the history of the Main Onsen Shrine, soaking our feet in the soothing and rich Onsen water and visiting the traditional Shikanoyu Hot Spring.

All in all it was a very successful day as proven by the quiet and sleepy ride back to our campus.