I tasted several samples of different sakes and shochu and even paid a buck and a half for a larger sample of a five year old sake aged in a wooden barrel. Sake normally doesn't age well, even after bottling but this was excellent with a hint of cypress and a nice amber color.
For lunch we stopped at a popular restaurant in Sekigahara where the famous battle between the armies of eastern and western Japan was fought some 415 years ago.
This area is famous also for its beef cattle so we had beef sushi, beef sukiyaki and beef and vegetables in a brown sauce.
After lunch we walked through "warland" and admired the concrete statues of the participants. Quite a large park, it probably covered three acres.
Back on the bus we headed for Gero hot springs. Once we got off the expressway our bus began to climb up a river valley through forested hills and a few farmers plots wherever there was flat land available.We arrived at our ryoan in Gero and were greeted by this beautiful array of white orchids.
The water at Gero is said to be the best in Japan for its mineral qualities and a soak in its waters brings smooth and almost slippery skin. It reminds me of the way an Epsom salts (do people still use these?) foot bath leaves the skin silken smooth.
Gero was our last kaiseki dinner and it turned out to be skillfully prepared and served in the traditional manner of one course at a time. I don't want to belabor the point but the small bites of seasonal, local foods served in well matched dishes makes a memorable dining experience.
Above, a piece of bamboo split to resemble two ine needles. Below, sweet rice topped with a quarter piece of chestnut and a chestnut leaf for garnish.
After dinner another soak in the wonderful Gero water and off to bed.
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