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Typhoon #6 in Minoo posted Thursday, June 24, 2004
Minoo is a beautiful city just outside of Osaka. Tom Gilfeather met us at the silver ball at 8：３０ despite the looming 6th typhoon to hit Japan this year. We headed to Umeda station and transferred to the Hankyu line. From there it’s a quick 15 minute ride for 260 yen into Minoo station. Minoo is a quaint town at the base of some beautiful hills. It’s well known for it’s monkeys and waterfall. 35 years ago the park in the hills was designated a national forest, and it’s immaculately kept up.
So, onward and upward to our first stop, the waterfall. Just as we set out, the first drops of rain fell on us, but we were not to be dissuaded. The path to the waterfall is along a creek with old rocks and a running stream. Small crabs scramble sideways across the path and we had to be careful not to step on any of them. There are many colourful bridges over the banks of the stream which add so much colour and vibrancy to the green backdrop of the surrounding forest’s tress. The waterfall is beautiful and we spent some time here under shelter as by this time the rain was in full swing.
What’s amazing about all of the trails through the Minoo Forest is that they are the starting point for a 1100km hike through the woods of Japan that ends in Tokyo (a tempting 70 day hike). So we opted to continue despite typhoon #6 being fully upon us, up to the man made dammed lake. With the weather what it was and the fact that no one else in the area was adventurous enough to be outside, we took some amazing photos of the area. All the while I’m straining my neck to look up into the swaying trees to catch a glimpse of the famed Minoo Monkeys, and there were none. Not one in sight. They were smarter than us, having sought shelter from the storm.
We braved hiking along the road for a while to attempt to find somewhere to dry out and eat some lunch, but the road proved not the best option as there were cars whizzing by not expecting three silly foreigners to be walking along, so we scaled down a bank to the walking path and continued on through the forest. By this time, with the wind and rain, we were each of us so wet, that even the dry parts under our rain gear were soaking up the moisture.
The path we chose ended up taking us through some beautiful stretches of forest, but no where near Minoo city or a ramen shop for something to eat, so we again chose the road. We eventually came upon a Visitor Information Centre and after not much debate, we headed in. Well our new friend Kiyama and his colleagues let us into their classroom/library to dry out. They put up a clothes line for us to hand our wet gear and put out a fan to assist the evaporation process. They also brought us some coffee and Kiyama told us all about the history of the forest and it’s inhabitants. He is truly a wealth of knowledge and has found his calling in his naturalist profession. He was kind enough to show us some footage they shot in the area this May of some brown flycatchers being born and taking their first flights. We got a play by play account of these beautiful birds from Thailand’s new lives. The finale to our stay at the Centre was a guided tour of the museum housing taxidermy of the regions fauna as well as samples of the flowers and trees of the area. How lucky we were to have made the decision to stop. After a few hours the weather slowed up a bit and we headed out again.
What an exhilarating day. We had braved a typhoon, seen so much beautiful countryside. You’d think we’d be satisfied, but I had a lingering disappointment after not having seen any monkeys. On our trek back into the city to the train home we passed the waterfall again and were just heading around the final bend in the path leading into town and low and behold, what do we see?
You guessed it, the monkeys, hungry from a day sheltered from the weather, made an appearance. They’re truly amazing creatures. They let people come right up to them, and watch them. The mommies had little babies hanging underneath their bellies. They were so cute. What a perfect end to a perfect day. Minoo was one of our favourite spots so far (I know we say that about all of them). What a day. What memories. A special thanks to Kiyama and friends at the Minoo Visitor information centre.
Stay tuned for our next installment.
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 4 current comments...
Nancy P - 7/4/2004 Fabulous journal and pics.
Mom - 6/29/2004 Hi to you both,
Thanks to Chris I now know how to put this comment into your journal...I was writing a comment and clicked the wrong spot and it didn't enter. Thanks Chris for your help! You must have been up watching the election?
You have been saying, Laura, that each trip is 'the best'. With your journals and the pictures by Jonas, each entry is 'the best' and this one is the very best...It was so interesting and the pictures are truly beautiful. Especially the one of you both under the umbrella...you look 10 years younger and very wet. The shot of the monkeys is amazing with the dampness on their fur and those eyes! And I enjoyed Chris's comment on them being hung out to dry and the little nieces's comment on the nice pictures. It's fun to see what other people say to you.
Tonight the election results are coming in as I write. Liberals have a minority government(at midnight it's 137 Liberal, 95 Conserv., 54 Bloc, 21 NDP and 1 Independent(he's from BC). Martin did better than the polls predicted so we'll see how long this government can carry out their promises, especially looking into sponsorship scandal, health care, etc. It is going to be an interesting time.
Nancy P. sent me Rob's email as she thought you both might like to write him. Here it is: robertjfpal@hotmail.com
This Saturday's the wedding and we wish you were with us, but will fill you in on everything next week. Have a good break and new week. Talk to you your Saturday. OK? Much love.
Dad, Mom, Perrier (who is tossing stuffed mouse on high) and lazy lazy Zoo, who is being himself, LAZY.
Chris - 6/27/2004 Wow, what a beautiful area. Looks like you should have put the monkeys on the clothesline as well! They were pretty wet. What a great story. Keep up the great pics!
sophie and jacquie and katie - 6/27/2004 hi joe and laura,
how is your days in japan? you take nice pictures. we miss you.
xoxoxoxox
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