Eve and I started the day out by going back to the French Bakery across the street at the Shin-Yamaguchi station for a light breakfast. I had a chocolate pastry a cream/custard filled croissant and coffee, while Eve went with a more conservative croissant and tea.

Today the whole group of us toured Shimonoseki together - no small feat as we were 12 people plus Haruna's parents . We piled into 3 vehicles and headed out onto the highway - Haruna's parents each drove their vehicles and they rented one for Robert to drive (a seemingly "little car" which actually holds 7 people!) Robert's Canadian drivers' license was valid for driving in Japan for the first 3 months, but he has since gotten his Japanese drivers' license. We were a 3 car caravan with Yasutoshi leading then Robert and Mizue each following in the other 2 vehicles. The port city of Shimonoseki was a little over an hour's drive, through the countryside - very hilly, through and around small mountains and forest. We traveled through many tunnels on a toll highway to get to our destination. There were warning signs, to be on the lookout for the Racoon-dog, a strange looking creature from the signs, as they apparently like running across the highways. The speed signs were all digital so they could be easily adjusted for the weather or driving conditions. Average speed limit today was 80 kms.

Our first stop was to be a tram that goes up to the top of Mount Hinoyama. However, unfortunately it was too windy for the tram to be operating, so we drove to the peak, rather than walk up. Maybe a good thing, as we saw many very large spiders in the trees here. At the top, there were battlements, left over from the Japan-Russia war. Many old gun emplacements, underground storage bunkers, and cannons and the such. This location is at the southern tip of Japan's Honshu lsland (the main island), and Kyushu, the island to the South, where Fukuoka is located . Any ships passing, have to navigate the small strait between the two islands, so it is militarily strategic.  

The views from the peak are very spectacular. The Kanmon Bridge joining the two islands, the port itself with its passing ships, along with all the forest, hills, mountains and views of the city. The wind was blowing in from the South, and as it hit land was making a huge updraft allowing the Honey Buzzards to float on these winds.

We drove down from the summit into the city, stopping at the Akama Shrine, where our fairly large group of 14, made our way through the grounds and buildings. Its interesting the subtle changes in architecture, from some of the other shrines we were in before. Here the roof tiles were a little different, and this shrine was very close to the roadway. Eve got anther stamp and writing in her Temple book.

We took a short walk a few blocks over to the port's fish market, where we wandered through with the rest of the crowd and selected various fish and raw fish to have for lunch, all very fresh. I had no idea what half of the fish I was eating were, but they were all very good as we sat along the boardwalk, ate, and all washed down with a nice cold Asahi beer.  

 Yamaguchi is known for "fugu" (blowfish/pufferfish), generally known to be the second most poisonous vertebrates after the golden poison frog . Japan's largest fugu catches are made in Yamaguchi Perfecture (province). Historically, Yamaguchi was the first perfecture to lift the ban on eating fugu as well as the first to develop fishing methods for fugu. In the various markets and stores we have visited, the fugu is indeed priced like a delicacy!

Before leaving Shimonoseki, we took a short drive to a large four story mall for a quick stop at a Mister Donut and some shopping for everyone. Mister Donut was new to Robert's family and friends - they serve a wide array of donuts and pastries, but they are much lighter than the ones we get at home. Each outlet also serves different food items as well. They had some special donuts for Hallowe'en, which were ghoulishly good!

Eve and I wandered through almost all of the stores, not buying much, but everyone else picked up various items, from clothing, souvenirs and jewellery, to specialty knives, for Robert's two brothers, the chefs in our group (apparently, very good knives, at a third of the price if found in Canada) .

After a long day we took to the roads for our trip back to Yamaguchi, where we all split for various supper destinations in the neighbourhood.
 
Eve and I found our way to a small restaurant which we had seen in our walks. We ordered from the photo's and though, again, I didn't know entirely what I was eating, it was all very good.

We were meeting everyone in the pub again tonight, we first we took a quick run on the Yamaguchi local train Line, stopping at Yudonsen station (6 stops down the line) and a short walk to the Cafe Orancio, on a mission for Greg's daughter Sarah. Sarah attended the University of Yamaguchi, sister university to the U of Regina, for one year (how's that for coincidence!). Cafe Orancio was a frequented hang out which she introduced Lane to when they were here for their honeymoon 2 years ago. The mission we chose to accept was to come to the Cafe Orancio to determine the ingredients for their favourite cocktail, "Tokyo Love Story". Mission accomplished as we each enjoyed the cocktail - perfect as it was happy hour!! 

Everyone was at the pub tonight, this time including Muzue and Yasutoshi, Haruna's parents. It may be the last time for all the Canadians and Japanese family to be together on this trip. Some drinks and appetizers were had by all, and Yasutoshi even came, sporting his Saskatchewan Roughrider gear, with his hat and shot glass, which got a bit of use tonight. During the evening, Eve was running back and forth to the laundry room, as we were doing our last bit of laundry for the trip. A very good day today spent with everyone.