Day 31 - Mount Zao—Mist, Mountains & Giant Peach

Today we rented a car and headed into the Zao mountains. Up high it was cold and windy, with low visibility and mist hiding much of the landscape.

Fortunately, we still caught a wonderful view of Okama crater lake, its turquoise water standing out against the bare volcanic slopes.

“Okama” means cooking pot—a fitting name for this deep bowl in the mountains. It is also called the Lake of Five Colors because its shades of green and blue change with the light. Beautiful as it looks, the water is highly acidic.

We took the shorter mountain route, visiting the summit shrines and hiking to Kumano-dake before returning to the car. Rocky trails, low scrub, and a sturdy stone shelter gave the outing a rugged feel, even when the views disappeared into the fog. Our hike was 4.5 miles with 868 feet of climbing, taking about 3½ hours including stops.

The shrine on Katta-dake honors the mountain’s Zao deity. These little shrines felt especially atmospheric in the mist.

On the way back toward Sendai, we stopped at Rairaikyo Gorge near Akiu Onsen. It was quite a contrast to the exposed mountaintop: leafy trees, mossy boulders, and green pools tucked between steep rock walls carved by the Natori River.

We also found a fruit market. The size of the grapes and peaches here continues to amaze us—huge purple grapes and beautiful golden peaches, each peach nestled in its own protective wrapper. Quite a colorful haul!

After grocery shopping and returning the car, we rounded off the day with an Italian dinner back in Sendai. From a cold, foggy mountain to a warm restaurant, with some impressive fruit along the way—a varied day!Read more