Not a family able to relax for long it seems, the next day we set out to explore Izu. First a brief stop at what is quite possibly one of the strangest places I have yet to visit – a Cat Museum chosen by the Small Girl, and which turned out to feature a whole host of irritated felines on the top floor. This in turn meant that the uber cat allergy boys had to wait outside (perhaps the first time their faulty genes have come in handy?!), but was worthy payment enough for getting her to gladly agree to what we had planned in the afternoon. Remember that Volcano I mentioned?
This beautiful specimen, so perfectly formed it looks almost man-made, is around 580 metres high and last erupted around 3000 years ago. Every February an ancient burning ritual is performed, which ensures the volcano’s lush green appearance later in the year. It is said to be a powerful energy spot in a spiritual sense, and whilst we didn’t sense any spiritual energy, Mother Nature did treat us to some incredible weather energy when we got there, so instead of walking up as we had originally planned, we opted for the easy route to the top.
It is said that on a clear day you can see Mount Fuji from the summit. But not today. In fact I would say that the only thing we could clearly see was the orange plastic from our disposable (and very tasteful!) rain macs as they melded themselves to our faces in the wind. We might be a family that travels quite a bit, but we are not always prepared! Anyway, these were considered a necessary purchase given the squally conditions. It’s just a shame they didn’t last for too long (or perhaps not!)! Now at the top, we pressed on.
I had always imagined a volcano’s crater to be a huge gaping hole that should you venture too close to, might mean that you fall in and disappear forever. This one is 300 Metres in diameter, and around 70 Metres deep. But obviously as it hasn’t errupted for quite a long time, there’s not a gaping hole in sight, instead you can play archery in it – just not on this particular day as your arrows would never be seen again.
Probably right after the arm of his plastic bag rain coat blew away into the distance, and fearing for his life, Small Boy decided it was all a bit too much. And so we sat in the blustery safety of the outdoor cafe, whilst we watched our two intrepid explorers circumnavigate the crater, which takes around half an hour by the way.
A volcano conquering outdoor adventure that none of us will forget in a hurry… Next stop Kyoto!
It doesn’t look very volcano like at all.I’m amazed how green it looks.I can’t imagine what a cat museum would have like.Popping over from Mums Do Travel- Family Days.
Thanks Aly! Yes, not quite how I imagined it either! :D
I would love to climb a volcano but would expect lots of lava inside. Looks amazing
Thanks Alison, it was a great experience! :)
The volcano looks beautiful, such a vibrant green, and it sounds like you had a great day there. I’m intrigued by the Cat Museum too! Thanks for joining in with the #familydays Linky : )
Thank you… Cat museum as odd as it sounds! :D
That looks amazing – I’m very jealous ;-)
Thanks Cass! It was a strange but good day! :D
What wonderful photographs of a wonderful experience.
Thank you Glenda! (:
Wow that is awesome i thought there would be a gaping hole too, who in their right mind would travel up a volcano to play archery? just love your daughters eye peeping over the chair as you were carried up the volcano and walking round with her daddy
Aw thanks Helen… :)
Loved the orange rain thingy :) gorgeous photos as usual. I have to admit, i was sure a volcano has the gaping hole too. Am not sure if I’m disappointed to discover it doesn’t…
Thank you Orli, I didn’t half feel stupid in it! :D I have to admit I was a little bit sad about the filled in hole too at first! It just didn’t seem right! (:
Wow – not at all what I would have expected a volcano to look like. Even one that’s been dormant for that long. Beautiful.
I know right?! Thanks so much Penny! (:
Beautiful photos. When I read volcano, I instantly thought of the rocky type and of lush meadows. Very impressive.
Thank you Carolin! :)
Sounds fabulous! I love a good volcano.
I visited a cat museum in Tokyo it was the strangest place.. lots of irate cats who looked like they were about to tear your eyeballs out…
Such an odd concept isn’t it? :D Thanks Nicola! :)
Oh my word isn’t it beautiful. Japan would be a dream to me to visit, it is high up on my bucket list. We can see an extinct volcano from our house, but it’s a lump of rock on the horizon and not magnificent like this x
Thank you Nichola! I hope you get the chance to visit one day, it’s well worth it! :) x
I love that you can have a go at a bit of archery in the crater! My teen 2 would be in heaven!
Thanks Chris… I wonder who thought of it though! :D
That is amazing, like you I always imagined a volcano crater to be an actual hole! I will have to show this to Z tomorrow, he’ll be enthralled. xx
Aw thank you! I haven’t forgotten about Tokyo Science Museum either, back to school next week, will have more time then! :) xx
wow! the pics are trully beautiful! I would love to visit no matter the weather.
Thank you Otilia! :)
Oh wow – it looks glorious! I’m not sure if I’d be brave enough to play golf on a volcano though.
Thanks Rebecca, it was an experience! :)
Wow what an amazing trip! The views must have been amazing!
Thank you Mary! Would love to see it on a calm still day! :D
WOW apart from weather looks awesome x
Thanks Angie! :)
A cat museum??! Such stunning images!x
Yes. Quite. I thought it would be pictures, skeletons and the like, but no! :D
Is that really a volcano? I would never have imagined that – yes I think gaping hole. I feel so educated by this post. It is one of the things I’ve always wanted to see and never have actually. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much! Yes a slightly small but perfectly formed version! :)
Ooo ooo we can be volcano buddies ! Although yours look beautiful and lush compared to the black ash lava ground we had to walk over, rather jealous about that! We took our up Mt. Etna whilst away too and loved it :)
Can’t wait to read more of your travels x
Brilliant! My two were most disappointed that our volcano wasn’t actually like your volcano, it was far too green!! xx
What a great trip! Have fun at your next stop. x
Thanks Susanna! :) x
I am equally surprised by the crater. In fact the whole volcano looks like a weird golf course.
We love visiting daft museums too. We very nearly visited the Dwarf Museum in Austria (1000 garden gnomes) but my son put his foot down when he realised it was a kiddie attraction with a mini-train!
Quite possibly crazy golf… Love the sound of the Dwarf Museum! Did you have to wear red hats too?!? :D
The cat museum!? Would loved to have seen some photos – sounds very surreal. And that volcano looks very green indeed, obviously a long time since it erupted! X.
Thank you… I did take a few pics, but they all look quite fed up! :/ x
my only Volcano climbing experience was a bleak, shaley affair with a slight whiff of sulphur…This one looks so green and perfectly manicured, and can’t get over the archery set up!
Mostly offline at the mo, but enjoy catching up with your adventures when I can xx
Thank you… So manicured, and the archery is bizarrre isn’t it? HOpe you are having a good break! :)
So lush – I am a bit of a volcano nerd and its my ambition to visit as many as possible
This one is definitely worth a visit! :)
How lush and beautiful for a Volcano – it must have been amazing, such a shame about the weather though! I’m not sad that you haven’t displayed any photos of the cat museum as I’m sure I’ll enjoy these better – thanks for sharing your wonderful adventures with Country Kids.
The weather added to it in a strange kind of way. Thank you Fiona! xx
What an amazing experience, even with the weather #CountryKids
Thank you Mary! :)
That is AMAZING!! What a fabulous experience.
I giggled a bit at the cat museum tale though!
Thank you. It was a surreal but interesting day, and not one I will forget in a hurry! :D
I would have expected a gaping hole too!! What a day. xx
It was like a filled tooth! :D Thank you! :) xx
How beautiful! I love the idea of letting my kids pick a place they’d like to go – why haven’t I done that before now? Seems so obvious!
Thank you. I totally agree! But if they pick a cat museum….. ;)
What?! No photos from the Cat Museum? Gutted.
I will email you one for your birthday! :D
It looks fantastic – shame about the weather.
Thank you! It made it more memorable if nothing else! :D