Uchimagido

Uchimagido is a cave in Iwate Prefecture in the north of Japan, popular with Japanese cavers. We went in Golden Week in May and there was still snow in the caves. Some of the bats looked like they were frozen. Being so cold in the caves, tt was great to be able to go to hot springs nearby to relax in the evenings. One day we also took some measurements from the surrounding hills as data to generate 3D maps. Apparently the people in the local villages all have the same last name - glad I'm not the postman.

This video is set to the song "Upside Down" by Bob Gentry, courtesy of the Podshow Podsafe Music Network.

Fireworks at Kanazawa Hakkei

Every weekend during the summer in Japan fireworks displays are put on for free at beaches and bays throughout the country. Girls dress in yukata (summer kimono), and families in the tens of thousands come to eat, drink and enjoy the sights.

This video features "In a Long Time" by 46bliss, courtesy of the Podshow Podsafe Music Network.

Akiyoshido

Akiyoshido is a large tourist cave in Akiyoshidai, an area with hundreds of limestone caves in central Yamaguchi Prefecture, in the south of Japan. The tourist caves were nice, but the caves hidden away in the hills were amazing! One took us ages to find, but it was worth it. Too dark for good mobile phone video though!

This video features the song "Sick of Chicks" by Brother Love, provided by the Podshow Podsafe Music Network.