Silver Week

Japan has a golden week, as well as a silver week. Golden week is better, because within a week or so, there are 4 national holidays and weekends. Many Japanese travel at this time because they can actually get work off. If you recall, I went to Seoul and Taipei this year for golden week. Silver week happens in September and it is three national holidays in a row. This year they were Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Including. The weekend, that's 5 days off! Many people travelled for this silver week, too. I went to Onjuku for two nights, for a surfing holiday. I arrived on Monday afternoon and got in a quick afternoon surf before my friend arrived.

My first look at the beach in almost 2 months.

The beaches in Onjuku have changed completely due to all the typhoons that have been smashing the coast recently. So my first day back was a bit of a re-learning experience. After surfing I picked up my friend from the station and got some oden from seven-eleven. There's nothing better than oden after surfing. After dinner we went to Onsen. I wish I could say it was relaxing... But it wasn't. I was worried about catching something there. The Onsen was expensive, ¥1000, and pretty ill-equipped. The entry fee didn't even cover a towel.

On the second day, I tried to teach my friend how to surf. The waves were quite difficult, unfortunately, and there were tonnes of people in the water. We had a lot of paddling practice before I found a good place to teach. By the time we found it, my friend was pretty much done. She didn't get up surfing, but she did ride a wave on her knees, so that's something.

After I found the nice sand bar on which to catch waves, I had a blast, caught quite few waves.

Day 2 at the beach. 

On the route to the beach there is a stone path, and this time around I noticed a special rock.

Love at Onjuku.

After surfing, we went for a "one coin" lunch, which is a lunch set that costs one coin, or ¥500, at the new Korean BBQ restaurant in town. It was delicious and cheap. We added a vegetable set as well and had grilled vegetables. 

Yum!

The first night we stayed at a pension called Ivy. In the room, there was a very creepy picture of cats. 

You can't tell, but those cats are 3D. Creepy.

After lunch, we went for a walk. There is a big hill that overlooks the beach in Onjuki. So we climbed the hill and enjoyed the views of Onjuku. On the hill is also a monument to commemorate the landing and rescue of a Spanish ship that got lost on the way to Mexico. Since then, there has been a friendship between Spain, Mexico, and Onjuku.

Onjuku from above.

Fishing boats having a meeting.

Keeping an eye out over Onjuku. The monument is behind me.

I love this place.

On the way down the hill, we found a (not so) secret detour.

At the bottom of the hill, the side was covered with morning glory.

While we were in Onjuku, it was ebi fest. They catch and sell fresh shrimp that are huge! This year I didn't have any. They set up a BBQ and they sell it with beer. The shrimp are giant! The size of lobster!

That may be why Onjuku's mascot is ebi amigo...

Meet ebi amigo.

The second night my friend and I watched movies - Dogma, The Departed,  and Shutter Island. It was really good to just chill out. The next morning I got up early and went for a last surf before heading out. The beach was empty and I found myself a good spot and caught lots of waves. It was awesome.