By Emi Tsuruta
The summer after my junior year in Oceanview U. in California, I went back home to Japan to Kamakura to see my family and friends. I was happy to see my mom again, but she had hoped, I guess, that I would just spend a couple of quiet weeks at home with her, cooking, shopping and telling her about my time in the States. I really love my mom of course, but she can be a bit overprotective at times.
That's one reason why I was so happy when my mom's younger sister, Aunt Sachie, gave me a call. Even though Aunt Sachie is the same generation as my mom, she is more of a live wire, joking all the time and really enjoying her life. I've always felt a bond with Sachi, and she sounded so pleased to find out I was back. She told me that her husband, Uncle Yuuzou, had a vacation coming up. They'd made plans to go on a day trip to a mountain in the western wilds of Tokyo, and she invited me to come along.
"Mom, can I? Please!" I pleaded. Even though Mom and Sachi are so different, they get along well.
"Um, yes, I guess that would be alright," Mom agreed.
"Yay! I can go," I told Sachie, all excited now.
The morning of the trip, I got up early, and rummaged through my closet trying to decide what to wear. Even though I didn't know I'd go mountain climbing, I'd brought a pair of khaki cargo shorts with me, but I didn't have my matching safari jacket. I did find a nice powder blue button-down shirt that might work, and took a pair of white panties and a white sports bra down with me to the bath area, and had a quick shower before getting dressed. I heard Uncle Yuuzou pull up outside, so I pulled on a pair of white sneakers, yelled bye to my mom, and went out to their car.
Sachi, Yuuzou and their son Hideki were all there. Sachi smiled, and gave me a brief hug. Sachi is a good looking woman, her black hair curled a bit, wearing dark sunglasses today hiding her eyes. She had on a beige jacket, black shorts and leggings, but just normal running shoes, not really mountain gear.
My uncle Yuuzou smiled, and reached out thanking me for coming. He is a bit of a silver fox (although his hair is black). He must have been quite handsome when he was younger. He still has a puckish grin and steely black eyes, movie star features. I couldn't help but smile when I saw him all dressed up in his best mountain climber's outfit, complete with knee-length shorts and a cap with a feather in it.
Hideki had turned 21. He looked handsome, big black eyes, his hair cut short. He didn't really meet my gaze, maybe feeling guilty for all the times he's teased me over the years. He was dressed pretty normal, a blue sweatshirt, shorts and sneakers.
Anyway, we all piled into the SUV, Hideki and I in the back.
"Welcome, Emi," Sachi chirped. "It's good to see you. You look bright-eyed and beautiful as ever."
"Yeah, I am looking forward to this. I don't think I've been to the mountains in Tokyo. Where's Namie?" Hideki's sister.
"Oh she's in Hiratsuka with Ryoichi, but she sends her love." Namie was a good friend. We'd traveled together to some hot springs the Christmas before I guess it was.
Sachi had brought some drinks and snacks, so we got to try them on the drive there. Hideki kept gazing out the window, but Sachi and Yuuzou quizzed me on what life was like in 'America.' I told them about school and trips I'd taken with Ryosuke et al. They'd all met him the one time we went to the beach, and had supper at their place.
At some point, we crossed over the border between Kanagawa and Tokyo. Even though this was officially Tokyo, this was the mountainous west part. We followed this winding two lane highway next to a river along these valleys with the odd house here and there with the mountain face rising sharply just behind them. This was even less developed than Kamakura, supposedly a country town. The mountains were all covered with green trees, so it was all quite scenic. I didn't see many stores, but we did pass a police box with a patrol car outside. The front was all glass, but it didn't look like anywhere was there. I got out my phone, and checked Maps. This was the only police box for miles, the last one before we reached the mountain. I guess there wasn't much need for police out here in the wilds.
Eventually, we turned onto a brick road with elegant restaurants which all seemed to be closed. We stopped in front of the cable car station, but just so Yuuzou could check his map.
"Oh this is no good," he muttered. "I want to get to the wild part."
Sachi kind of looked at him, so he explained.
"This map has all the secret beauty spots marked, places which most tourists don't know about. There is a magnificent waterfall I want to show you all."
Sounded good to me. He started up the van again, and we went around behind the station on a road deep into the woods. This really was off the beaten track although we did see a hiker or two along the way. I think we were just traveling along next to the cable car tracks although we couldn't see them. Eventually, the road ended, so we had to get out, and hike from there.
Yuuzou got out his camcorder, and videoed the scenery, explaining a bit as we hiked. Yuuzou is not very religious, but apparently, mountains had some special meaning in both Buddhism and Shinto. We did see the odd temple coming in.
Even though it's a mountain, the hiking trails are not that steep. Sachi would stop here and there to pick mushrooms. It was quite peaceful and beautiful, the leaves on the bushes a brilliant green. We did pass a few hikers even up here. They'd nod, or raise their hand to greet us, and then walk on by.
Eventually, we came to the falls Yuuzou had mentioned at the end of this narrow valley. It was a beautiful waterfall, very high with a thin curtain of white water spraying down through the dense tropical jungle. There was a pond at the base with beautiful deep blue water. It honestly looked like something out of a movie.
