British Hills/Regina's Forest

On Sunday we took a two hour mini-van ride up the "skyline" which means going up the mountain via switchbacks to Regina's Forest. We stopped for lunch at British Hills, (http://www.british-hills.co.jp/english/about/corporate.html)which is a resort/educational facility. I had Fish and Chips, naturally, and then we played darts. we were to go hiking, but the weather was typically British as it was raining. After lunch we went on to Regina's Forest which is a resort and spa (onsen). We were to hike there as well, but unfortunately the rain kept us from this. We did swim in an indoor pool and then got in various hot springs outside. These were surrounded by a garden with rocks, small trees, flowers, etc. One of the tubs was green and smelled like medicinal soap. Another was designed to lay down in with your head resting on a ledge and your whole body in the warm/hot water. It was wonderfully relaxing, like the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. There were the four of us and three from Fukushima College, including Mr. Kanno, the CEO of the college. Bathing suits were reguired for the swimming pool and outside hot springs, thankfully. The indoor onsen was of the traditional variety and was segregated. This indoor bathing area had three different springs to get into: a long pool surrounded by rocks, two porcelin tubs which looked like the tubs of the wild west, and a small square spring which had pink water and smelled like roses. Before getting into these springs we had to completely wash ourselves and our hair. We actually had to wash our feet twice.
Afterwards spending time in the onsen, we had a wonderful dinner of various steamed veggies, rice (of course), procutto, chicken, liver, beef, and lots of different kinds of fish including shrimp, and then had wesabu-sabu. Some of us had cold Sake, too. Following dinner was a lazer show over the lake, timed with Japanese music. The fountain also had coloured lights timed to music. It was spectacular. We ate dessert consisting of grapes and kiwi while watching this. Too bad Greg was not with me, as it was very romantic!
Unfortunately the weather kept us from canoeing or playing tennis or golf on Monday morning, but I did get in a short hike, however.
Breakfast was a buffet (or viking.... not sure of the spelling here...) of a mix of Japanese and Western foods. The fruits were delicious! Japanese kiwi is very sweet.
Then it was down the mountain we went and on to visit the local TV station, which has a very popular Karoke competition show which is seen over most of Japan.