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Oxalis Holidays Newsletter January 2008

Welcome to the January 2008 newsletter from Oxalis Holidays!

It's been a long time coming, but the newsletter is backand I've got news for you about our tours for 2008. I've also got our destination spotlight, Nyuto Hot Spring in Akita prefecture, famed for milky-white hot spring baths.

The colours of autumn in Japan have faded and winter has gripped the country. Our autumn tours were enjoyed by a very international crowd, we had tour participants from a wide variety of countries and a wide variety of ages! Everyone had a wonderful time, enjoying the wonderful regional Japanese food and friendly minshuku and ryokan. One of the guests on the Land of Fire trip to Kyushu commented that the food at the ryokan in Obi was the best meal they had ever had!

In this issue:

1. Japan destination spotlight: Nyuto Hot Spring
2. 2008 tour dates
3. Custom tours
4. Armenia destination spotlight
5. 2008 dates for Armenia tours

Japan Destination Spotlight

The Japan Destination Spotlight for this newsletter is Nyuto Hot Spring, in the Akita Prefecture. Akita is in the north of the main island of Honshu, and the winters here are long and the snow is deep. Located just north of the lake of Tazakawa-ko, in the shadow of Mount Akita-komagatake, Nyuto Hot Spring is a small collection of hot spring ryokan, famed for its milky-white waters.

Its the quintessential rural hot spring. For over 400 years the Tsuru-no-yu ryokan has been a place of rest and rejuvenation, and was in times past used by the feudal lord. Today there are 8 separate baths, bath inside and outside. Most rooms have their inside irori, a traditional sunken hearth. In the evening the staff bring around hot charcoal to put in the irori, and the rooms become very warm and cosy. Even though Tsuru-no-yu is the most famous of the Nyuto Hot Spring ryokans, it sits at the end of a dirt road, wonderfully remote and surrounded by trees. It's in the Towada-Hachimantai National Park, and hiking trails lead off directly from the ryokan. You can enjoy a full day of walking and return in the evening to soak your tired muscles in the soothing water.

Even if you have been to many hot springs in Japan, this is something special. There are baths for both men and women, and one which is mixed. The milky-white water leaves your skin beautifully smooth, so it's best not to wash it off after bathing. Another nearby ryokan is Kuro-no-yu. This has 6 baths and the ryokan building is thatched. Again, it's a wonderfully remote setting, surrounded by a forest of beech.

We visit Nyuto Hot Spring on the Mountain Spirits tour.

2008 tour dates for Japan

Our full line-up of Japan tours for 2008 is on our website. We have expanded our number of departures due to demand and we have 22 separate dates for this year. We still have space on several of tours in April and May, so if you are thinking about travelling to Japan in 2008 there is still time to book!
2008 tour dates

New custom tour page

As well as our scheduled tours to Japan, we have a private or custom tour service. We can arrange a trip for your family, group of friends, company or professional association. We'll discuss your requirements and put together an itinerary tailor-made for you. To find out more, please see our custom tour page.
Custom tour page

Armenia Destination Spotlight

Our Armenia Destination Spotlight is Karahunj in Syunik marz, an ancient stone circle older than England's Stone Henge. Sitting not far from the Vorotan river gorge, and the town of Sisian, the landscape istunningly evocative and there is no tourist infrastructure to interrupt the view. Intriguingly, the name Karahunj, points to connections with Stone Henge. Kar means stone in Armenian, and hunj sounds very similar to henge which has no meaning in English.Though generally thought to have been in use from the 1st or 2nd millenium BC, the site, it has been dated by some to the 6th millenium BC, approximately 3,500 years before Stone Henge.

Scientists believe that a temple once stood in the centre of the stone circle dedicated to the Armenian god Ari, name which also refers to the sun. Karahunj is thought by some to be the world's first astronical observatory. There are also many legends to account for the circle of stones. One says that during a wedding, enemies approached with the intention of kidnapping the bride. After praying to the Gods, the approaching men were turned to stone. High on the nearby mountains there are also many petroglyphs or stone paintings. Most of the time visitors are lucky enough to have the place to themselves.

We visit Karajunj on the Armenia Discovery tour.

2008 Armenian Tour schedule fixed

Our 2008 Armenian tour schedule has been fixed, and we have dates in summer and autumn. The Armenia Discovery tour departs 14th June and 23rd August. We have a new, non-walking tour, called Best of Armenia, and this departs on 4th April, 18th July and 10th October.
See the full line-up on our Armenia tours page.

That's it for this newsletter. Enjoy the holidays and planning your 2008 adventures.

Matt Malcomson