Typhoon, and the trip to Yamaguchi

So the busiest month is almost over, and I finally got time to write about my summer break - It's been already about a few weeks, though.This month started with the coming of the powerful, yet slow-moving typhoon No.12 and it made the first week super super hectic. Almost all the local lines around my area were delayed or cancelled due to the rise of the river as a result of the heavy rainfall, and I was besieged by hundreds of people trying to take a shinkansen instead, the only public transportation which was running on schedule at that time.I can't describe how chaotic my office was - it was just like one scene of battle. I didn't even know that so many people were living in this peaceful town. Some angry people were blaming other staffs for the delay, which even made me wonder why people dared to go out on such a day, in spite of the fact that the weather forecast had been repeatedly warning that the typhoon would shut down many train lines and transportation services.Why can't people just stay at home? Of course, I know I should NEVER say such a thing, though. :-p

 Anyway, I got only 4 days off this summer. It kinda made me sad. I mean, work is okay, but vacation is always better than work for all of you, right? I wish I could go back in my uni days, when the summer break was for almost 2 months!
On the second day of my summer break, my family(except my father - he had a big golf competition on that day and couldn't join us) and I went on a one-day Shinkansen(Japanese limited express) trip to Yamaguchi. Luckily I still had some fare discounts left for my family that is available until the end of the year, so we were able to go there at a low price.
We left home at 6am and took the first train to Himeji station. I was so excited about getting on the new shinkansen Sakura, as well as the road trip in Yamaguchi. Sakura has been so popular since its service started, and a lot of people come to my window, trying to make a reservation for their seats like every day, but it's always already fully reserved even though it's one week before. It was 10 days before the trip when we reserved our seats this time, and we managed to get 3 of the last 8 seats left at that time - we were so lucky!

The new shinkansen Sakura we took, bound for Kagoshima-Chūō

Reserved seats

The seats are so comfy compared to those of the other Shinkansen, and also, the use of real wood throughout the train gives the carriages a warm, natural feel.

Shin-Yamaguchi Station.
About 1 hour and 40 mins away from Himeji station

After arriving at the station, we hired a car that we had booked in advance and headed for Akiyoshi - caves, the main destination in this trip. Thanks to the GPS loaded in the car we could get there without getting lost.

The Akiyoshi cave was literally amazing. I did not even know there was such a nice place in Yamaguchi.
Pictures! 

The entrance of the biggest limestone cave in Japan!

Inside of the cave. The scale was simply breathtaking. 

 A mysterious shape of the limestone rocks 

that the nature has made over hundreds of millions of years

A long tunnel to the exit 

Gobo(burdock) Tempura Udon that we had for lunch after exploring the cave...it was delicious!

There is a vast karst plateau beyond the cave. The view made me feel like I came to a different country.

別府弁天池

Beppu- Benten Pond

 Known for the cleanest natural water in Japan

瑠璃光寺 

Ruriko Temple

It was the second time I visited Yamaguchi, and I find it's a very beautiful city. We went back to the station and gave our rental car back. I fell asleep on the shinkansen back home, but it was a perfect trip. You should visit there once if you have a chance.