Morning, Rin.
Hey, you're up unusually early.
I'm about to go to sleep.
Where are you headed today?
I'm going to Kamiina solo today.
Nagano again, huh?
That sounds so cold.
Wait, solo? You're going alone?
Didn't you say you were going camping with Nadeshiko-chan?
Two Days Ago...
Camping on exam break?
Yeah, I'm in!
It's a riverside campsite in Nanbucho.
It's close enough to bike to.
Nice!
I never knew there was a campsite so close by.
A riverside camping trip, huh?
I can't wait.
The Next Day...
Rin-chan!
I'm sick!
A-Are you okay?
I'm sorry!
You don't need to apologize.
We can go camping together next time.
No, leave me. Go camping without me.
Leave my body behind!
Hey, don't die on me.
I guess she's telling me to camp solo.
I probably don't need to go check on her if it's just a cold.
I don't know if canceling my trip is the right thing to do.
Oh, well.
There's a campsite I've been meaning to check out.
I guess I'll go by myself.
It's a 150-kilometer trip one way.
About the same as Takabotchi.
It's pretty far...
It wouldn't be so far in a straight line, though.
Between Yamanashi and southern Nagano
are the Southern Alps, spanning to the north and south.
In order to get to Ina, one must take a detour through Suwa.
There's a path here.
120 kilometers?
Wow, it's a whole 30 kilometers shorter.
Although it is a mountain path...
All right.
I'll take this route.
Now I need to look up the tourist attractions...
Grandpa said winging it is one way to enjoy traveling.
I'll go to sleep for now.
And that's how it happened.
Leaving your friend's body behind to go camping...
I'll send a message to check up on her later.
Okay, I'm going to sleep now.
Buy me a souvenir.
No souvenir if you fall asleep.
Hurrgh!
I'm in Southern Alps City!
Episode 9 A Night of Navigator Nadeshiko and Hot Spring Steam
My cold's gone.
It's still before seven!
I can still make it if I call her!
Camping with Rin-cha—
Absolutely not.
Oh, you're feeling better?
Yeah, but my sister told me to stay home and sleep.
Of course.
I'm on my way to a campsite in Kamiina.
Kamiina?
It's in southern Nagano.
I'll send you pictures.
Stay put and get some rest.
Okay.
I'm hungry.
Wanna fight, punk?
This way.
Yashajin Pass Hirogawara
Yashajin Pass? What a name.
The mountain path might actually be easier, since there are so few cars.
I'm glad I came this way.
There's no snow on the ground, either.
The peak.
Am I already halfway there?
I might get there earlier than I expected
and have time to look aroun—
Max height 3.8m
R o a d C l o s e d
Road closed nao.
They closed the mountain path for the winter.
I have to go back the way I came!
No signal nao.
Yashajin Tea Shop
Lodging Dining Gifts
Thank goodness the vending machine works.
Warming up with a warm drink after I've dragged myself out here on a cold day...
I wonder if this counts as a kind of racketeering.
Come to think of it, why are there so many cars parked here?
Southern Alps National Park / Prefectural Southern Alps National Park Yashajin Pass / Mount Hōō Mountain Climbing Entrance
Oh, they must be mountain climbers.
They go up from here.
Bears were sighted on October 28. Please use caution.
Southern Alps City
Scary!
Aren't the climbers scared?
Good morning.
G-Good morning...
Are you here to climb, too?
Oh, no.
I was on my way to Nagano on my moped,
but the road's closed for the winter.
For the winter?
There's a private car restriction here.
It's closed all year.
Southern Alps Forest Path Usage Notes
Private car restriction areas.
In some tourist areas, personal vehicles are banned to protect the environment.
Shuttle buses are offered instead.
No unauthorized vehicles, excluding buses and taxis, may use the Yashajin-Kitasawa Pass path during private car restrictions.
So I wouldn't have been able to get through on my moped anyway.
Mountain Climbing Registration Forms
Winter solo camping, huh?
So I guess that's a popular recreational activity these days.
I never knew.
No, it's just something that some people do.
I like mountain climbing the most when the snow is piling up, too.
I'm always excited to see the mountains with a light dusting of snow.
It's not very busy this time of the year, either.
I know what you mean.
So... are you going up today?
Yes.
But my climbing partner isn't here ye—
Sorry!
I got off at the wrong stop.
Mountain Cabin Guide
Well, we'll be going now.
See you.
Take care climbing.
Oh, yeah.
Take this with you.
Houjicha Tea
It gets cold at night.
Houjicha is supposed to warm you up.
Thank you.
Winging it is one way to enjoy traveling, huh?
All right, let's get back on track.
To Nagano!
Rin-chan took the wrong route and ended up at a closed road, huh?
I know!
Rin-chan, where are you?
Here.
Whoa!
Where?! Where is that?!
Tsuetsuki Pass, south of Suwa Lake.
Wow, that's such a nice view.
Oh, hey, I have a good idea!
I'm going to be your navigator so that you don't get lost!
That's okay. I don't think there are any more roads I could get lost on.
Oh...
Besides, I have a maps app.
I thought it would be a nice way to feel like we're going camping together.
Sights from this vista
Okay. Look up some tourist spots in Ina and Komagane for me, then.
I fell asleep before I could look them up last night.
Roger that!
I'll look up lots of places and be your guide!
Well, I wonder where she's going to take me.
Rin-chan, Rin-chan!
I found a tourist attraction!
Oh?
Did you find something nice?
I've got this!
First up, Mushroom Kingdom!
M-Mushroom Kingdom?
You can go mushroom hunting in the forest and eat all kinds of mushroom dishes.
They have a Mushroom Rangers show, too.
Mushroom Rangers?
Next up, Senjoujiki Curl!
Oh, I've heard about that one.
The scenery is amazing.
There's all kinds of animals.
All kinds!
Ain't no gorillas though, yo.
Also, there's a ropeway, so it'll cost quite a bit.
It's 4,000 yen total with the bus ride, bro.
You aren't Nadeshiko, are you?
Heh heh heh... It seems you've noticed.
Help me, Rin-chan!!
Nadeshiko is mine now.
If you want her back, you will continue your journey as I demand!
Ohgaki Chiaki...
I don't think I like her.
So, anyway, it's going to be me and Aki-chan going forward.
Do whatever you want.
Rin-chan!
I found a wood stove shop that sells outdoor gear at Komagane!
Huh, I think I'll check it out.
Shimarin! There's a place called Mushroom Kingdom in Ina.
I heard.
Rin-chan!
I found a temple that worships doggies!
Doggy temple...
Okay, I'll check out those two places.
Take pictures, please.
Yup.
I see.
Shimarin left on a journey out in the cold wilderness
by herself to cheer you up.
What a nice story.
Thanks for coming to check on me, Aki-chan.
It's no big deal.
I invited Inuko, too, but she's got work.
Aoi-chan, buy me some potato chips!
Pretty please!
I'm not going to the supermarket to go shopping.
She said she'll message us when she's done.
Oh, yeah. I brought a get-well gift.
Koushuu Specialty Houtou
Here.
Houtou!
You said you've never had it before.
Have your mama make it for you when you're all better.
Cough, cough, cough...
I wish I could have Aki-chan's houtou...
I can't wait to try real houtou made by a Yamanashi girl.
Don't expect too much.
Oh, well.
There are instructions on the back.
It should turn out okay if I follow these.
Let's chop it up and simmer it and see what happens.
I'm home.
Oh, Mom. Welcome home.
Oh, are you making something?
Yamanashi girl Aki-chan's making authentic houtou.
Th-Thank you for having me.
Welcome.
Feel free to use whatever you need from the fridge.
O-Okay.
Come to think of it, I've never made houtou before.
I've never had it. I can't wait.
Same!
Wait, it sounds like I'm supposed to make some for Nadeshiko's mom, too.
Man, that was a good night's sleep.
Oh, Dad. Morning.
Sorry I gave you my cold.
Nah, I got to watch all the daytime variety shows.
Oh? Are you making something?
Yamanashi girl Aki-chan's making awesome, authentic houtou right now.
Wow, houtou, huh?
Someone at work told me the houtou that locals make is really rich,
and that it has a totally different flavor from what you'd buy at a store.
I can't wait.
Now they want me to make enough for the whole family?!
What do I do?
Am I supposed to just serve something half-assed when they've raised the bar on me?
Wait, hang on. I come from Yamanashi.
My people should have an innate knowledge of the true flavor of houtou!
I, too, can create real, super delicious houtou!
Tonight's Menu Easy Authentic Houtou
Yamanashi Girl Aki-chan's 30 Minute Cooking!
Yamanashi Girl Aki-chan's 30 Minute Cooking
Today's recipe: Houtou Ingredients maitake pork napa cabbage taro konjac deep-fried tofu potato carrots houtou green onion pumpkin Koushuu miso
This week's recipe is houtou.
The trick is to wing it!
First, put the carrot, potato, taro,
and dashi stock into the pot, and bring it all to a boil.
When the vegetables get soft, throw in the noodles without removing the powder.
The powder will help thicken the soup.
Let it stew for a while, then throw in the rest of the ingredients, and stew some more.
Put in the Koushuu miso, and stew it even more.
I'm home.
What are you making?
Another one!
So this is the doggy temple, Kouzenji.
It's huge.
It's nice coming out to a place like this for once.
Beware of wild animals including bears and boars
They have those?
On the premises?!
So where's the doggy they worship?
It's a craggy-looking dog.
Well, it's a temple, after all.
Spirit Dog Hayatarou.
Hired to take care of a monster monkey
that had been causing mischief in a village in Shizuoka,
he's a baby-faced doggy who traveled all the way from Shinshuu to complete his quest.
Grave of Hayatarou
He's supposedly popular in Shizuoka, known to the locals there as Shippeitarou.
Rest in peace.
Oh, yeah.
I should ask Nadeshiko and Aki if there are any hot springs around here.
Hayatarou Fortunes
S-So cute..
Hayatarou Fortunes 500 yen
You guys cost 500 yen, though?
Thank you very much.
You win, you doggy jerks.
Decent Fortune
Decent fortune.
Well, I guess that's about right.
Dog fortunes! So cute!
We're having a late-ish lunch. Aki-chan made us houtou.
It looks pretty good.
Not bad, Ohgaki.
Yum!
It's so chewy, it's like it's not even udon at all!
Aki-chan, houtou's awesome!
Of course it is.
I followed a pro's recipe, after all.
It turned out better than I thought, though.
Go me.
Sh-She's angry...
Did I do something to upset her?
Chiaki-chan, this is...
Y-Yes?
Insanely good.
Give me the recipe later.
She likes it?!
Hayatarou Hot Springs
Komagane Bath
It's like my frozen body's thawing out.
Going out on a cold day just to warm up in a hot spring...
Racketeering, racketeering.
I wonder if that's Komagatake.
I can't believe people climb that thing.
Crazy.
Oh, man, I seriously don't want to go anywhere anymore.
Shimarin, how about lo mein for lunch?
Apparently it's an Ina specialty. You can choose between yakisoba and ramen styles.
Aki-chan! Rin-chan's in Komagane right now!
She's got to have the Komagane specialty, sauce katsudon!
Nope, she has to have lo mein!
Besides, she could have sauce katsudon in Yamanashi.
That's not true! It said Komagane sauce katsudon tastes different!
Besides, I found a shop near the hot spring that Rin-chan's at!
See?!
Whoa, that's an insane portion!
She can't eat all that!
No problem! Rin-chan can handle it!
Ina lo mein!
Komagane sauce katsudon!
Lo mein!
Sauce katsu!
Shut up, Nadeshiko! You don't get to talk like that!
You're so stubborn, Aki-chan!
Monster stomach!
Mini-sauce katsudon's here.
Huh?!
Actually, it was a combo deal with the hot springs for 1,000 yen.
It looks good!
Look. Saitou says she's coming on the Christmas camping trip with us.
Can I join you on that camping trip you mentioned?
Oh, yeah!
Now I really can't wait!
Yeah.
We haven't made any preparations, though.
Aki-chan...
Let's try inviting Rin-chan this time.
Yum.
The sauce-soaked katsu goes so well with the rice and cabbage.
It's milder and sweeter than ordinary tonkatsu sauce.
I heard the big katsu is what makes Komagane katsudon famous,
but I think this is about right for me.
It comes with salad and miso soup, anyway.
A-A dog is eating my salad.
Ayatarou, have you had your fill?
What are you doing, Nadeshiko?
We're on our way to Iwata in Shizuoka.
Iwata?
There's quite a mischievous monster monkey there.
We're going to go teach him a lesson.
Well, see you again, Rin-chan.
What? Give you ebi katsudon?
You just had an extra large sauce katsudon.
Hey! Stop!
Wait until you get your tonsoku curry at Iwata!
You seem to be taking your time.
Shouldn't you hurry, Rin-chan?
Shoot, I fell asleep.
I totally overslept!
Room Camp
Room Camp.
I fell asleep.
Time to go home.
Wow...
Next Episode:
Clumsy Travelers and Camp Meetings
When camping...
Always mind the campsite and facility rules. Don't forget to take care of fires and your trash!
It gets cold during the winter. Stay warm and be well-prepared!
Outdoor Activities Club