After a solid night’s sleep in Nojiriko, we took a short walk on the Zou-no-Komichi – the Elephant’s Path – to stretch our legs and see the view. What a vista! Before hopping on the highway to Itoigawa and the Jade Coast, we had a photo op with the Zous at the Naumann Elephant statue. They were having a grand time.
October is our favorite time to travel. Tod & I had a simple start to our marriage – we called in sick to work and visited a judge for the nuptials. We didn’t have a honeymoon, so each year is a chance to make up for that. From our first BnB weekend, gifted to us by Tod’s parents, to adventures around the world, our October travels have always been special.
So to mark our 35th anniversary, the jade anniversary, I wanted to do something thematic and memorable. And thus Japan’s Jade Coast became our destination. It was a perfect day with glorious weather, lots of rocks, and good time together.
We spent the morning looking for jade on the beach. I somehow managed to get a photo without other people in it, but the beach was chockablock with rockhounds. I felt underprepared as we admired their tools, which ranged from garden rakes to homemade strainers made from kitchen tools and poles. One couple, armed with cat litter scoops affixed to curtain rods, were on their 5th visit to Itoigawa. They encouraged us to go to the Fossa Magna Museum to see the display of jades. “It really helps you to know what you’re seeing out here.”
So after filling up a bag with pretty stones, we headed to the museum. It was amazing. Not only were there hundreds of examples of local jade in every color and other stones we recognised from the beach, but also interactive exhibits, information about the history of jade in the area, and a short film about the geology of the Fossa Magna.
At the end of the exhibits, when I was overwhelmed by everything I had seen and learned, there was a long corridor dedicated to gems and minerals from around the world. It was a huge exhibit in its own right and delighted me as much as the Smithsonian’s mineral and gem collection did when I was a kid.
Now we had knowledge. Could we go find some jade? I wanted to try for some of the rare purple jade, so we went to Lavender Beach. I don’t think I saw any jade there, but we still managed to collect another 10 kg of stones.
Before the sun set, we left the beach and drove past a geothermal plant and lovely casual views of the Japan Alps. From our room with a view, I tried to spy the comet but a mountain stood in the way so I enjoyed the sunset and moonrise instead. My special anniversary gift to Tod lit the room as the day dimmed.
Did we find jade? Maybe. I need to sort and identify the stones we brought home.
