by Steve Starr & Kathy Tholin

There’s no need to be perplexed about where to go in Japan. Based on our recent visit we now say, “All of Japan is beautiful.”

Of course that’s just our opinion, but it was strengthened by having incredible experiences last fall with Servas hosts in Kyushu, the south-westernmost of the large islands.  Seiko Murayama and her friend Ko took Kathy and me on a hike up one of the peaks of Mt. Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan.

And Shinobu and Setsuko showed us the magical eastern coast of Kyushu near the city of Miyazaki.  This spring in Chicago when we went to see the cherry blossoms in Jackson Park with with friends Mitch Milner and Martha Meyer (soon to be Servas!). It bought back memories of the friends we’d made in Japan, and we exchanged cherry blossom greetings - from Chicago to Japan and back again. 

Two photos: