I spent the day before hanging out with Agus who visited me on her way back to Tokyo from Nozawa Onsen. It was really nice to catch up on our lives and see a friend! On this day afterwards, I had slept at an internet cafe and to way I was lacking motivation was an understatement. I had my breakfast at Gusto and I could just feel myself procrastinating leaving because I knew that all that was ahead of me was up. I made it to the start of the big mountain and got groceries from Tsuruya and called Steph. I didn't really start the climb until 11:30, which was definitely late. I mostly pushed my bicycle up this one. The plan was to make it to Kusatsu Onsen, but I realised that I had left it too late to make that. But then I found out that a campsite with no reservations required was on top of the big first climb, so I set that as my goal. The first part of the mountain was through farm areas, it seems there was a specific section with a lot of cow farms. Once I hit the main road I just kept myself going despite my poor emotional state. That being said, I seemed to hit a groove as I always do! I made it to the campsite and there was even an onsen there! This one was truly at the very top, with bear warning signs everywhere which was a little freaky. However, the onsen felt amazing and the campsite was actually gorgeous, high altitude in a big field with interesting flowers and plants, surrounded by the woods. That night I heard an animal that woke me up in the middle of the night, essentially yelling over and over again for about 20 minutes. It sounded close. It wasn't a bear, I think it was a deer. Harmless, but still freaky to hear when you're on your own in the woods!