The mountain rises up behind our housing area. It takes about 15 minutes to get there. It's about 4km (2 1/2 miles) to the top. Jerry usually urges Heidi to drive the narrow winding road to the top. (Which is probably for the best as his driving hasn't improved since we've been here.) From the lookout point, you can see most of the cho (neighborhoods) of Sasebo. The top of the mountain is often shrouded in mist when it rains here.
The Navy Base, where both American and Japanese ships are anchored, is seen at the bottom of the picture.
250,000 people live in Sasebo -- the majority of them in the city center. The land is fairly flat close to the harbour, but rises quickly into the mountains that surround the harbour. About 70% of Japan is moutainous. Sasebo is probably 90% mountainous.
These are some of the more than 99 islands make up the park just off the west coast of Sasebo. Pearls are cultured in large farm-like beds in the waters surrounding many of the islands.
