Encouragement of Climb (ヤマノススメ)

It's a sunny Sunday.

Hinata's dad is giving us a ride to Gunma on his way to work.

What are you reporting on today?

I'm writing an article on Yamada Noboru-san.

Yamada-san?

He's one of Gunma's greatest mountaineers,

who conquered several 8,000 meter-level mountains.

Wow!

Can we read the book when it's done?

Hey, do you think we'll get a view of Mt. Tanigawa?

We'll be off the highway soon.

I don't think you'll see it.

Aw...

We're headed to Mt. Tanigawa, a mountain with a special place in our hearts...

Or rather, a castle.

Japan's first restoration of a European castle

Lockheart Castle

Lockheart Castle, a theme park of stone in Gunma.

Kaede-san had to stay behind to study with Yuka-san,

but Honoka-chan, who lives in Gunma, is joining us.

Honoka-chan!

Let's Photograph Our Memories!

Okay, I'll come back for you in the evening.

Thanks!

Did you wait long?

Not really.

I just got here.

Did you come by bus?

No, Onii...

My brother gave me a ride.

Let's go.

Yes, let's go.

I've always wanted to visit Lockheart Castle once.

Kokona-chan told me about it.

She said there's an amazing place here.

They transported this castle straight from Scotland.

I knew about this place, but I've never been here.

I'm excited, too.

Castle!

Do you think we'll see a princess?

Of course not.

A froggy!

It's so cute!

There's a hippo and a squirrel and a lion, too!

Let's go over there.

Power Stone Granite

Touch with another person. It will make you more emotionally developed and keep you earnest.

Power Stone?

Apparently it makes you more emotionally developed and keeps you earnest.

It says to touch it with another person.

Aren't you supposed to do this with your partner?

I feel like I've become more emotionally developed.

Are you sure?

Don't you feel it, Aoi-san?

Now that you mention it...

I feel like I have, or maybe not...

Help me, Aoi!

What did I do to deserve this?

No, save me!

Let's leave Hinata-san behind.

Let's have lunch before we go to the top.

Yes, I'm starving.

This looks delicious!

Time to eat!

It's such a fancy curry.

It's delicious.

Oh, yeah!

Dad won this in a bingo game, and he gave it to me.

Huh?

There's nothing showing on it.

That's weird.

The photo will show up if you wait for a bit.

Really?

Actually, I brought a camera, too.

May I take a picture of you three?

Sure.

Okay!

Here we go, then.

Say cheese.

How did it turn out?

Let me see.

It's a film camera.

We can't see it right away.

Film?

Unlike a digital camera,

you can't tell if you got a good picture or not until it's been developed.

Wow, that's inconvenient.

Nah.

That's what makes it all the more fun.

And you can only take so many pictures,

so each one becomes more precious.

Yes.

Let's take lots of memorable photos today.

Yeah!

Um...

Yeah!

Smartphone

There are hearts everywhere.

Because it's "Lockheart"?

Oh, is that what it is?

I don't know, actually.

Hey!

Get up here, Aoi!

No way!

It's an actual castle!