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AIの音声©音声は音読さんを使用しています。

Hello, I'm Noriko from Nihongo Storytime. Today, we'll talk about "hobbies." Our protagonists are Tomoe-san (63 years old) and her husband Norio-san (65 years old). Their joy in life is going on hot spring trips. Now, please listen.

Tomoe-san and Norio-san are a married couple living in Okayama Prefecture. They've been married for 35 years. Their hobby is going to hot springs, and they particularly enjoy staying at hot spring inns.

Both of them are now retired and living on a pension, so they have plenty of time. Every month, they take day trips by car to a hot spring in Tottori Prefecture. Additionally, every three months, they also travel to a hot spring in Kumamoto Prefecture, located in Kyushu.

The journey from Okayama to Kumamoto is done by car. Though it takes time, Norio-san enjoys driving, making the trips a pleasurable experience. The hot spring they love in Kumamoto is Kurokawa Onsen.

Since they always stay at the same inn, the staff warmly welcomes them with smiles each time. On their way to Kurokawa Onsen, they pass by Mount Aso, known for its breathtaking natural beauty and scenery.

Tomoe-san is the one who always plans their trips. While they make sure to visit Kurokawa Onsen, they also explore other great hot springs in Kyushu by researching new locations and searching for hotels online. They are thinking about visiting a hot spring in Kagoshima next time.

Before retiring, their jobs kept them busy, and they couldn't travel much. However, now, they enjoy hot spring trips to create new memories and spend quality time together.

Now, let's hear Norio-san's voice.

I'm Norio, 65 years old. My wife is Tomoe. We live in Okayama. We have two sons. The eldest works in Tokyo, and the second one is studying in a graduate school in the UK. I used to work for a company, and my wife was a municipal employee in Okayama City. After retiring, we have more time together.

My wife is sociable and often attends yoga and gymnastics classes. I enjoy gardening at home. I used to like golf, but it became expensive, so I stopped. Now, our shared joy is going on hot spring trips.

We often tour Kyushu's hot springs, especially Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto. We drive there from Okayama, and our sons tell us, 'It's dangerous to go by car. Why not take the Shinkansen?' But for now, I have no issues with driving. Someday, I'd like to visit the UK to see our son living there. There's still a long way to go in life. We're enjoying our pensioner life after retirement.