A not so cold Japanese winter.

rbjhan · Jul 3, 2019

This one was taken in Hokkaido University. No canteen visit though as it wasn't lunch time

zenyattamondatta · Jul 4, 2019

rbjhan said:
I like to visit famous universities and pretend to be a student....ha ha not very successful but canteens are fun
Not sure if it was the central one, right in front of this building, underground...hoping you can tell me!
View attachment 174674

Yep, that's the one. The building is Yasuda Auditorium, and this is what it looked like during the student riots:

I probably spent even more time at the Cafe "Icho Metro" canteen, mostly because you could get beer there.

rbjhan · Jul 4, 2019

zenyattamondatta said:
Yep, that's the one. The building is Yasuda Auditorium, and this is what it looked like during the student riots:

View attachment 174723

I probably spent even more time at the Cafe "Icho Metro" canteen, mostly because you could get beer there.

Wow when was that?
So you were studying in Tokyo University? That's fancy.

I guess what I didn't mention was that I've been to Tokyo many times so nowadays I don't really do much sightseeing, just go to random places...

rbjhan · Jul 4, 2019

The Kamogawa river is my favourite part of Kyoto.

Yasaka Shrine

Shinbashi Dori, IMHO the most beautiful street of all Kyoto.

rbjhan · Jul 4, 2019

Travelling between Kyoto and Osaka is simple. I tend to avoid JR as Kyoto station is not close to the city centre.
Instead I prefer two private railway companies:
Hankyu: Umeda to Kawaramachi.
Keihan: Yodoyabashi to Gion Shijo or Sanjo Keihan.
Both are much better located in Kyoto.

This is the Hankyu Umeda station.

rbjhan · Jul 4, 2019

Sadly is time to start the journey home...

Nankai Express Rapid to KIX.

I figured whichever lounge CX uses in KIX would be underwhelming, so visited Botejyu first, courtesy of Priority Pass.
Akashiyaki 明石焼，

rbjhan · Jul 4, 2019

KIX North lounge, actually better than I thought....

Seating

View was nice.

The F&B was sad though...luckily I went to Botejyu before coming here!

Of course you can go to JAL Sakura lounge, but that one was in the South terminal and all CX flights depart North terminal. You can't walk between them, must take a train so I didn't bother.

rbjhan · Jul 4, 2019

CX595
Carefully picked this one so I didn't end up with CX's dreadful regional J.

Sadly couldn't escape the catering

The starter was okay

Main was horrible

About same level as those I had on Hawaiian last year, gave up after a few bites.

Ice cream to the rescue. Oh and HK style milk tea, love them.

offshore171 · Jul 4, 2019

Great trip report, and a lovely counterpoint to Renato’s shocker

On Myoko, I’m a big fan and have visited several times.

Question on the hotel up the hill that you stayed at. As you say, it’s well up the ski slope and I’ve skiied past it a lot.

Always wondered when you are arriving as a guest, how do you actually get up to it? Do they send down a snowcat to the village, or is there a service road that I haven’t noticed?

rbjhan · Jul 4, 2019

offshore171 said:
Great trip report, and a lovely counterpoint to Renato’s shocker

On Myoko, I’m a big fan and have visited several times.

Question on the hotel up the hill that you stayed at. As you say, it’s well up the ski slope and I’ve skiied past it a lot.

Always wondered when you are arriving as a guest, how do you actually get up to it? Do they send down a snowcat to the village, or is there a service road that I haven’t noticed?

Oh I honestly think he went to the wrong country...don't like Japanese food, oh my. And the complaint about hotels, clearly didn't research much.
Then again, I'm biased

Trip # 9 & 10 already planned!

As for Akakura Kanko Hotel, yes there's a service road.
You can actually see it (and their shuttle bus) from this picture.

offshore171 · Jul 5, 2019

rbjhan said:
As for Akakura Kanko Hotel, yes there's a service road.
You can actually see it (and their shuttle bus) from this picture.

Hats off to the guy responsible for keeping that road clear, especially in midwinter.

I can recall several occasions during January visits when we’ve copped 70+ cm of new snowfall overnight. Once we got 93!

They had a 17 metre season just gone. Amazing place.

rbjhan · Jul 5, 2019

offshore171 said:
Hats off to the guy responsible for keeping that road clear, especially in midwinter.

I can recall several occasions during January visits when we’ve copped 70+ cm of new snowfall overnight. Once we got 93!

They had a 17 metre season just gone. Amazing place.

Yes I love Myoko, especially the hotel, that's why I'm going back

In terms of snow though, back in 2016 I visited the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, wow that was truly memorable!