Japan Trip #10 - Chasing snow and onsen during zombie apocalypse

[rbjhan]

Okay I'm exaggerating a bit, but really people wearing masks everywhere was...hmm...certainly something I've never seen before
Booked the trip back in June 19, although the virus news was unsettling, I decided not to let it ruin my holiday!

MEL-TPE, CI.
TPE-NRT, JAL
Nagano, Myoko Kogen, Matsumoto, Fukuji onsen, Gero, Kyoto, Osaka

KIX-TPE, JAL
3 nights in Taipei

TPE-SIN-MEL, SQ.

 

[rbjhan]

Last year I visited Taipei for the first time and really liked the city, so decided to do a stopover again. Plus award availability on CI is a lot easier to find than QF or JAL!

Both JAL & CI use Marhaba lounge in MEL, I'm very familiar with this one so skipping pictures here...
First thing I noticed is when getting close to the boarding gate, everybody you can see was wearing face masks (later I realised this is the new normal in Taiwan).

The cabin is gorgeous!


Perhaps the best Super Diamond out there? Loved the lamp!


Face mask is going to be a keyword in this TR...


I like the cute little bag.


Chinese breakfast in the morning.

For 65K QFF, that is really good value (75K now).

 

[rbjhan]

Since the TPE-NRT leg was booked on JAL with Avios, I had to clear immigration and re-check in at TPE.
Tight connection is out of the question. As it turned out however, I actually left myself with too much of a buffer

Landed just a bit before 5am, and the JAL check in counter won't open till 6.45
So that person you saw wondering aimlessly in the departure area, that was me...Yeah, I am never doing this again!

JAL departs from T2, but I heard the Sakura lounge was nothing special. So made the long walk to T1 Cathay lounge.
Literally no one was there!

nothing, zero, zilch...


This is a beautiful lounge, very much a mini Pier. I can't help but wonder how long it will remain open though...

To keep them employed, I ordered a beef noodle soup and some dumplings

Unfortunately no shower here ;((
So made my way back to T2 Plaza Premium. This one was close to max capacity so no pictures.

 

[rbjhan]

JL802
A regional 787 with Shell Flat Neo seats. Perfectly adequate for a 3 hour flight.


J cabin was maybe 1/3 full?


Lunch


Landed at NRT bang on time.

 

[Justinf]

Looking forward to this one. I'm sure it will be MUCH different to my current TR, in a good way.

 

[rbjhan]

Looking forward to this one. I'm sure it will be MUCH different to my current TR, in a good way.

Well it will be full of snow, onsen, trains, temples and countryside!

 

[rbjhan]

First thing I decided after the flights were booked was that I wanted to go back to Akakura Kanko Hotel.
JL802 lands at 2pm, which would be too much of a rush, plus you need to take your time with a hotel like that! So I settled for Nagano for the first night.
Metropolitan is directly connected to the station of course, but one of my favourite business hotel chains - Dormy Inn has one not far away. Easy decision really.

As promised, lots of trains.
Skyliner to Ueno.


Then quickly onto an Asama Shinkansen to Nagano.


I was the only passenger in Gran Class.


And you really can't do Shinkansen without Ekiben!

 

[rbjhan]

Dormy Inn Nagano
Booked via IKYU for 7500 Yen including breakfast, great value for money!


By Japanese standards it was quite spacious.


Onsen #1


Free ramen from 9.30pm

 

[rbjhan]

Dinner at Meijitei inside the Midori department store connected to JR station.
Miso grilled gyutan


Most stores close at 8pm. So I went to DonQuijote for some late night shopping...no masks available though!
It was snowing when I came out!!! Ooooooh this is going to be a great trip.


--------------------------------------------------------
Re face mask.
Mother was quite anxious about me going to Japan. So I promised to wear mask whenever necessary, ie when using public transport or in big cities. Problem is that by then there was none to be found in Melbourne
Luckily I remember JAL put masks in their amenity kits, so dug 3 out. Also got two surgical masks from my GP.
Armed with five I went!

Even in Nagano the masks were all sold out.


Luckily only maybe 15-20% on the street were wearing masks, so I kept the remaining 4 for later.

 

[craven morehead]

JL802
A regional 787 with Shell Flat Neo seats. Perfectly adequate for a 3 hour flight.
View attachment 207021

J cabin was maybe 1/3 full?
View attachment 207022

Lunch
View attachment 207023

Landed at NRT bang on time.

That looks like an awesome lunch.

 

[rbjhan]

That looks like an awesome lunch.

Looks better than it tastes....
But I'm not complaining.

 

[Denali]

Love the amenity kit but also loving all the pics!

 

[rbjhan]

Love the amenity kit but also loving all the pics!

Thanks!

Yeah the China Airlines bag is my go to travel kit now.
I have a black one from last year too!

 

[Fifa]

Love your pics.
I just got back from Akakura Kanko - had a great week!

 

[rbjhan]

Love your pics.
I just got back from Akakura Kanko - had a great week!

Thanks!
A whole week? You must be a skier

 

[rbjhan]

First thing I did the next morning was to look outside the window.



As we are in Nagano, soba and oyaki for breakfast!

 

[rbjhan]

Zenkoji 善光寺, is one of the most important temples in Japan.
Tip: local buses do not take Suica/Icoca, unless you want to get a Nagano only IC card, it's cash only.
Takes about 10 mins from JR Nanago Station to Zenkoji.

I have no idea what this is but it's pretty!


Niomon was completed covered up for building works.
This is Sanmon


The Main Hall of Zenkoji.


Snow just makes everything look better.


Last Feb everywhere I went was like 15C
Certainly a much better start this time!

 

[rbjhan]

Got back to JR Nagano Station around lunch time, obviously must try soba...


And studied how the expert works


Time to head towards Akakura!!
850 Yen and 45 mins later, I got off at Myoko Kogen station.

Side note: there were a family of 4 Aussies on the train to Myoko. Talking loudly and making phone calls...
Not sure if they knew that was unacceptable behaviour in Japan...

 

[rbjhan]

Same as last year I booked the 部屋タイプ指定なし plan, got a western style twin room facing Lake Nojiri.


The view is much better than the ones facing Mt Myoko!


Aqua Terrace was completely covered in snow and blocked off when I arrived. Later in the evening it opened again.


More like ice terrace now


Ahhh so happy to be back here!

 

[Justinf]

Got back to JR Nagano Station around lunch time, obviously must try soba...
View attachment 207223

And studied how the expert works
View attachment 207224

Time to head towards Akakura!!
850 Yen and 45 mins later, I got off at Myoko Kogen station.

Side note: there were a family of 4 Aussies on the train to Myoko. Talking loudly and making phone calls...
Not sure if they knew that was unacceptable behaviour in Japan...

Jeez that soba looks amazing.