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

[rbjhan]

Jeez that soba looks amazing.

Nagano is all about soba...
Unfortunately not too many other things

 

[Justinf]

Nagano is all about soba...
Unfortunately not too many other things

I fell in serious love with soup curry.

 

[rbjhan]

I fell in serious love with soup curry.

Soup curry is the best!
I was quite surprised Japanese people can actually eat spicy food

 

[rbjhan]

There are 3 main restaurants in Akakura Kanko Hotel.
French restaurant Sorbier, Japanese restaurant Shirakaba and Aqua Grill.
I was assigned to Sorbier the first night.

Food was okay but not memorable.
Starter


Fish


Meat


Dessert

 

[rbjhan]

Next morning breakfast was at Aqua Grill
The food really didn't matter here...


Well I had their healthy breakfast...sure is healthy enough!

 

[rbjhan]

I thought after breakfast the onsen would be quite empty. I was right!
Onsen #2

Changing area/lounge


Indoor onsen


Outdoor onsen


The skiers were quite close though!


There are many things I like about this hotel, but the onsen is to die for!

 

[rbjhan]

Staying 2 nights at Myoko, I need to find something to do....for a non skier that might be a tad difficult
Snowshoeing sounds like fun, so I asked hotel concierge, and they recommended Yodel snow school.
Booked a half day tour for 7000 Yen plus 1500 for equipment rental.

Took some time to get used to this thingy...luckily it was only me and the guide so we could afford to move at my pace.



Amazing scenery!






I was really lucky re weather this time.


Kanko Hotel.


Best tour I've done!

 

[BorisWood]

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...

Definitely not appropriate behavior. Usually it is American businessmen talking self-importantly! Aussies in a group can be as bad. We have just spent 2 weeks in Hokkaido (early February), 2 weeks in USA and another week in Kobe and Tokyo. In JAL first lounge on the way home to Melbourne.

 

[p--and--t]

There are 3 main restaurants in Akakura Kanko Hotel.
French restaurant Sorbier, Japanese restaurant Shirakaba and Aqua Grill.
I was assigned to Sorbier the first night.

Food was okay but not memorable.
Starter
View attachment 207325

Fish
View attachment 207326

Meat
View attachment 207327

Dessert
View attachment 207328

Elegant table setting and beautifully presented. I often think the effort is more about how it looks than what it tastes like.

 

[rbjhan]

Elegant table setting and beautifully presented. I often think the effort is more about how it looks than what it tastes like.

I'm greedy, I want both!

 

[rbjhan]

I anticipated the need for a massage after the snowshoe tour (pad self on the back).
Trying to secure one was more difficult than I thought....I must have spend 30 mins during check in with the front desk, finally booked one hour massage at 6pm and push dinner to 8pm, success!

Dinner was Shabu Shabu at the Japanese restaurant.


The next morning I decided to try their buffet breakfast.


Another morning soak, then wandering about in the hotel...you can see Lake Nojiri in the distance.


Not sure when but I think I will be back again!

 

[rbjhan]

Just to give you guys an idea, this is their score out of 5 on IKYU - bear in mind that Japanese people are very picky!

 

[rbjhan]

Back to Nagano, I wanted to try something other than soba
Found a very nice looking Unagi place, with the price tag to match
That was 5500 Yen in case you can't read Japanese numbers...


I'm sure there are other attractions apart from Zenkoji in Nagano, but Hokusai was more tempting, so off to Obuse I went.
There's a supermarket right next to Obuse station, so I went in try to grab a drink. Guess what?! Two packs of face masks!!
My oh my that's more precious than gold dust.


The rest of my trip secured!

Pictures are not allowed in Hokusai Meseum, so this is the only one I have...


Even if you are not interested in ukiyo-e, I'm sure you've seen the great wave off Kanagawa....
Plus the souvenir shop has some good stuff

Nagano Dentetsu's express train, this one is called "snow monkey" ha ha .

 

[rbjhan]

One reason I like to stay near JR stations is that often there are many restaurants and shops attached.
Nagano is no exception.
I had no plans for dinner so just went to the station to look for ideas.


Found this bento on sale, only 756 Yen!


Bought some strawberries too. Yum.


And of course the Dormy Inn ramen!

 

[rbjhan]

Matsumoto is about 1 hour away from Nagano. Got there around lunch time, what to eat? Soba of course...


And a half serve of Sanzoku-yaki 山賊焼 . Yum!


The fryer was right in front of me...

 

[rbjhan]

After such a meal, some physical activities were necessary
Strolling through Matsumoto was very pleasant even though the weather was not great.

Nakamachi-dori, the traditional merchant area.
Quite obviously re-built, but it was done with good taste. Lots of cute cafes and restaurants


Frog street,


This little temple was dedicated to the frog

 

[rbjhan]

My favourite castle in all of Japan!




There are only 12 castles remained that was still the original (more or less):
coughu Matsuyama (Okayama), Himeji, Hikone, Hirosaki, Inuyama, Kochi, Marugame, Maruoka, Matsue, Matsumoto, Matsuyama (Ehime), Uwajima.
I've only visited Himeji, Hikone, Matsumoto on this list, but certainly very interested in Hirosaki, Inuyama & Matsue. One day, one day....

* Osaka Castle, Nagoya Castle, etc are concrete reconstructions, I don't rate them much.

 

[rbjhan]

Former Kaichi School of Matsumoto.
Built in 1876, this was the first community school in the region. Kaichi means opening people's intelligence - it was only possible after the Meiji Restoration.


Some local tv crew were shooting a program in the preserved classroom.


Old accounting documents


Wish there were more English explanations for all the things on display...

 

[rbjhan]

Dormy Inn Matsumoto
I did mention that I like Dormy Inns, right?



Onsen #3


Unlike Dormy Inn Nagano, this one has been around for some time, they use real keys!


Yakitori for dinner

 

[rbjhan]

Last time I visited Matsumoto, was a quick overnight stay coming off the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
Didn't have time to see much, just the castle. But I liked it a lot so the 2nd trip I'm determined to see as much as possible.

Matsumoto City Meseum of Art featuring Yayoi Kusama 草間 彌生



Even the vending machine!


Entrance to the exhibition


Pictures are not allowed inside I'm afraid...