Return to the Japan Alps May 2024
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rbjhan
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Time to say good bye to Myojin Kan.
And started the hike back to Kappa Bashi.
The day before I came via the right side course, so this time took the left.
It was shorter but not much to see...
About 45 mins later I saw the Konashi Daira camping ground.
Didn't see any tents (not in last night's weather!) but there were cabins too.
A few mins later, Kappa Bashi again! Went to Gosenjaku Hotel's lounge had a cheesecake and Shinshu apple juice.
And started the hike back to Kappa Bashi.
The day before I came via the right side course, so this time took the left.
It was shorter but not much to see...
About 45 mins later I saw the Konashi Daira camping ground.
Didn't see any tents (not in last night's weather!) but there were cabins too.
A few mins later, Kappa Bashi again! Went to Gosenjaku Hotel's lounge had a cheesecake and Shinshu apple juice.
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rbjhan
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For my second night in Kamikochi I booked The Park Lodge, previously the Gosenjaku Lodge.
Drop off the backpack and went out for a walk around the bridge. Day before this area was very crowded so I didn't stay long.
The clouds were back! Couldn't see any of the peaks now....
Drop off the backpack and went out for a walk around the bridge. Day before this area was very crowded so I didn't stay long.
The clouds were back! Couldn't see any of the peaks now....
rbjhan
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Logical thing to do was lunch?
Well Gosenjaku Kitchen was reserved for a big group...
So I ended up at Kamikochi Shokudo again!
Sanzoku Yaki Teshoku this time.
After lunch I went to the tourist info centre next door.
Good news, the day after it would be sunny!
Bad news, well, this day was not looking good
Oh and bear sightings...
As I was in the centre, the rain came, again!
Well Gosenjaku Kitchen was reserved for a big group...
So I ended up at Kamikochi Shokudo again!
Sanzoku Yaki Teshoku this time.
After lunch I went to the tourist info centre next door.
Good news, the day after it would be sunny!
Bad news, well, this day was not looking good
Oh and bear sightings...
As I was in the centre, the rain came, again!
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rbjhan
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Enough was enough.
I went back to the Park Lodge and decided to wait till check in time.
Picked up a book to kill some time. Amazingly I understood most of it
They let me check in at 2pm...
It was a twin room facing the Azusa River on 1st floor (Japanese 1st floor is Ground).
My own toilet! Pure luxury
Naturally I made a mad dash to the public bath
Just like the day before, this was not onsen, but I was not complaining!
Noticed something interesting...I really want to know what is room 111 and 112?? Certainly didn't see any room like that on their website...
I went back to the Park Lodge and decided to wait till check in time.
Picked up a book to kill some time. Amazingly I understood most of it
They let me check in at 2pm...
It was a twin room facing the Azusa River on 1st floor (Japanese 1st floor is Ground).
My own toilet! Pure luxury
Naturally I made a mad dash to the public bath
Just like the day before, this was not onsen, but I was not complaining!
Noticed something interesting...I really want to know what is room 111 and 112?? Certainly didn't see any room like that on their website...
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rbjhan
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5pm finally the rain stopped!
A bit late but I still went out.
The tents were up at the camping ground...
Kappa Bashi, getting quiet...
This was the Gosenjaku Hotel.
According to my friends who stayed before, a wonderful hotel. But I was looking at over 70K Yen per night....hmm....Park Lodge was less than half of that....
Dinner & breakfast were both buffet style in the Park Lodge (Gosenjaku Hotel you have French cuisine served on Royal Copenhagen)
I thought the food was quite good!
End of Day 6.
A bit late but I still went out.
The tents were up at the camping ground...
Kappa Bashi, getting quiet...
This was the Gosenjaku Hotel.
According to my friends who stayed before, a wonderful hotel. But I was looking at over 70K Yen per night....hmm....Park Lodge was less than half of that....
Dinner & breakfast were both buffet style in the Park Lodge (Gosenjaku Hotel you have French cuisine served on Royal Copenhagen
)I thought the food was quite good!
End of Day 6.
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rbjhan
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Last day in Kamikochi!
It was indeed a lovely day as forecasted.
About 6:20am, Kappa Bashi area.
Nice and quiet!
What was he doing?!
Walked around, took more pitcures....10 mins later, he was still going at it....I admired the dedication!
It was indeed a lovely day as forecasted.
About 6:20am, Kappa Bashi area.
Nice and quiet!
What was he doing?!
Walked around, took more pitcures....10 mins later, he was still going at it....I admired the dedication!
rbjhan
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The original plan was to leave Kamikochi relatively early this morning, breakfast then straight to the bus terminal - since I would have already 2 full days in here.
But alas, the first two days weather were not great at all! Changed the plan and decided to hike back to Taisho Ike and leave from there instead.
So I took all the tracks I didn't cover on day 1.
ć¦ć§ć¹ćć³ē¢
The monument of Walter Weston, an English missinary who introduced western style mountain climbing to Japan and popularised the term "Japan Alps".
Lemeista Hotel, this was the one I really wanted to book but they were doing renovations! Sigh...
Hotaka Bashi & Tashiro Bashi.
Taisho Ike was close...
And voila!
But alas, the first two days weather were not great at all! Changed the plan and decided to hike back to Taisho Ike and leave from there instead.
So I took all the tracks I didn't cover on day 1.
ć¦ć§ć¹ćć³ē¢
The monument of Walter Weston, an English missinary who introduced western style mountain climbing to Japan and popularised the term "Japan Alps".
Lemeista Hotel, this was the one I really wanted to book but they were doing renovations! Sigh...
Hotaka Bashi & Tashiro Bashi.
Taisho Ike was close...
And voila!
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rbjhan
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Next to Taisho Ike was Taishoike Hotel.
I went to their restaurant and had an apple juice...
View was breathtaking but damn now I looked back on this picture, only thought I had was, should have eaten the soba here!
Took the 11:32 bus here
Got to Shin Shimashima at 12:30, then switched to a local train to Matsumoto, arrived 1:17pm.
I didn't buy any ticket beyond Matsumoto, but there's a local train departing 1:30pm to Nagano so I just jump on, did the fare adjustment in Nagano.
Obasute station
I went to their restaurant and had an apple juice...
View was breathtaking but damn now I looked back on this picture, only thought I had was, should have eaten the soba here!
Took the 11:32 bus here
Got to Shin Shimashima at 12:30, then switched to a local train to Matsumoto, arrived 1:17pm.
I didn't buy any ticket beyond Matsumoto, but there's a local train departing 1:30pm to Nagano so I just jump on, did the fare adjustment in Nagano.
Obasute station
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rbjhan
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No time for lunch with all the tight connections!
Finally got to Nagano and there's about 30 mins gap till next train to Yudanaka onsen.
Quickly bought 2 Nozawana Oyaki (traditional savoury buns)...better than nothing I guess...
From Nagano to Yudanako onsen there's the private rail company Nagaden.
This express train was called Snow Monkey
When I arrived at Yudanaka onsen it was already 4:20pm
Skiers are probably familiar with this area
But I only came for the onsen!
Finally got to Nagano and there's about 30 mins gap till next train to Yudanaka onsen.
Quickly bought 2 Nozawana Oyaki (traditional savoury buns)...better than nothing I guess...
From Nagano to Yudanako onsen there's the private rail company Nagaden.
This express train was called Snow Monkey
When I arrived at Yudanaka onsen it was already 4:20pm
Skiers are probably familiar with this area
But I only came for the onsen!
trendwhore
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Amazing scenery, the water is so clear
CaptainCurtis
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Beautiful photos
rbjhan
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Thank you!
rbjhan
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Onsen onsen, the most important thing!
I came all way to Yudanaka onsen, mainly because of one picture.
But let's start from the beginning.
Kamei no Yu is a boutique ryokan with only 6 guest rooms.
They have a score of 4.9 out of 5 on Jalan
Matcha and wagashi.
My room was a 8 tatami room on the 1st floor facing the inner courtyard.
It's a husband and wife team running the ryokan, the husband spoke excellent English!
I came all way to Yudanaka onsen, mainly because of one picture.
But let's start from the beginning.
Kamei no Yu is a boutique ryokan with only 6 guest rooms.
They have a score of 4.9 out of 5 on Jalan
Matcha and wagashi.
My room was a 8 tatami room on the 1st floor facing the inner courtyard.
It's a husband and wife team running the ryokan, the husband spoke excellent English!
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rbjhan
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Kamei no Yu is affiliated with Yorozuya Ryokan (about 3 mins walk) and guests can also enjoy the bath of Yorozuya.
A basket was prepared for you to take to the bath with towels and things.
Yorozuya was quite a large ryokan.
The small building in front "Oyu", is not part of the ryokan. It's a bath house for the locals. Ryokan guests can also use them (but not day trippers).
Yorozuya's famous bath "Momoyama" is a Registered National Tangible Culture Property.
The following pictures are all from their website.
Dressing area
!!!
This was the picture that made me came all the way here.
Rotenburo (outdoor bath).
Honestly, I don't have words for this bath.
It is definitely my top 3
And you know I've been to how many...
A basket was prepared for you to take to the bath with towels and things.
Yorozuya was quite a large ryokan.
The small building in front "Oyu", is not part of the ryokan. It's a bath house for the locals. Ryokan guests can also use them (but not day trippers).
Yorozuya's famous bath "Momoyama" is a Registered National Tangible Culture Property.
The following pictures are all from their website.
Dressing area
!!!
This was the picture that made me came all the way here.
Rotenburo (outdoor bath).
Honestly, I don't have words for this bath.
It is definitely my top 3
And you know I've been to how many...
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rbjhan
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Six rooms probably not worth running a kitchen?
Anyways dinner was also served at Yorozuya.
I booked the basic dinner plan.
The duck pastrami was delicious!
I ordered non-alcohol beer, they quickly changed the umeshu to local apple juice, great service!
Sashimi, Shinshu salmon again. ļ¼according to my research Shinshu salmon is in fact rainbow troutļ¼
Iwana Yaki (my favourite, not!)
Soba, ofc...
Steam dish
Local beef nabe.
It was not bad. But by this stage I really didn't want to see any more soba or Iwana Yaki.....
Anyways dinner was also served at Yorozuya.
I booked the basic dinner plan.
The duck pastrami was delicious!
I ordered non-alcohol beer, they quickly changed the umeshu to local apple juice, great service!
Sashimi, Shinshu salmon again. ļ¼according to my research Shinshu salmon is in fact rainbow trout
ļ¼Iwana Yaki (my favourite, not!)
Soba, ofc...
Steam dish
Local beef nabe.
It was not bad. But by this stage I really didn't want to see any more soba or Iwana Yaki.....
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rbjhan
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Back to Kamei no Yu and there's onigiri waiting for me in the room 
Since there were only 6 rooms, each group got 30 mins exclusive use of the bath till 10pm (reservation made during check in). Afterwards it's public bath.
Nowhere near as impressive as the Momoyama Bath, but for a ryokan this size I thought the bath was nice.
There's an outdoor bath too! Picture taken the next morning.
Since there were only 6 rooms, each group got 30 mins exclusive use of the bath till 10pm (reservation made during check in). Afterwards it's public bath.
Nowhere near as impressive as the Momoyama Bath, but for a ryokan this size I thought the bath was nice.
There's an outdoor bath too! Picture taken the next morning.
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