Return to the Japan Alps May 2024

[ShelleyB]

Ah but that is a mountain hut by Japanese standards!

From the Kamikochi side you have Dekesawa hut:

岳沢小屋 | 山小屋のご案内 | 槍ヶ岳山荘グループ

When I heard the name "hut" I imagined huts like on the Overland Track.

 

[rbjhan]

When I heard the name "hut" I imagined huts like on the Overland Track.

Well this is Japan after all, they sure know how to travel in style!
Even when hiking

 

[rbjhan]

Amazingly, even though I can't manage the booking on CI, they sent through a link to pre-select meals and it worked!
I give up trying to understand how their IT works

 

[rbjhan]

The concept of Hitou 秘湯ひとう

Literally, it means secret onsen. But it is a bit more..... in comparison to the famous onsen towns like Kusatsu, Hakone, Yufuin, Gero...these are the secluded ones.

And ofc this being Japan, there's an official association of Hitous (founded in the 70s iirc):

日本秘湯を守る会 公式Webサイト

日本秘湯を守る会公式Webサイト｜日本秘湯を守る会会員旅館情報のご案内・宿泊予約サービスのご提供。日本秘湯を守る会は昭和５０年、３３軒の旅館によって結成され、現在では、秘湯の理念に共鳴した全国各地の温泉旅館が温泉という日本遺産を大切に守り地球環境を守ってゆける宿びとを目指し日本秘湯を守る会として活動しております。

www.hitou.or.jp

To be on that list, the ryokan needs to be relatively small, located off the beaten path, has natural onsen (obviously), Japanese in style, etc.
Basically the farther away, the older, the smaller, the better.

Well I have booked one today!
Very excited coz it will be my first time in a Hitou

 

[rbjhan]

Ooooh today I got notification that my JTTP preliminary inspection was completed, phew!

The Japan Trusted Traveler Program

Japan Trusted Traveler Program

Well basically you get to use the auto gates at Narita/Haneda/Chubu/Kansai airports.
At times this can save quite some time waiting in the immigration queue!

This program has been around for many years but only in 2022 they relaxed the requirements and now (almost) everyone can apply...with an AU passport and a Platinum credit card.
Yep that's all you need! Plus having been to Japan at least twice in 12 months and no record of deportation, obviously!

I did in fact try to apply last year, but severely underestimated how long the preliminary inspection was going to take Had to withdraw the application...
Well this time I applied in early March and only got it today, so you know....

Now I just need to complete the secondary inspection in Japan, and the card is valid for 3 years.
Hopefully next trip I can use the auto gates in Narita!

 

[Matt_01]

Ooooh today I got notification that my JTTP preliminary inspection was completed, phew!

The Japan Trusted Traveler Program

Japan Trusted Traveler Program

Well basically you get to use the auto gates at Narita/Haneda/Chubu/Kansai airports.
At times this can save quite some time waiting in the immigration queue!

This program has been around for many years but only in 2022 they relaxed the requirements and now (almost) everyone can apply...with an AU passport and a Platinum credit card.
Yep that's all you need! Plus having been to Japan at least twice in 12 months and no record of deportation, obviously!

I did in fact try to apply last year, but severely underestimated how long the preliminary inspection was going to take Had to withdraw the application...
Well this time I applied in early March and only got it today, so you know....

Now I just need to complete the secondary inspection in Japan, and the card is valid for 3 years.
Hopefully next trip I can use the auto gates in Narita!

Thanks for posting as this is good information to know, I have this type of entry for SG and TW and it saves time. I was in Japan 3 weeks back and will be there again in 2 weeks so I will defiantly look into this.

 

[rbjhan]

Thanks for posting as this is good information to know, I have this type of entry for SG and TW and it saves time. I was in Japan 3 weeks back and will be there again in 2 weeks so I will defiantly look into this.

I've heard mixed reviews of this card but thought worth a try (apparently a lot of Japanese people never heard of it and you might have trouble getting tax refund, especially in smaller shops).
Hate being stuck in the immigration queue...

Just know that you need plenty of time! Last year I think I did one month in advance and that was not enough! Till I got back I didn't get approved for the prelim, ended up cancelling it.

Cost is 2200 Yen and you need to buy revenue stamps for payment, they don't accept anything else - only for the secondary inspection, prelim is free.

 

[frodo]

Just know that you need plenty of time! Last year I think I did one month in advance and that was not enough! Till I got back I didn't get approved for the prelim, ended up cancelling it.

Cost is 2200 Yen and you need to buy revenue stamps for payment, they don't accept anything else - only for the secondary inspection, prelim is free.

Thanks for the reminder! I got a new passport recently so I could not apply for this earlier, might be too late for me to get approval for the next trip though if the timelines are similar to your application.

I did not enter an arrival date for my upcoming trip in the application form so I can still use the same application on the next trip after that (within the 6 month expiry period).

 

[rbjhan]

Thanks for the reminder! I got a new passport recently so I could not apply for this earlier, might be too late for me to get approval for the next trip though if the timelines are similar to your application.

I did not enter an arrival date for my upcoming trip in the application form so I can still use the same application on the next trip after that (within the 6 month expiry period).

I also heard some people got theirs approved fairly quickly, which was why last year I did it when I did....
But yeah two months is certainly my experience.
Oh so you are going twice in 6 months? I am very jealous!

 

[rbjhan]

Good news for CI passengers!
We can now visit The House in MEL
Methinks it's better than the other one....

 

[rbjhan]

Let me figure out how to upload pics on my phone....

 

[rbjhan]

In TPE now. Visited the lounge in T1 and T2 upstairs.
T1 extremely crowded.... Went from 5% occupancy when i entered to 105% in about 30mins....Must be the morning rush!

 

[rbjhan]

Landed at Narita, busy busy but all counters opened, got out in about 30mins.
Not too bad but I don't have to do it again! Done the JTTP secondary inspection real quick, took all about 10 mins, yeah.

 

[rbjhan]

And of course in typical Japanese fashion, the lady at JTTP counter gave me a handwriten note saying revenue stamp 2200 yen to take to the post office.
Saved me the trouble of murdering the word revenue, )

 

[rbjhan]

Well guys I'm going to call it a day soon.
Last night there's a baby in row 10 crying non stop.....I moved myself from 12A to 18C? Anyway the very back.... Thank God it was not full!

That baby looked like only a few months old, is it even a good idea to fly at that age? I mean, clearly the baby was not felling great...

 

[rbjhan]

Ha, today is one of those days when I ordered coffee and, INSTANT REGRET....
Damn it's terrible!!
Oh and same price as in Melbourne...

 

[rbjhan]

I am still here!
Well sort of.... Posting on the go doesn't seem to be my thing at all...
This TR will be done when I am back!

Just want to say, Kamikochi is stunning, and magical, and I'm so coming back!

 

[rbjhan]

I'm back!
Oh boy, let me tell you guys, the new service flow of SQ is a disaster...
Yesterday my flight HND - SIN was not particularly bumpy, but there were some turbulence...Dinner service was suspended three times and it took well over FIVE hours to finish!
I don't want to know how it went in whY...

 

[rbjhan]

Okay, let's start from the very beginning again~~~

The House @ MEL.
A nice upgrade from the Marhaba if you ask me...





CI passengers can choose one item from a made to order menu.
I went with the salmon and soba.


Later relocated to this area.

 

[rbjhan]

I always like the CI interior!


Especially the lamp!


Problem was, I was in 12A and there's a crying baby at 10C&D....hmmm...the baby looked no more than 3 months old...as mentioned above I moved myself to 18C to get away from the noise
It helped, a little. I was not the only one moved to the very last row btw!

Several of us exchanged looks/even stories after deplaning...nothing more bonding than some mutual misery!