Snow, Onsen and Crab!

[rbjhan]

Ah Yes, I'm going to Japan again, who is surprised? No one? Thought so...

Anyways trip #15 here it is!
Tickets were booked back in Mar/Apr 2024.
75K QFF for CI MEL-TPE
Then 22K QR avios for CX TPE-NRT (CX has a number of Fifth Freedom flights between Taiwan and Japan, very handy!)
92K Velocity for SQ KIX-SIN-MEL



So I'll spend the first 3 days in Tokyo doing Tokyo things, mainly shopping for fountain pens and paper (don't ask). Oh also booked the ANA Blue Hangar Tour.
Last year I went to the JAL equivalent and was quite impressed, let's check how ANA compares.

After Tokyo I'll go to Nagano, again!
First stop Lake Suwa, then (hopefully) a winter snowshoe tour in Kamikochi. Fingers crossed the weather will be good! Staying 3 nights in Nagano Prefecture.

From there I'll move to Toyama via Takayama, booked a ryokan in Unazuki onsen.

After Toyama it's KYOTO. Oh I miss Kyoto....It's been inundated by tourists which is why I did not dare to go during the previous two trips. We'll see how things are in supposedly low season.

From Kyoto I move to Kinosaki onsen and Taiza onsen, however the main attraction here is Snow Crabs, yummm.

The trip is still 2 weeks away but I'm getting very excited!

 

[elanshin]

Sounds like a fun relaxing trip.


An interesting observation I noticed is the Kinki region now can do card tap for transport when I was there at new years. Probably in preparation for world expo. Every entry and exit has at least one gate equipped with it, its not as quick as an IC card but fast enough.

 

[rbjhan]

I was out of points when the first flight was booked. Otherwise booking the whole way to Japan on CI would have been ideal.
Now I have to worry about if CI check in will interline my luggage onto CX...hmm...we shall see.

Worst case scenario I enter Taipei and re-check myself. A slight problem is CX website says their counter in TPE opens 3 hours before departure. So for my 12.50 flight that would be 9.50am.
And my CI flight lands at 6.35am....They did also say the self service bag drop opens at 9am, so if I can get the transfer desk to issue my BP.....

Any suggestions of things to do in TPE landside?

 

[rbjhan]

Sounds like a fun relaxing trip.


An interesting observation I noticed is the Kinki region now can do card tap for transport when I was there at new years. Probably in preparation for world expo. Every entry and exit has at least one gate equipped with it, its not as quick as an IC card but fast enough.

I heard it's only the private companies? AKA JR is not playing? In Tokyo it's Keikyu that's doing it iirc.

Anyways good for people who's never been to Japan I guess.
Still would advise to get a Suica/ICOCA or whatever, so handy for other things too, lockers, vending machines, konbini, shops and restaurants....

 

[elanshin]

I was out of points when the first flight was booked. Otherwise booking the whole way to Japan on CI would have been ideal.
Now I have to worry about if CI check in will interline my luggage onto CX...hmm...we shall see.

Worst case scenario I enter Taipei and re-check myself. A slight problem is CX website says their counter in TPE opens 3 hours before departure. So for my 12.50 flight that would be 9.50am.
And my CI flight lands at 6.35am....They did also say the self service bag drop opens at 9am, so if I can get the transfer desk to issue my BP.....

Any suggestions of things to do in TPE landside?

Go get Taiwanese breakfasts! Fuhang is one of the top rated, although there can be anywhere from a 30m to 1h line. Fuhang Soy Milk
There's a few other solid breakfast options around

We used Home - Taiwan Obsessed
to help us figure out what to do.

That being said its a solid 45mins one way on the airport express to Taipei station. Taoyuan is closer than Taipei from memory.

 

[rbjhan]

Kamikochi has a livecam, I've been totally obsessed



Today the weather is not good though!

 

[rbjhan]

Go get Taiwanese breakfasts! Fuhang is one of the top rated, although there can be anywhere from a 30m to 1h line. Fuhang Soy Milk
There's a few other solid breakfast options around

We used Home - Taiwan Obsessed
to help us figure out what to do.

That being said its a solid 45mins one way on the airport express to Taipei station. Taoyuan is closer than Taipei from memory.

Ah no I'm not planning to leave the airport.
Hurt my ankle two weeks ago, I'm taking things very easy so that the snowshoe thingy is not compromised.

Love Taiwanese breakfast though!
I heard there's a foodcourt in the public area so might go for that. Hopefully there're some decent choices.

 

[rbjhan]

There are a few special trains I'm hoping to take.

The one already booked is Akamatsu of Kyoto Tango Railway.

Tango AKA-MATSU Train - Kyoto Tango Railway | WILLER TRAVEL

Tango AKA-MATSU Train is a sightseeing train based on the theme of Pine tree, the symbol of Amanohashidate. The train connects Amanohashidate, one of the Three views of Japan and Nishimaizuru.

willer-travel.com

Same company, there's also Aomatsu, this one does not require reservation, so we'll see.

Also, the Hokuriku Shinkansen has been extended to Tsuruga. I plan to ride that one too.

 

[rbjhan]

Well, interesting exchange happened today!

Added another night to my existing booking with the ryokan in Sawando.
A whole bunch of emails followed, it went like this:
Ryokan: we are unable to provide different meals for your two nights, is that okay? Also cleaning crew will not enter your room.
Me: Yeah that's fine.
Ryokan: We have a consecutive stay plan on the hotel website, do you want to try that?
Me: Well the first morning I don't need breakfast since I'm leaving early for my snow shoe tour...
Ryokan: Here is the detail calculation of your current 2 nights booked vs our plan.....oh it saves 500Yen
Me (laughing inside): Yeah okay let's change it.


I'm curious what else will come up....

 

[trendwhore]

I heard it's only the private companies? AKA JR is not playing? In Tokyo it's Keikyu that's doing it iirc.

Anyways good for people who's never been to Japan I guess.
Still would advise to get a Suica/ICOCA or whatever, so handy for other things too, lockers, vending machines, konbini, shops and restaurants....

I did notice this card payment a few times recently too, in Tokyo as well but can't recall which lines it was on. Could be right about the non JR though

 

[rbjhan]

I did notice this card payment a few times recently too, in Tokyo as well but can't recall which lines it was on. Could be right about the non JR though

There was news a while ago, let me see if I can find it...

Edit, found it! Ah it's Keio.

鉄道各社でクレカのタッチ決済導入広がる 新たな選択肢に | NHK

【NHK】鉄道各社の間でクレジットカードを使ったタッチ決済の導入が広がっています。増え続ける外国人旅行者への対応がねらいですが、交…

www3.nhk.or.jp

They are mainly from Shinjuku to western areas. If that's where you were going...

 

[elanshin]

Ah no I'm not planning to leave the airport.
Hurt my ankle two weeks ago, I'm taking things very easy so that the snowshoe thingy is not compromised.

Love Taiwanese breakfast though!
I heard there's a foodcourt in the public area so might go for that. Hopefully there're some decent choices.

I believe there is a food court and observation deck. CX lounge is also nice quiet area to chill later as well. They've got a solid noodle bar from memory.

You could also check out the famima and 7 if you want to see what the difference is. I definitely know they have stuff like pork floss onigiri.

There was news a while ago, let me see if I can find it...

Edit, found it! Ah it's Keio.

鉄道各社でクレカのタッチ決済導入広がる 新たな選択肢に | NHK

【NHK】鉄道各社の間でクレジットカードを使ったタッチ決済の導入が広がっています。増え続ける外国人旅行者への対応がねらいですが、交…

www3.nhk.or.jp

They are mainly from Shinjuku to western areas. If that's where you were going...

I spotted some covered up extra extensions on some of the gates on the chuo line so JR is probably looking at getting it set up - just probably not ready to roll it out.

 

[rbjhan]

I believe there is a food court and observation deck. CX lounge is also nice quiet area to chill later as well. They've got a solid noodle bar from memory.

You could also check out the famima and 7 if you want to see what the difference is. I definitely know they have stuff like pork floss onigiri.

I spotted some covered up extra extensions on some of the gates on the chuo line so JR is probably looking at getting it set up - just probably not ready to roll it out.

Yeah I've been to that CX lounge, looks very much like a mini Pier.
It was the best I've visited in TPE.

Lacks a shower though! But iirc there's one next to the PP lounge that's free to use.