Dec 31 Nagano to Shiga Kogen

We had a small sleep in until 6:30 am and went up to a quieter breakfast at 7:30. No photos again but was a repeat of yesterday except with a croissant.
We then packed up and checked out of the hotel shortly after 9:30am.

Once at Nagano station we purchased return bus tickets between nagano station and Shiga Kogen. After this we went to the shinkansen ticket office and booked our post ski week ticket to Joetsu-myoko, from here our JR West passes will take over and take us to Toyama. At Toyama we will need to reserve seats for the ride to Kyoto/Osaka. Then onto Himeji where we will stay.

With all the business sorted we hit up Donki to grab snacks for our ski week. We then lined up early for the 1:10pm bus, we were 3rd in line at 12pm. While we waited we chatted to a few Aussies and did a lunch run. At 1:10pm the bus departed and we headed up the mountain. We noticed it was a lot busier than February, the car parks seem full and there were people around.

Arriving just before 3pm we checked in, it did not go quite as smoothly as usual, we had to ask for the lift passes, then they wanted to charge us, then we said we had already paid. Then for the first time they wanted to put a hold/guarantee on a card. They wanted a credit card, but did not accept wise, did accept Macquarie debit card. With that done we took our bags up and then came down to get the ski bags and luggage that had been sent here 14 days ago when we arrived in Japan.

Skis went into the locker and we came upstairs and unpacked. At 4:50 we headed to Ramen corner to wait for them to open. As we were the first and only customers in the restaurant, Hubby was able to ask what he could have that was ok for coeliac, he was told edemame, rice, fried rice without the meat. We ordered fried rice, gyoza, karaage and edemame.

Oh and there is no Coolish in the ice-cream vending machine! Anyway once back in our room we opened our Fukubukuro bags that we got from Don Quixote for 100yen. It turns out each bag has a 100yen voucher in it, and some lucky ones have 1,000yen voucher. So you essentially get your money back and some free stuff. We each ended up with a toothbrush, hand cream, and a bath bomb. The boys also got a keyring, and Jason got masks as well. Dale got a fun bath foam spray, and I got aluminium foil patty cake cases. And I was one of the lucky ones and got a 1,000yen voucher! So I just made 9 times my money back.

At about 6:30pm we headed for our first onsen. Then just chilled in the room until NYE time. At 11pm we got dressed in our snow gear and walked to Ichinose Family. Here we joined a few other people who visited the small shrine on the slopes, as it neared 11:30 the crowd grew, and at midnight fireworks were let off. We were freezing during the wait, but it was worth it. Then we walked back to the hotel and had a well deserved sleep.Read more