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Japan 2018 Trip3

March 2018 - April 2024
An open-ended adventure by Melskius Read more
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  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 1

    Day 1 - GC to Narita

    March 27, 2018 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Up at 5am to drive to the airport. Slight hiccup as we forgot the sandwiches in the freezer for the Jetstar flight. A quick stop at Coles Nerang and made some sandwiches in the carpark solved that. A full plane saw Jetstar change our purchased seats to put 3 of us together and Oscar on his own behind us. So Jason became Oscar for the flight and I had the kids. We arrived early and had an easy way through baggage and immigration. Had an airport foodcourt meal the we were off to Narita Airport Rest House. Its a bit of a tired hotel, but 10, 200¥ for a large triple room was fine with me.Read more

  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 2

    Day 2 - Narita to Naeba

    March 28, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 7 °C

    Woke up very early at Narita and then headed back to the airport to exchange the JR pass. We caught the 9:19am NEX to Tokyo and then onto the shinkansen to Echigo-yuzawa station arriving at noon. We then found a place to eat lunch and hubby tried some Sake at the sake museum (sake tasting). Then at 2:20pm we boarded the bus headed for Naeba. It was a suprisingly snow filled climb up the mountain to Naeba (40mins). Here we were treated well, given free breakfast for all of us and free lift tickets for one day. We had to change rooms after our first room was well above 30 degrees and too hot to stay in. Staff were very accommodating to move us. The complex is huge, we had an early bite for dinner at the food court, and we will hit the slopes tomorrow.Read more

  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 3

    Day 3 - Naeba

    March 29, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 3 °C

    Woke up very early again and watched the snow groomers from our 10th floor window. We then had our breakfast buffet (free thanks to Seibu club), then got our rental gear - very expensive at about $500 for 2 days - but was not worth bringing gear for only 2 days on snow. Bit more tolerable when it is for 4 people - and when the front desk gave us free lift tickets for our stay.

    We headed out to the snow a bit before 9, and it was already hot, forecast 17degrees. We ditched the beanies, gloves and jackets. We spent some time getting Oscar used to skiing. We then hit the chair lifts for a few green slope runs. We had oscar both between Jason's legs and using the ski harness out front. The we decided to take the gondola up near top to ski a green run and use its chairlift. Oscar was doing well. We then stopped for CoCo Curry at their top of mountain restaurant. Views were amazing.

    After that things weren't that well thought out. We decided to ski Oscar down - a few red runs and green runs. Some were very steep. At time Jason piggy backed him, others he skiied and the last bit we were all too buggered, so Oscar, Dale and I bum slid down a fair chunk of the steep ski run. Not doing that again.
    So at 2pm we called it quits and headed back to the room.

    Before dinner we walked through the complex. It takes about 10mins to walk from one end to the other. Grabbed some pizza for dinner, and retired early.    Read more

  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 4

    Day 4 - Naeba

    March 30, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 -2 °C

    Up early and had the buffet breakfast at the hotel (free thanks to Seibu club). Then we hit the slopes early. It eas much colder today thankfully and there was a bit of light wind. The snow was better in the morning, but got chopped up pretty quickly. Oscar has been a champion and skiied well tethered by Jason. Dale is loving it too. We did about 6 runs of the green slope right out front of the hotel.

    At 11am we headed to the kids play area (4,400¥) were we had some fun on the snow tubes and sledges. The tubing was lots of fun. At 12 we headed for food. Dale and I got waffles, Jason got paella and Oscar chicken - bonus we were able to use tomorrow's breakfast vouchers to pay for lunch (as we plan to depart before breakfast).

    At 2pm we went back out into the slush for a few more runs. At 3pm back to the kids snow park for some more tubing fun. At 4pm we were done. Returned the rental gear. Packed a bag to taqbin to yokohama and grabbed some dinner. We also got to spend the 2000¥ in vouchers we got for not having our room cleaned daily.

    Early night as we plan on catching a 7am bus out.    Read more

  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 5

    Day 5 - Matsumoto, Japan

    March 31, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    We left Naeba on the 7am bus and arrived at Echigo-yuzawa at 7:40am. By 8:08am we were on the first Shinkansen Toki to Takaski, onto another shinkansen Hakutaka to Nagano arriving at 9:30am. At 10am we boarded the Shinano wide view train to Matsumoto, it wound its way through some beautiful scenery with snowy alps around, we arrived at 10:49am.

    Our hotel was on the same block as the station, so we dropped our bags and headed for the castle. We toured the castle and the grounds, cherry blossoms were just starting to bud. After this we walked back through the city looking for something to eat - at 2:30. Indecision stopped us eating at the first place, the 2nd was sold out, and 3rd was shutting. So we ate at mos burger. Then proceeded to check into our hotel at 3pm.

    After this we scoped out where the bus station was and visited a supermarket. At 5pm we ventured back out to see the Yoyoi Kusama exhibits that are outside the museum of art. Then we ventured to a mall and had dinner in the food court. Then about a 1km walk back to the hotel.    Read more

  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 6

    Day 6 - Takayama, Japan

    April 1, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    We were up very early again and out of the hotel just after 6am. As the bus to Takayama was unreserved we had no idea how busy it may be and we wanted to catch the 7:50am bus. We had no need to worry as there were only a handful of people on the bus. It traveled over and through the alps on some very windy and tunneled roads, even past more snow. The journey was 2hrs 20mins. We arrived in Takayama at 10:15am. Our hostel was found easily, just a block from the station, so we dropped our bags as we could not check in until 3pm.

    So walking we went through the old preserved parts of town up and down the busy streets. Jason tried the Hida beef sushi (1000¥) and the Hida beef skewers (1000¥), he thought it was great. To me it was just meat and not worth the $20ish we just paid. But it is famous in this region. We past a butcher shop and some restaurants that a dish costs more than our 2 nights accommodation.

    We also walked up to Kitayama park at one end of town past the Hachiman shrine. It was an uphill walk for a good while, though provided a great view of the city. Buggered, we made the trek back to our hostel just before 3. We have a 4 bed room with private bathroom for 2 nights (31,600¥).

    We are having no luck with restaurants. We decided on a place to go only 2 blocks from our hostel. When we got there we discovered a closed today only sign on the door. So we walked down the street a little and ended up at a cafe. The staff were super friendly and gave the kids lots of origami. Dinner and drinks was only 3,500¥.    Read more

  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 7

    Day 7 - Takayama, Japan

    April 2, 2018 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    We had a more leisurely morning due to not having to travel anywhere. So at 8:30am we set off to walk the Higashiyama walking course. It is 5.5km, add about another 2km to/from our starting point.

    Along the way we saw/ visited 10 temples and walked some suburban back streets. We were even stopped by an old lady who gave the kids rice crackers. The kids were really good and did not complain about all the walking at all. We tried to go to the restaurant that was shut from last night, but were turned away. So we had McDonald's for lunch.

    After a rest we headed out and visites the 3 storey pagoda nearby, wandered the neighbourhood and then waited in line for a restaurant to open at 5pm. We had a lo ely meal of yakisoba from Chitose. Cheap filling and nice. A visit to family mart got us dessert and breakfast ready for tomorrow's onward journey. Next stop Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa.    Read more

  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 8

    Day 8 - Shirakawa, Japan

    April 3, 2018 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    We left Takayama on the 7:50 bus bound for Shirakawa-go arriving at 8:40am. The journey went through many tunnels and we saw snow on the ground too. On arrival we beat most tour groups, this allowed us to wander around the village, where there was still a bit of snow in places.

    We then toured Kanda housd, a gassho house and went through the 4 levels. After this we treked up to the lookout point for a great view over the village. At 12:20 we boarded the bus for Kanazawa, another journel of lots of tunnels, arriving at 1:35pm.

    Kanazawa is beautiful. We walked the 15mins to our hotel - the Shara Hotel kumu - its very industrial modern. Our 4 bunk room cost 31,100¥ for the 2 nights. After dropping our bags we headed for Kenrouken garden. Turns out it was free due to Cherry blossoms which were everywhere, as too were the people.

    The gardens were a spectacular sight, as to was the Kanazawa castle grounds that we wandered through to get back to the hotel. On deciding to head to dinner, we ended up at the samurai district. We had to wait an hour to get into 'The Godburger' for dinner, then nearly as long for them to make it. The kids were good for such a long day.    Read more

  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 9

    Day 9 - Kanazawa, Japan

    April 4, 2018 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We set off in the morning for Omicho Market and saw lots of fresh produce and seafood. We got the kids a punnet of strawberries for only 450¥.

    After this we continued to walk to Higashi Chaya district. We were there well before the crowds and got to wander the beautiful historic streets without crowds. We had a chat to an official who strolled with us a bit telling is about the houses features. This area was gorgeous, and the Cherry blossoms were all lining the river.

    We then visited the Gold Leaf Museum to see how it was made and see some exhibits 310¥. After this we essentially just crossed the road and into some backstreets to Kazue-machi Chaya district. Here we saw a beautiful alley with a cherry blossom raining down, and we could hear the performance of a tea ceremony from inside the building playing music.

    After this we walked back down through the Castle and between the gardens to the 21st Century Musuem for Modern Art 360¥. Here we were able to see the swimming pool installation. On our walk back to our hotel we stopped at a cafe for lunch. After this the weather had turned cool for our walk back to the hotel at 2pm. Rest time while we did some washing.

    At 5pm we ventured out into the drizzling rain to get dinner. This time we headed to Korinbo, we had a look at a department store basement, but needed somewhere to eat, so we looked at the restaurant floor, decided on a place only to be told they were booked out. So further along the street we found Maccas and caved. Btw their Teriyaki burger isn't too bad.    Read more

  • TravelerJapan 2018 Trip3
    Day 10

    Day 10 - Yokohama, Japan

    April 5, 2018 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We left Kanazawa at 8:30am and headed for the train station. We bought tickets for the journey to Joetsumyoko where our JR East pass kicks back in to take us to Tokyo. It cost 14,000¥ for the gap for the three of us. The train journey took us to the coast and back near the snowy alps. We boarded at 9:21am arrived in Tokyo at 12:36pm.

    So we stowed the luggage at 600¥ a piece as there were no large lockers for the pram. We put all the backpacks in a 500¥ locker, only to realise we left the JR passes in a backpacks and needed them to exit. Another 500¥ later we were on the subway 170¥ each to Tsukiji where Jason purchased another knife.

    As it was 2:30 we headed back to Tokyo station to visit Character street. The kids loved it. The Pokemon shop was what the kids were after, and Oscar went crazy when Picachu came to visit out the front of the store, some purchases later we headed back to collect our luggage and board a local train at 4:47pm. It was sardine like for the journey (after accidently entering a green car) we arrived in Yokohama at 5:15pm and walled around the station to get to hotel on the north side about 750m away.

    We are staying at the Richmond Hotel, it only opened on 20/2, we have a triple room on the 10th floor for 66,500¥ for the 3 nights. Its very nice. We headed to a pizza place on the same block for dinner, every pizza was 500¥, yet everyone had 300¥ cover charge. Early to bed after a long day.    Read more

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