Japan Trip #10 - Chasing snow and onsen during zombie apocalypse

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rbjhan

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Okay I'm exaggerating a bit, but really people wearing masks everywhere was...hmm...certainly something I've never seen before :eek:
Booked the trip back in June 19, although the virus news was unsettling, I decided not to let it ruin my holiday!

MEL-TPE, CI.
TPE-NRT, JAL
Nagano, Myoko Kogen, Matsumoto, Fukuji onsen, Gero, Kyoto, Osaka

KIX-TPE, JAL
3 nights in Taipei

TPE-SIN-MEL, SQ.
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Last year I visited Taipei for the first time and really liked the city, so decided to do a stopover again. Plus award availability on CI is a lot easier to find than QF or JAL! :p

Both JAL & CI use Marhaba lounge in MEL, I'm very familiar with this one so skipping pictures here...
First thing I noticed is when getting close to the boarding gate, everybody you can see was wearing face masks (later I realised this is the new normal in Taiwan).

The cabin is gorgeous!
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Perhaps the best Super Diamond out there? Loved the lamp!
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Face mask is going to be a keyword in this TR...
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I like the cute little bag.
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Chinese breakfast in the morning.
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For 65K QFF, that is really good value (75K now).
 
Since the TPE-NRT leg was booked on JAL with Avios, I had to clear immigration and re-check in at TPE.
Tight connection is out of the question. As it turned out however, I actually left myself with too much of a buffer 🤣

Landed just a bit before 5am, and the JAL check in counter won't open till 6.45o_O
So that person you saw wondering aimlessly in the departure area, that was me...Yeah, I am never doing this again!

JAL departs from T2, but I heard the Sakura lounge was nothing special. So made the long walk to T1 Cathay lounge.
Literally no one was there!
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nothing, zero, zilch...
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This is a beautiful lounge, very much a mini Pier. I can't help but wonder how long it will remain open though...

To keep them employed, I ordered a beef noodle soup and some dumplings;)
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Unfortunately no shower here ;((
So made my way back to T2 Plaza Premium. This one was close to max capacity so no pictures.
 
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First thing I decided after the flights were booked was that I wanted to go back to Akakura Kanko Hotel.
JL802 lands at 2pm, which would be too much of a rush, plus you need to take your time with a hotel like that! So I settled for Nagano for the first night.
Metropolitan is directly connected to the station of course, but one of my favourite business hotel chains - Dormy Inn has one not far away. Easy decision really.

As promised, lots of trains. ;)
Skyliner to Ueno.
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Then quickly onto an Asama Shinkansen to Nagano.
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I was the only passenger in Gran Class.
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And you really can't do Shinkansen without Ekiben!
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Dinner at Meijitei inside the Midori department store connected to JR station.
Miso grilled gyutan 😍
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Most stores close at 8pm. So I went to DonQuijote for some late night shopping...no masks available though!
It was snowing when I came out!!! Ooooooh this is going to be a great trip.
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Re face mask.
Mother was quite anxious about me going to Japan. So I promised to wear mask whenever necessary, ie when using public transport or in big cities. Problem is that by then there was none to be found in Melbourne:(
Luckily I remember JAL put masks in their amenity kits, so dug 3 out. Also got two surgical masks from my GP.
Armed with five I went!

Even in Nagano the masks were all sold out.
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Luckily only maybe 15-20% on the street were wearing masks, so I kept the remaining 4 for later.😜
 
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Love your pics.
I just got back from Akakura Kanko - had a great week!
 
Zenkoji 善光寺, is one of the most important temples in Japan.
Tip: local buses do not take Suica/Icoca, unless you want to get a Nagano only IC card, it's cash only.
Takes about 10 mins from JR Nanago Station to Zenkoji.

I have no idea what this is but it's pretty!
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Niomon was completed covered up for building works.
This is Sanmon
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The Main Hall of Zenkoji.
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Snow just makes everything look better.
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Last Feb everywhere I went was like 15C :mad:
Certainly a much better start this time!
 
Got back to JR Nagano Station around lunch time, obviously must try soba...
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And studied how the expert works;)
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Time to head towards Akakura!!
850 Yen and 45 mins later, I got off at Myoko Kogen station.

Side note: there were a family of 4 Aussies on the train to Myoko. Talking loudly and making phone calls...:eek:
Not sure if they knew that was unacceptable behaviour in Japan...
 
Same as last year I booked the 部屋タイプ指定なし plan, got a western style twin room facing Lake Nojiri.
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The view is much better than the ones facing Mt Myoko!
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Aqua Terrace was completely covered in snow and blocked off when I arrived. Later in the evening it opened again.
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More like ice terrace now
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Ahhh so happy to be back here!
 
Got back to JR Nagano Station around lunch time, obviously must try soba...
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And studied how the expert works;)
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Time to head towards Akakura!!
850 Yen and 45 mins later, I got off at Myoko Kogen station.

Side note: there were a family of 4 Aussies on the train to Myoko. Talking loudly and making phone calls...:eek:
Not sure if they knew that was unacceptable behaviour in Japan...
Jeez that soba looks amazing.
 
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