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Can totally recommend. And without kids and the need to fit around school holidays you may want to consider late January and February for the various snow festivals that occur later in the season. Also means that experiences like seeing the drift ice in Hokkaido become an option (search Ryuhyo...

Yes we would love to go there too. Next trip will likely concentration on Kyushu, but if not then will definitely go some other time. Still Hokkaido to visit too.

Thanks @RB. We always enjoy Japan. One of the very specific highlights for me was the one on one time with ShelleyB-son, while he still enjoys spending time with me. :)

And now a short summary of my thoughts on our trip. First thing to say that the double of winter travel, and heading to less travelled regions of Japan for the majority of the trip, meant we had a welcome break from areas which have become over-touristed. We still did “touristy” things -...

The remainder of the flight was comfortable as one can expect without lie flat beds for a night flight. Premium economy is certainly more comfortable than economy for sleeping. After a late departure we landed slightly late, about 30 mins behind schedule. The smart gate machines were slammed...

Thanks. A summary of my thoughts to follow tomorrow.

Day 24. Last day. An uneventful journey back to NRT. Shinkansen to Ueno then the Skyliner to Narita. Our JR pass finished yesterday, so booked these tickets via the JR East website last week. When picking the seats could see train was busy. Assumed at the time it was skiers and so it was. Our...

And so to the final event. Throughout January each year the castle is used as the background for illuminations set to music. The illuminations commence at 6pm and go until 10 but are on a repeating loop of about 5 to 10 minutes. They are popular and for a good reason. But first here’s more of...

After the castle we headed off for lunch. ShelleyB-son was hoping for yet more Japanese cultural experiences and wanted to eat at Mos Burger, a hamburger chain like a Japanised-Maccas. We should have known better. Neither Mr ShelleyB nor I particularly like Maccas, and Mos Burger is no better...

Day 23 and the last day of doing touristy things for myself and ShelleyB-son as tomorrow is just getting back to Narita day. Today we planned to travel to Matsumoto to visit the castle, the art museum and then watch the illuminations on the castle in the evening. As the illuminations don’t...

Sorry wasn’t clear. I meant the older Japanese who were off hiking. They also got off at Iiyama. But yes lots of skiers got off at Iiyama to catch bus to Nozawa Onsen.

After the museum we walked towards Kenrokuen. On the way there a cafe called CMS, offering fluffy Japanese pancakes, proved an irrestible temptation and we duly ruined dinner by having some. The snow by now was falling very heavily but only added to the atmosphere of Kenrokuen, which was...

Day 22 and ShelleyB-son expressed a wish to visit the Ninja Weapon Museum in Kanazawa. We have been to Kanazawa previously, but did not make it to the njnja museum last time. It was also early autumn last time we were there so we are also keen to see the famous garden, Kenrokuen, in a different...

After our short visit, back on the bus and back to Kariuzawa. A short wait for the train was filled in shopping among the high end stores near the station and a visit to the Moomin Cafe. Then back to Nagano and check in to the Metropolitan Hotel Nagano. This hotel chain is owned by JR East...

Day 21 and for ShelleyB-son and I we are nearing the end of our trip. Onto our final stop, this time at Nagano. The day started a bit annoying. As usual planned to send bags onto next hotel, but despite their assurances on website indicated could only send cash on delivery. This was clearly not...

From Motsu-ji we walked to Chuson-ji. The walk is a bit longer than from the station to Motsu-ji, so for those who don’t wish to walk there is a bus. At the bottom of the path up to Chuson-ji there is a car park with a collection of shops and restaurants. In this low season only one restaurant...

Day 20 and we were off to visit Chuson-ji, a world heritage listed temple. in Hiraizumi. But we before then, I should mention the breakfast at the Sotetsu Fresa where we are staying in Sendai. The breakfast is a buffet and while ok is not very extensive and has no components that change at all...

Our aim was to catch the 5.20pm shuttle bus back to Yamagata, so made it to the bus stop by around 4.40. Queue was already quite long and we wondered if we would make it aboard. Oddly the bus came early and while we did just make the cut (in jump seats) many did not. But given the strange early...

After we had had enough of the mountaintop we made our way down for a walk around town and some lunch. The town is pretty, and as an onsen town has hot springs running through it. Not what you would call peaceful though. We were not terribly hungry so had a few snacks in a lovely public space...

Day 19 and off to hunt snow monsters (part 2). For todays quest we were heading to Zao Onsen which is well known for its snow monsters. The ropeway is also of a design less susceptible to wind effects. The forecast was good so off we went. I should add that the original plan had been to...