Chasing Cherry Blossoms Mar/Apr 2023

[rbjhan]

Hello friends! It's me and another Japan TR
I know I know, got asked all the time, aren't you getting tired of Japan? WOULD I NEVER....

Actually this was only my 2nd time in Japan during Spring! Why? hayfever
First one is here..

However during covid I got a bit crazy and booked this trip coz award ticket was available, why not eh? Sadly direct flights from Melbourne was not, so I had to transit through BNE and overnight there! Originally was coming back via Sydney but later I cancelled that one and opted for SIN instead.

The trip was:
MEL - BNE - HND
1 night in Tokyo - 5 nights in Hokuriku region - 5 nights in Kansai - 4 nights in Tokyo
NRT - SIN - MEL

Got very lucky as the cherry blossoms were super early this year! My days in Hokuriku was full blossoms everywhere
And here we go!

 

[VPS]

Living vicariously in Japan through your TR - a couple of friends are there now

 

[rbjhan]

Living vicariously in Japan through your TR - a couple of friends are there now

Seems like everyone is there now
Forget about Kyoto and Tokyo, even Kanazawa was flooded with tourists.

 

[rbjhan]

So the trip started at MEL domestic lounge. Crowded as always!
At least the spice bar was open.


Mint and pea soup later, quite tasty actually.


IBIS Brisbane Airport. Nothing to say, it did the job.


Oh the shuttle bus to international terminal cost $8!
I knew I can walk back to the domestic terminal and catch a free bus there, just can't be bothered...

Also, I was told they can't keep luggage overnight in BNE so can't check it all the way to HND. WTF?!

 

[rbjhan]

Kiosk and bag drop for J, the horror


Lounge was okay I guess?


And breakfast hard to fxx_ up...


Boarding time finally


I ordered the Japanese meal, brave or foolish?


Was not bad, actually.


Not a fan of the sandwich though...


Overall, uneventful flight which is a great thing!

 

[rbjhan]

Read some horror stories about immigration at Narita/Haneda, but I got lucky!
Took about 30 mins to finish everything, I was onboard the local train to Shinagawa by 20:35.

*I do find the Keikyu trains confusing though. Coz trains to Yokohama and Shinagawa are on the same platform even though they are the opposite directions. And once you get to Shinagawa finding the one to Tokyo is not that easy either...Took me sometime to figure it out!
If you are not familiar with it, probably better to try the monorail, I imagine connection in Hamamatsucho should be simple.

Anyways, I got to Tokyo Station, walked to Nihonbashi Exit and Hotel Metropolitan is right next to it.
The location is excellend but room is very small...


Couldn't even open my suitcase without rearranging the furniture a bit...
Since I'm only staying one night, that's okay (originally booked another 4 nights at the end of trip, thankfully changed my mind!)

 

[rbjhan]

The next day, looking out the window....weather was terrible...


However, Tokyo was supposed to be in full cherry blossoms at that moment.
I decided to soldier on! Destination Chidorigafuchi Park.

It was weekend. So despite the weather there were quite some people came out to see the sakura.


Not bad, eh?


You know what's missing in this picture? The row boats! Sigh, on a good day this would be so much better...

 

[rbjhan]

Half soaked through in about 2 hours...time to go...

There's a lounge for Gran Class Shinkansen passengers in Tokyo Station but they don't really advertise it much...I had to look really hard for it!
Only drinks available, no food. But certainly better than waiting on the platform. Lounge was almost empty when I was there, saw only one other person.
*Note this lounge is outside the gates so you'll need some extra minutes depends on how familiar you are with Tokyo Station.


Here it came! Hokuriku Shinkansen.


Gran Class is comfy.


Problem was, the one I took had no meal service onboard! And I forgot to check Didn't even buy a bento...ended up VERY hungry when I got to Toyama.

 

[rbjhan]

So I went straight to the restaurants inside Toyama Station building after arrival!
This is the famous white prawns of Toyama Bay, sashimi style.


Hotel Vischio, right next to Toyama Station. Location is perfect, with public bath and very good price!

 

[rbjhan]

Obviously I went to the public bath first thing! No pictures.

Since I had lunch at 4pm, decided to go out for a walk before dinner.
It was already dark outside.
I went to the Kansui Park, coz I knew there will be some fancy lighting going on for the cherry blossoms.


The colours were a bit funky but you can see my timing was perfect, full blossoms!

 

[rbjhan]

The rain was quite heavy so I didn't want to leave the station building for dinner.
Picked a gyutan restaurant in the shopping mall below my hotel.
Did I say I love gyutan?


Rice porridge.


Salad

 

[levelnine]

Following along with great interest.

Your last TR inspired me to book a meal in one of the restaurants you visited in Kyoto (the woman-led wagyu one) when I'll be there next month.

 

[rbjhan]

Following along with great interest.

Your last TR inspired me to book a meal in one of the restaurants you visited in Kyoto (the woman-led wagyu one) when I'll be there next month.

Oooh good to know!
I've tried some more restaurants this time, two were really good

 

[rbjhan]

Woke up the next morning, finally sunny!


Quickly finished the konbini breakfast and off I went.
Matsukawa Park, about 10 mins walk from hotel. Unbelievable blossoms


And not many people around.


The date was 27 March, we were about 10 days ahead of schedule.
I was not expecting full blossoms, at all. But holy cough was I lucky or what?!


This really is amazing.


Next to the park is City Hall, there's a free viewing deck.


Even without anything else I'd say I've done enough sakura.
But of course there would be more to come

 

[rbjhan]

Sashimi set meal for lunch.


After that I was going to Kanazawa, then onwards to Wakura onsen.
I love trying all the different specialty sightseeing trains in Japan. Hanayome Noren had been on my list for a few years.
This time managed to book a seat online!

Platform 4 in Kanazawa Station is the designated area for this train.
The black and red represents Wajima nuri lacquerware.


Layout of the train


I was in Car 2.




Car 1 is all compartments.


The decor here apparently is inspired by Kaga Yuzen.


And of course all the gold is just the Kanazawa thing!

Must confess, even though this is all very pretty. I did find my return journey in a regular limited express train more comfortable

 

[rbjhan]

Getting off Hanayome Noren at Wakura onsen station. After the exit I immediately saw the shuttle bus from my ryokan, Kagaya.
Well I actually booked Kagaya Bettei Matsu no Midori, but they share the shuttle bus
The driver explained that the bus would make 4 stops, Matsu no Midori was the 2nd one - holy cough I understood all of it, glad all my work is paying off

*Kagaya is very famous in Japan. Later in Kanazawa I mentioned to some people that I went to Wakura onsen and their first reaction was, did you stay in Kagaya?

The day before when I phoned them to book the shuttle bus, within one minute they figured out who I was - quite surprising since I just mentioned I had a reservation for that day and wanted to booked the shuttle.
As soon as I walked in the reason became clear: I was the only foreigner that day They even dug out some flag for me!


Check-in was done in the lobby


Obviously they used Wajima nuri lacquerware!
Matcha was not served here because there would be a tea ceremony later on.


My room was the entry level 12 tatami Japanese room.


With beds and ocean view!


Minibar was free.

 

[rbjhan]

After a visit to the public bath, time for tea ceremony.

I have done this once before in Uji and let me tell you, sitting on your feet is proper torture

Luckily there's a lady whose job seemed to be help guiding the guests through the ceremony. So I quickly requested a chair
The lady making the tea otoh was VERY serious about her job and no talking involved!

Apparently this teahouse was once used by the Maeda family - lords of Kaga.


Matcha was nice of course.
But the most impressive thing was after the door was opened.

 

[rbjhan]

Dinner time!

Many things in there, but the most important two were firefly squid from Toyama Bay and abalone.


Clam soup


Sashimi


Steamed conger eel, seabream roe, peas, octopus, etc.


Grilled Nodoguro.
*Nodoguro is a type of seabass, very famous produce of the Hokuriku region - but still expensive. One of my favourite.


Bamboo shoots and some others...


I messed up the pictures of rice and dessert...plus they weren't that interesting anyways
It was a very satisfying meal.

 

[Quickstatus]

Woke up the next morning, finally sunny!

Of course no TR is valid without at least one hotel carpark view

So I quickly requested a chair

Ok so not rude to request a chair?

I was not expecting full blossoms

How long do the blossoms last?

 

[rbjhan]

Of course no TR is valid without at least one hotel carpark view


Ok so not rude to request a chair?

Not special enough to make the carpark thread though

Ah they knew foreigners are not used to sit on the tatami floor. It's not really a chair though, just a small stool type thingy.

Edit: plus, they are in the hospitality business, it's not like I went there to learn Sado (茶道, 'The Way of Tea)