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

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sponsored Post

Struggling to use your Frequent Flyer Points?

Frequent Flyer Concierge takes the hard work out of finding award availability and redeeming your frequent flyer or credit card points for flights.

Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, the Frequent Flyer Concierge team at Frequent Flyer Concierge will help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

Lunch time, hmmm, same old question again: if not soba, what?!
Err I like Nagano & Matsumoto, but ready to leave Shinshu nowo_O

Remembering there's an Unagi restaurant nearby, I decided to check it out.
Look at all the Binchotan! Must be a good restaurant...
IMG_20200215_114555.jpg

Errr.....I was full of hope then I walked in and realised it's all tatami seating😖
IMG_20200215_123517.jpg

If I could find a polite way to walk out, I would....can't even do it in Melbourne, forget about Japan.

At least the Unagi was delicious!
IMG_20200215_120925.jpg
 
Last edited:
Interestingly, looking through the pictures I can't remember what I did in the afternoon, as there were none🤣
Must be just walking around then got back to the hotel for an early soak...

Anyways the next thing I do remember is dinner, ha ha.
Found one I liked inside Midori, yeah it's the same Department store just like Nagano. Except this one is much smaller.
IMG_20200215_183935.jpg

Ordered the beef on rice, yum!
IMG_20200215_184444.jpg
 
Okuhida onsen, deep in the Japan Alps, is actually not one place but 5 onsen towns.
Hirayu onsen, is the largest, and the transport hub.
Fukuji onsen, relatively new but with more traditional style ryokan made from reclaimed materials.
Shin Hirasyu onsen, 2nd largest.
Tochio onsen, mainly minshuku here.
Shin Hotaka onsen, at the base of Mt Hotaka, furthest back.

Although I planned to stay here from the very beginning, I didn't finalise the booking till late January. That's when I found availability at Yumoto Choza.

This being Japan, I didn't expect early check in. And I knew there's pretty much nothing else in Okuhida onsen. So I bought bus ticket to leave Matsumoto at 1.05pm.

Unfortunately the morning was rained-off...
Lunch was Miso ...actually I'm not going to say what it was...you guys can have a guess;)
IMG_20200216_120728.jpg

Only about 10 boarded the bus to Takayama.
Note: to get to Fukuji onsen one needs to transfer at Hirayu onsen.
IMG_20200216_145446 (2).jpg

Hirayu onsen bus terminal
IMG_20200216_143321.jpg
 
Entrance to Yumoto Choza was right next to the bus stop, very handy.
P2174969 (2).JPG

I call it entrance because you still need to walk 2, 3 mins to get to the actual ryokan.
Via this covered walkway.
IMG_20200217_075645.jpg

Lobby
P2164939.JPG

And look at this! I fell in love instantly.
P2164925.JPG
 
Last edited:
This ryokan is oh so traditional....
IMG_20200217_082728.jpg

My room, their entry level 10 tatami Japanese room in the main building.
P2164927.JPG

Balcony? Not quite sure how you call this area...
P2164928.JPG

View, not bad.
P2164929.JPG

Toilet and vanity at the corner. No bathroom.
P2164932.JPG

Looking at the entrance.
P2164933.JPG
 
Last edited:
First thing first, onsen!
P2164949.JPG

There are 3 private onsens, no need to reserve. As long as the light is green you can just walk in.
IMG_20200217_072539.jpg

Walkway to the private onsen.
P2164950.JPG

Onsen #4
This was one of the private onsens.
P2164951.JPG

Great feeling soaking in the outdoor onsen in the rain...was a bit cold though, so I kept moving between indoor and outdoor...🤣
IMG_20200216_173009.jpg
 
Dinner was in a private dining room
P2164953.JPG

Menu presentation :cool:
IMG_20200216_182420.jpg

Food was okay, local dishes galore.
IMG_20200216_182651.jpg

I don't drink, loving the non alcohol beers in Japan.
IMG_20200216_184123.jpg

Main dish was sukiyaki.
IMG_20200216_185057.jpg

The owner came in halfway to say thank you, although the only English word he mastered was "boss" while pointing to himself 🤣
 
Onsen #5
Another private onsen in the evening.
IMG_20200216_214350.jpg

If I stop here, this ryokan would have scored 100.
Sadly nothing is perfect...
P2164955.JPG

I've stayed in tatami rooms before, never had any problems so I didn't think to check the futon until it was too late (literally!)
The duvet was super warm, futon very thin, and the pillow! :mad: Oh dear what was the filling?!! Buckwheat? I had no idea, but it was TERRIBLE.
Checked the cupboards, that's only type of pillow.😰
Let's just say I didn't sleep very well that night.
 
Sapporo does a very reasonable zero alcohol beer.
I tried it at the brewery museum in Sapporo.
Would definitely drink it back home when I am driving or just don't want to drink booze.
I realise my TRs paint me out to be a raging drunk, but I honestly don't drink much at home.
 
So I got up at about 6.30 in the morning feeling rather grumpy....
Only way to compensate was more onsen!

Onsen #6
The main public bath.
Rustic is the word!
IMG_20200217_070310.jpg

Outdoor onsen
This picture doesn't do it justice...
IMG_20200217_070329.jpg

As I walked past the private onsens I saw the one I didn't try before was available. So....
Onsen #7
IMG_20200217_070839_MP.jpg

Also with its own outdoor part.
IMG_20200217_070900_MP.jpg
 
If you think I was done you clearly don't know me....
Yumoto Choza has another onsen by the river which is about 5 mins walk across the street.

Onsen #8

IMG_20200217_075251.jpg

No washing facilities here, not a problem since I did that already.
IMG_20200217_074855.jpg

Listening to the river, that was sooooo good.
 
Last edited:
I wanted to go to Shin Hotaka Ropeway.
Unfortunately that morning it looked like this:
P2174964.JPG

Also checked the live cam on their website, visibility is zero alright.
Oh well maybe next time.
So bused to Takayama instead. And since I had a couple of extra hours on my hands, Hida beef lunch!
Yeah I know my TR paints the picture of someone eating non-stop, but that actually is me in real life 🤣


P2174971 (2).JPG

Yum!!!
IMG_20200217_120227.jpg
 
So I got up at about 6.30 in the morning feeling rather grumpy....
Only way to compensate was more onsen!

Onsen #6
The main public bath.
Rustic is the word!
View attachment 208175

Outdoor onsen
This picture doesn't do it justice...
View attachment 208176

As I walked past the private onsens I saw the one I didn't try before was available. So....
Onsen #7
View attachment 208177

Also with its own outdoor part.
View attachment 208178

I need to go to this stunning place :D as long as they have changed the pillows!
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top