Travel: Japan - General
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Hi Dnls_mum,
Great write up and photos. How did you combine the photos into one?
Would definitely use this write up for my reference in future...
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jjxy mum:
Jjxy,Dnls Mum,
Very nice sharing of your 15 days trip! :love:
Yes, outdoor onsen was great! How much did you pay for that 'posh' ensuite onsen for family of 5?
Actually, we scouted around for the cheapest onsuite onsen ryokan and found Hidagyu-no-Yado . I think we paid around JPY15000 per person before tax. They had cheaper or more expensive dinner menu, we chose something in between. It was definitely good value for money. The host were so friendly and really gave true Japanese Hospitality. They actually walked us to the busstop across the ryokan in falling snow to send us off even when we told them it was not necessary. The dinner and breakfast were great! -
starlight1968sg:
Wow! Walking from Yudanaka station to Shibu Onsen! We wouldn't have been able to do it in the falling snow. We stayed at Kokuya ryokan. Chose it also based on Zeno's recommendation since he said it is the best at Shibu Onsen! Their service is really good and they think of everything. Picking us up at the train station and sending us to the entrance of Snow monkey park so we only needed to walk the last 1.8km pathway. We had originally wanted to stay at Yudanaka as we have pick all our accommodations this trip near to train stations for convenience. The ryokans at Yudanaka are cheaper too. But after reading Zeno's page and his recommendations and seeing all the photos, we decided to splurge on Kokuya! No regrets! DH and DS2 said the public onsen at Shibu onsen was ok, I did not go so dunno what's the condition. The 8 onsens in our ryokan were more than enough for me! :please: :rahrah: after this trip, DD who is 8 and my 6yo niece are both hooked on onsen too!Dnls_mum
Yes, that one night at Shibu Onsen cost a bomb but excellent food and service.
We had quite a bit of walk from the Yudanaka station to Shibu Onsen. I thought I could find my way with my limited Japanese but I couldn't.
When we reached Shibu Onsen, I was so happy to see Zeno(?) and shouted his name, only to realise the presence of tv crew as he was involved in making a tv prog.
There was snow in Yudanaka but not much. The walk from Shibu Onsen to Snow Monkey Park was another unique experience. The walk was so quiet and we wondered if any animal came out, we wouldnt know what to do. A lot of bad thoughts came, for instance, what happened if we were attacked by some bad people and how to call for help in such a remote place. So I held tight my short umbrella as a weapon to fend off any intruders.
In the end, animals did come out and they were the snow monkeys as we have reached the Park!
Dd was eager to try the public bath before we reached Yudanaka. However, upon seeing the \"condition\" of the baths, she agreed to forget about them. Dd was so thrilled with the amenities in the baths of Shibu Onsen. She was busy powdering herself.
I had a \"prob\". After so many tries, I can only soak half my body in the bath. The water is just too hot for me to bear.
My trip started with Tokyo to Nagano to Nagoya (etc the cities in the west) before returning to Tokyo.
I see that your itinerary is one and only one in this world. This is the beauty of DIY.
Did you manage to \"make noodles\" in Yokohama?
And yes, we did go Yokohama. But we did not go to Chinatown. My kids were specific about only wanted cup noodle museum and ramen museum.
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starlight1968sg:
Definitely! I have also never seen some of the ingredients even in our store bought cup noodles!Hi Dnls_mum
Do you think that the customised cup noodles made has much more ingredients than the ones we bought from the supermarkets?
Dd loved the two activities at Cup Noodles Museum best. -
Dnls_mum:
Pardon me, yes, Kokuya Ryokan is the ryokan that we stayed too.Wow! Walking from Yudanaka station to Shibu Onsen! We wouldn't have been able to do it in the falling snow. We stayed at Kokuya ryokan. Chose it also based on Zeno's recommendation since he said it is the best at Shibu Onsen! Their service is really good and they think of everything. Picking us up at the train station and sending us to the entrance of Snow monkey park so we only needed to walk the last 1.8km pathway. We had originally wanted to stay at Yudanaka as we have pick all our accommodations this trip near to train stations for convenience. The ryokans at Yudanaka are cheaper too. But after reading Zeno's page and his recommendations and seeing all the photos, we decided to splurge on Kokuya! No regrets! DH and DS2 said the public onsen at Shibu onsen was ok, I did not go so dunno what's the condition. The 8 onsens in our ryokan were more than enough for me! :please: :rahrah: after this trip, DD who is 8 and my 6yo niece are both hooked on onsen too!
And yes, we did go Yokohama. But we did not go to Chinatown. My kids were specific about only wanted cup noodle museum and ramen museum.
Wait, am confused now, Kokuya Ryokan is in Shibu Onsen and Shibu Onsen is located at Yudanaka, and Yudanaka in Nagano prefecture ?
The public baths there were not well lit and nobody was inside. Thus we gave them a miss.
During my recent trip, I went to the Chinatown in Nagasaki, Kobe and Yokohama. I like Yokohama's the best because of the goodies available. -
JR:
My son downloaded this free photogrid app on my iPhone which I now use to combine my photos before posting online.Hi Dnls_mum,
Great write up and photos. How did you combine the photos into one?
Would definitely use this write up for my reference in future...
This itinerary is pretty unusual. My sister planned it based on where she wanted to go and I just tagged along. If I planned it, I may combine the 2 Nagoya days and go tokyo directly from Nagano or perhaps have a few days skiing at Nagano. We definitely enjoyed all our ryokan and Minshuku stays and the great food they served. It is also much cheaper DIY! -
Dnls_mum:
This itinerary is pretty unusual. My sister planned it based on where she wanted to go and I just tagged along. If I planned it, I may combine the 2 Nagoya days and go tokyo directly from Nagano or perhaps have a few days skiing at Nagano. We definitely enjoyed all our ryokan and Minshuku stays and the great food they served. It is also much cheaper DIY!
Yes, my DIY trips to Japan are much cheaper than the guided tours.
The best is we get to visit, see, eat what we want, like etc. -
starlight1968sg:
Oh ya...DH did say that DS and him had the public baths to themselves and only in one bath did someone come in when they were about to leave. They said the water temperature at each bath was very diff. One was so hot, they were out after a few seconds!
Pardon me, yes, Kokuya Ryokan is the ryokan that we stayed too.Dnls_mum:
Wow! Walking from Yudanaka station to Shibu Onsen! We wouldn't have been able to do it in the falling snow. We stayed at Kokuya ryokan. Chose it also based on Zeno's recommendation since he said it is the best at Shibu Onsen! Their service is really good and they think of everything. Picking us up at the train station and sending us to the entrance of Snow monkey park so we only needed to walk the last 1.8km pathway. We had originally wanted to stay at Yudanaka as we have pick all our accommodations this trip near to train stations for convenience. The ryokans at Yudanaka are cheaper too. But after reading Zeno's page and his recommendations and seeing all the photos, we decided to splurge on Kokuya! No regrets! DH and DS2 said the public onsen at Shibu onsen was ok, I did not go so dunno what's the condition. The 8 onsens in our ryokan were more than enough for me! :please: :rahrah: after this trip, DD who is 8 and my 6yo niece are both hooked on onsen too!
And yes, we did go Yokohama. But we did not go to Chinatown. My kids were specific about only wanted cup noodle museum and ramen museum.
Wait, am confused now, Kokuya Ryokan is in Shibu Onsen and Shibu Onsen is located at Yudanaka, and Yudanaka in Nagano prefecture ?
The public baths there were not well lit and nobody was inside. Thus we gave them a miss.
During my recent trip, I went to the Chinatown in Nagasaki, Kobe and Yokohama. I like Yokohama's the best because of the goodies available.
Shibu onsen is about 5mins drive from Yudanaka train station and there are some ryokans near Yudanaka train stations too. And yes, it is all in Nagano prefecture.
I have been to Chinatown at Nagasaki too. But it was so many years back (16 yrs?), that I cannot remember anything now :?
Do you visit Japan very often? -
Dnls_mum:
Do you visit Japan very often?
OT: I visit Japan once in a few years.
Many, many years ago, JICA organised a 1mth trip to Japan and I was glad to participate. That was my 1st trip to Japan.
When dd was 2 yrs old, we went.
Then in 2010, we went again and this year, we went to Japan again.
Dd wanted to go next year to Hokkaido for skiing but the planning of itinerary, train timing, accommodation etc is quite a herculean task.
Thus I dont think we will visit Japan any time soon.
I would like to visit Shikoku and Hokkaido as these are the 2 islands that I have yet to set foot on. -
starlight1968sg:
We did Kyushu and Osaka in spring (yes we saw cherry blossoms!) 16 years ago on a guided tour. 6 years ago, we did a self drive of Hokkaido in early summer arranged by Prime travel. The food and accom were really good but very ex. We wanted to go skiing in Hokkaido this year and was again thinking of using Prime but since my sister was also planning this Japan trip, we decided to tag along since for the same price, we double the length of our vacation! Hehehe :imcool: :rotflmao:Dnls_mum:
Do you visit Japan very often?
OT: I visit Japan once in a few years.
Many, many years ago, JICA organised a 1mth trip to Japan and I was glad to participate. That was my 1st trip to Japan.
When dd was 2 yrs old, we went.
Then in 2010, we went again and this year, we went to Japan again.
Dd wanted to go next year to Hokkaido for skiing but the planning of itinerary, train timing, accommodation etc is quite a herculean task.
Thus I dont think we will visit Japan any time soon.
I would like to visit Shikoku and Hokkaido as these are the 2 islands that I have yet to set foot on.
I would like to do a skiing trip next year, Hokkaido could be a choice (Rusutsu maybe?), another option could be clubmed in Italy :). But as DS1 finishes his As next year, I'm not sure when he'll be enlisted and if we can still do a family vacation in Dec.
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