Wednesday, December 19, 2018

10 DAYS NAGANO JAPAN 24.12.2018 TO 03.01.2019

3 Trips to Japan: Nagano in winter (24.12.2018 to 03.01.2019)
Our journey:  reach Tokyo Haneda at 10.30pm

Day 1:  24.12.2018 reach Tokyo overnight Tokyo
Day 2:  25.12.2018 Ueda
Day 3:  26.12.2018 Ueda
Day 4:  27.12.2018 Ueda
Day 5:  28.12.2018 Matsumoto
Day 6:  29.12.2018 Day trip to Takayama Shirakawago
Day 7:  30.12.2018 Matsumoto
Day 8:  31.12.2018 Yokohama
Day 9:  01.01.2019 Yokohama
Day 10: 02.01.2019 Yokohama
Day 11: 03.01.2019 Reach Kuala Lumpur, fly back to Penang.

Total Expenses:
AirAsia PG-KL, KL-PG  :                 RM302.38
AirAsia Japan:                                   RM2100.00
Accomodation for 9 days:               
Bay Hotel  capsule:                            RM122.00
Ueda 3 nights:                                    RM473.00
Matsumoto 3 nights:                          RM380.00
Yokohama 2 nights:                           RM180.00
Pool money for 10 days:                    RM2200
Personal Expenses:                            RM2000

23rd Dec 2018 To Kuala Lumpur - Tea break before flying


 Dinner at Kuala Lumpur Yakotori - by our dear Risa n Wadasan

 24th Dec 2018 Early breakfast before heading to KLIA for Haneda
Fish Bee Hoon Soup
Reach Haneda Airport 10.35pm 
Reach Bay Hotel Capsule at Ginza almost 12am 
 check in midnight 


Personal shoe locker 

My first experience capsule



Late dinner almost 1am

Sake to go 
25th Dec 2018 Check out to Ueda
JR Bullet train to Ueda


Reach Ueda Station - change train to Bessho Onsen Station 






 Bessho Onsen Station - Bessho Onsen is the oldest recorded hot spring in the region. Its sulfurous waters have been regarded for their healing properties. There  are three small traditional public bath houses found around town that offer visitors a chance to experience the atmosphere of a small neighborhood hot spring bath.









Check in Anzuan Nishida Guesthouse - 25/12 to 27/12/2018
That's is Mr Anzuan the House owner










The owner always provide us with tea coffee breads n fruits


After check in, went to some temples
Jorakuji Temple - Jorakuji is related to the Kitamuki Kannon Temple. It has a thatched roof, which is unusual for a temple.







Kitamuki Kannon Temple - Main object of worship is a statue of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy.






Treat our self with gelato








Enjoy and relaxing at foot bath with gelato - feeling good




Walk around and this is the only ramen restaurant we can find
feeling hungry - not yummy too bad

 




 supper to go with plum wine

26th Dec 2018 - Owner serve us with coffee oranges and bread , plus our ramen for breakfast



 Bought 2 day pass for 1888 yen - going to Karuizawa


Which mountain is this ?




Karuizawa Station



 1st stop to Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza - is the area main shopping street that is lined with many shops offering local products and souvenirs. There are also variety of dining options at the eateries and restaurant nearby.  
  


Some photo shot



 Can't resist the baked potato 410yen



                                     
Their famous jam


Reach Kyu-Karuizawa

















Crepe Crepe 





2nd stop plan to go to Shiiraito Fall Karuizawa, by bus 30 minutes (being waiting very long for the us), destination change to Kumobaike Pond cause the day will get dark early during winter


It's about a 20 minute walk from Karuizawa Station to Kumoba Pond.






The scenery is beautifully reflected on the pond surface. The environment there was so peaceful.
We walk up to the end of the lake and return.....














3rd stop Komoro - not much we can do here getting dark












Some snack while waiting for train -  coconut biscuit is nice


 Went to Harunire Terrace to enjoy shopping, coffee and nice photo shot located next to a river - unfortunately the daylight went off so early during winter. Can't get nice view of Harunire Terrace.




Back to our home stay - feeling warm
 Daily vitamin and sake

27 Dec 2018 - coffee and bread by the owner - feeling thankful


Went to Jigokudani Yaen Koen - known as the Snow Monkey Park. to see the Snow Monkey soaked in natural hot spring.





  Reached - have to hike for about 25 minutes








1.6km to hike gambate - too bad not much snow : were hoping for more snow 



Up the stairs











Not up to our expectation - were hoping to see more snow and monkey soaking






 Order some snack on the way down - feeling hungry 


 The fries and fried chic is so delicious
 Back to the main point - it's snow so heavily while we wait for the bus 
Next stop went to Nagano Zenkoji Temple - is one of the most important and popular temples in Japan and attracts many visitors from throughout the nation and around the world.





 The Niomon Gate consists of two guardian statues facing each other
 Passing through the Niomon Gate leads to the temple's shopping street ( Nakamise Dori ).




 Enmei Jizo Son located on the left hand side, about half-way through the Nakamise Dori Shopping street.
 Chozusha ( purification Basin)
The Sanmon Gate is Zenkoji Temple's main gate. It is believed that wafting smoke from the great incense burner over the body will bestow good health and ward away illness.
We did that.




 Did not enter the temple - it closed at 4pm


Tried this soy sauce ice cream 

 Puff stuff with apple custard and coffee


 Another ice cream to go -  Miso ice cream is a must to try
                                           tasted a bit weird but still ok






 Bought some apple home
 Forgotten this shopping district name- any how is all closed, seem to closed early every where



 Stop at Midori station for dinner





 Apples for supper - yummy
28 Dec 2018 - check out Anzuan Guesthouse to Matsumoto
According to the Japanese we are very lucky that deer appear in front of us and we got 2 deers
Waiting for train to Ueda Station

It start to snow on the day we are leaving Bessho Onsen - sad



Train is here
Waiting for train to Matsumoto
On the way to Matsumoto - snow snow snow



Beautiful trees fill with snow




Here we are - Ryokan Matsukaze 
Check in here for 3 nights 28/12 - 30/12/2018
Room is big but too many furniture


River opposite Ryokan Matsukaze
Went for lunch at Coco's Restaurant





yummy fries


Went to Matsumoto City Museum of Art - YAYOI KUSAMA





Continue to Matsumoto Castle - is very cold at Matsumoto  -3 celcius


Here we are

Matsumoto Castle is one of the oldest castles in Japan. You can see the reflection of the castle in the clear water, The building is also known as the " Crow Castle" due to it's black exterior.
The red bridge gives it more color.

The garden where you can relax







Is so beautiful with the red color bridge




Omg - can't imagine we broke 2 selfie stick at the same time here

After a tired day back to Ryokan early -  need to wake up 5am next morning for our day trip to                   Takayama Shirakawago
 our dinner


29 Dec 2018 - To Takayama and Shirakawago, my dream place...
Wake up 5am, leave Ryokan at 6am to Matsumoto Bus Terminal to catch the earliest bus to Takayama at 7.15 am :  well done we make it ...hahaha


On the way to Takayama Bus Station

Half way it seem snowing none stop till Takayama - feeling excited and very happy 



Bus stop for 5 minutes rest - it's still sowing - yessss





Bought ticket from Takayama to Shirakawago - another 1 hour to go
Wow a lot of people waiting for the buses
OMG.....snow getting heavier, me getting more excited, 
We are hoping for a white white white Shirakawago



Hoohoohooo  finally we are here - Dream come true
White White White Shirakawago
It's snowing very heavily and windy none stop



Look at the trees




Unbelievable beautiful






Up hill to the deck for nice photo shot
opssss....snow falling down from the trees


The deck - very blur due to heavy snow and wind


Going down hill 



















We don't have much time here as only day trip, and have to catch our last bus at Takayama at 4.30pm
We left around 2pm to Takayama





Went to Sanmachi Suji Takayama (Old Town) - it's a group of three main street at the heart of Takayama. It's also known as Little Kyoto
And what's more - is still snowing....




They only serve beef pau - not for us too bad
Go for mochi






Some pancake











After whole day at Takayama and Shirakawago, we reach Ryokan very late
Still we went to onsen to relax our tired body
Our dinner ramen again - too tired to go out



30 Dec 2018 - Celebrating our dear friend Birthday at Abe Cafe
One of the earlier opening restaurant in the city, open at  7 am. The cafe is very traditional and near to Matsumoto Station.







 Cheese cake for birthday girl





 Nawate Dori or Frog Street. If you like frog this is the place....haha







  










Nakamachi Street located just across the river from Nawate Street.
Not much to do here - just walk around





 Ended up at Aeon Mall for late lunch




Went back to Ryokan rest for awhile - planing to go to Matsumoto Castle again for night view
Today marks the coolest day in Matsumoto -7....freezing at night


There you go night view of Matsumoto - luckily we did it
It's so beautiful at night - seems like 2 different Castle day and night
As you can see the reflection in the water







Almost frozen the water


The main entrance



Late dinner at 7 eleven - super like the fried food...so yummy

Some dessert from the staff 


31 Dec 2018 - Check out Ryokan Matsukaze Matsumoto to Yokohama
Check Yokohama for 2 nights
Book 2 rooms - did not aspect the room too be so small - but still we have fun
1 room for our luggage
Location very near to Sakuragicho Station







After check in, went to Minato Mirai also known as MM ( central business district of Yokohama )
Walk pass Chinatown Yokohama





End of Autumn ???   We got to enjoy 2 seasons.....










Wanted to have fun at Cupnoodles Museum - is closed for 2 days 31/12 and 01/01/2019

Quickly move to Tokyu Square for late lunch again






Saw Snoopy Town Shop on the way out
Can't resist, get a few stuff here







Yokohama Cosmo World- amusement park. The park offers Ferris Wheel Clock, roller coaster, haunted house and many others.



Pass thru this stall inside the amusement park
can't resist again 550yen








Building on the left 
The landmark Tower - 4th tallest structure in Japan 70 floors 296.3 m.




Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse is a complex building from old warehouse located by the bay.
The building consists of shop, restaurant and cafes.






Look like people waiting to celebrate new year







Red Brick Warehouse at night

Went to Peanut Diner Yokohama










Ferris Wheel at night beautiful




Landmark Tower
Went to Chinatown Yokohama

Every body seems to eat pau

emmm  i am not a fan of pork pau


Some celebration here
Lion dance




Milk tea

Siu Long Pau again not my type




01 JAN 2019 - Happy New Year
Our top thing to do today is to shopping  -  unfortunately we selected the wrong day as today marks Japanese New Year, most of the places and shop all closed.

1st went to Kawasaki - Fujiko.F.Fujio Museum - Closed
Just walk around








2nd went to Nihon Minka-En - Japan Open Air Folk House Museum - Closed
















 What a day ??  went back to Yokohama city, again to find out mostly all shop closed....omg
One of the food court open - bought some of Japanese New Year mochi, red bean 











 pumpkin
 pork
 chicken and mushroom
Hard rock is open - My friend bought tshirt 

 All restaurants closed - except fast food , our lunch



No plan to go anywhere - seem mostly closed
Just walk around and enjoy the night








Back to the port

Red brick warehouse again




Beautiful at night
Back home early for our last day at Yokohama


02 Jan 2019 - not giving up our Cupnoodles Museum
1500 yen for the Cupnoodles 








 Purchases the cup for 300yen

 Need to sanitize our hand
 Queue for our turn - decorate our cup 

 Starting ---- hahaha



 Queue again to fill up the cup


Soy sauce for myself

Seafood

and Spicy 


Last step 







 Again Mcdonald for lunch
As we are leaving to Tokyo Haneda Airport

Dinner at Haneda Airport
And times to go home
Home Sweet Home

































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