Exploring Japan: My First Skiing Experience

There is always a first time for everything!

Shiga Kogen (志賀高原) lies in the highlands of Nagano Prefecture. Nagano was also the site for the 1998 winter Olympic games! I'm guessing this is very much a touristy area, and so there are frequent trains to Nagano from Tokyo!

This place marks the very first skiing experience in my life! I was really excited, yet worried about it initially.

To get there, we took the Shinkansen (under the JP rail pass) from Tokyo to Nagano and the journey took about 100 min. From Nagano Station, we took the Shiga Kogen shuttle bus to Sun Valley stop, which took around 1 hour and cost JPY1,900.

From: http://shigakogen.blogspot.sg/search/label/bus%20timetable

This was the best timetable I could get online before my trip. I think the timing is still quite accurate as of our trip in December 2012. Depending on which area of the mountain you stay, you can note the timing and make your way to the bus stop just before it arrives. We stayed at Sun Valley area, and for your information, there's a really cute monkey part at Kambayashi Onsen station! But more of that in another post. :)

Ski Trails at Shiga Kogen.

From the map above, you can actually see that there are many different ski trails on Shiga Highlands. And different courses caters to people with different levels of challenges.

You can also download individual maps HERE!

Our lodge is located at Sun Valley area. We stayed at a cosy little family-owned lodge called Villa Alphen. It is run by Captain Nobuo and his family. Everyone is so friendly there! And they love to share their experiences and stories of all those people they met. The wife cooks real good food as well!

You can see how steep the trail is at Sun Valley!

Mini fireplace in their cafe!

Was trying to check in earlier but their room isn't ready yet. So they invited us to have a rest at the cafe while waiting!

Sorry for the tired look. Was tired with all the travelling! 

We had to head to the monkey park real soon before the night fall, so we placed our luggages there and rushed for the next bus! The Captain helped us check and confirmed the timing, and we headed straight to the bus stop worried that we might miss the bus! I think we had to wait for a while if we missed it!

We only got to check in when we return from the monkey park! It was quite an experience there and we almost thought we couldn't make it back! But more of that in later post!

We managed to check in to the room after our return and to our surprise, the room was really big. And our beds were prepared in our room.

Dinner was served shortly after. Since it's still considered early for the ski season, there's only us with one other couple in the villa.

Shabu Shabu for dinner! Looks very delicious doesn't it? 

Decorations at the dining hall!

The other couple was requesting to book ski lessons with the Captain and they asked if we would like to join in. The lesson will be cheaper if the 2 of us joined in. So the 3 of us signed up for the lesson the next day! I don't really remember how much it cost, but I remember it being really expensive together with the rentals. Anyways, you can find the rental price tags HERE and the ski lessons HERE! 

After dinner, we headed for the in house onsen bath! It really feels as though it's private as there were no other people there except yourself! 

Since we stay in Sun Valley, which is not the one popular with night life packed with restaurants and pubs, we headed back to the cafe to spend the remaining night hours there before bed. I believe if you love nightlifes, Ichirose would be a better place to stay in!

It was really cold and so we sat next to the fireplace! The Captain was kind enough to take a photo for us as we thought the fireplace was really cool and beautiful! It was a pretty cosy place to chill at.

We woke up to this beautiful sight outside our window! It was pretty late when we checked into the room last night and we didn't really noticed what was outside! 

Headed for breakfast, and getting ready for the ski lesson! I was really nervous at that time! 

Really sweet apples!

 

Captain, preparing & carefully measuring our ski equipment!

As Sun Valley is considered an expert ski field, the instructor brought us to another bus station for the lessons after practicing for a while.

Maruike Station

Alot less steep than Sun Valley above! I believe we were practicing around location #6! :)

Team mates!

With our instructor!

Overall, it was a really fun experience! Especially when you manage to slide down the slope by yourself! Just don't be afraid to fall, and I'm sure you will make it! The lesson we took was pretty short and we had to stop just when we were getting hold of the ski techniques! I want to try again if I have the chance to, and plan a longer timing in the ski resorts in future! 

Had a quick lunch at the resort (not included in the stay package) as we were waiting for the bus timing anyway! I really do miss this place!! I hope I have the chance to come back soon again!

Exploring Japan: Getting to Shirakawa-go in Winter

Sometimes, photos just couldn't justify the beauty of places.

We visited Shirakawa-go, Japan last winter. Shirakawa-go, also known as the 白川郷 -- "White River Old-District", is located in the village of Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture. Shirakawa-go was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, and was mostly famous for their gasshō-zukuri (合掌造り) styled houses, which were built around 250 years back. Gasshō-zukuri houses meant that the roofs were constructed as if they were hands put together in prayers (that's why it's also referred to as 合掌村). This kind of rooftops were constructed so as to withstand the huge amount of snowfall during winters. The old roofs were said to be replaced every April, and it's a communal effort, where the villagers will take turn to change roofs for each other.

Gassho-styled Houses in Shirakawa-go.

The winter in Shirakawa-go was really harsh especially when the wind blows. The snowfalls were really heavy and deep on the ground. The fiancé and I really had a hard time to walk on the snow (without any snow boots), and carrying our luggages!

We headed down to Shirakawa-go from Osaka. 

There are two ways which visitors can choose to arrive at Shirakawa-go village. One is from Takayama and another way is from Kanazawa. Because I was going from Osaka (instead of usual Tokyo), I chose the latter, even though it wasn't the popular way to get there!

I made use of Hyperdia to plan my trip in advance!
Once you reach Japan, you can get your booklet of train timings from the tourist information center!

Shin-Osaka Station -> Kanazawa Station -> Shirakawago (by bus)

From Shin-Osaka Station to Kanazawa Station by Limited Express would take around 149min.
Cost: Around JPY4,620, which you basically can ignore if you have the JR Rail Pass with you!

After arriving at Kanazawa station, you can check with the tourist information counter for the bus terminal location.

Kanazawa station to Shirakawago (by bus) would take around 75min.
Cost: JPY 1,600 per pax per trip!

Since Shirakawa-go is a traditional place, most of the guesthouse owners does not have websites available for you to make bookings. A good way is actually to send request to the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association.

Shirakawa-go Tourist Association

Email Address: info-e@shirakawa-go.gr.jp

The website is in Japanese, and all thanks to a blog I found which provided the email for the Tourist Association! You can choose the Gassho style guesthouse from the map below, or you can just give them your information, budget, and date of visit, they will help you to make a booking of the available guesthouses!

What's more, they will help you to make pre-bookings for the bus tickets with request! 

Credit card information is not needed in advance. You would just have to pay cash upon arriving at the bus terminal, and when you checkout of the guest house. Since the whole system is based on honor and integrity, we think that it is only fair and kind enough if you would inform them in advance if you make changes to your travel plans after making your bookings.

We managed to make booking with Hisamatsu -- House #8 on the map. A word of advice to wear shoes which still has a sole during winter if you don't wear snow boots! The fiancé and I had a hard time lugging our luggages from the bus stop to the guest house! The snow was really thick.

Once you get off the bus, you will see the Tourist Information Centre. You can check directions, get maps, or store your luggages here in the lockers for a small fee.

We checked into our guesthouse first after a battle with the snow, and took some rest before heading out for exploration.

This was how the room looks like. A Kotatsu was given (Japanese heater table) in the room so that you can keep yourself warm! Later in the evening when you have dinner, the host will then move the kotatsu aside and place the mattress with thick blankets in your room! The rooms doesn't have a lock, but it's really safe! So don't worry!

Hot Japanese green tea was served with some local snacks. 

We decided to head out for a walk after resting enough, and look for food since we had not eat a proper meal since morning! It was snow-y everywhere!

We headed into a restaurant after a short walk and had our lunch. The weather was so far really comfortable since no wind was blowing at us!

We were initially stunned at the menu as all the wordings are in Japanese! Then, we realized that the other side of the menu was in English. We ordered beef noodles and tempura noodles separately. And they taste really good!

After the late lunch, we went out of the restaurant. Since it was getting late, it was getting really cold as well!

And soon after, since the fiance was not feeling well from previous night, we were rushing back to the guesthouse due to the extreme coldness! It's really sad that we were not able to visit any museums at all since we arrive rather late, and was too cold to step out after dinner!

Dinner was served by the host (included in your bill). We had a quick shower before it, and hid under the blankets until dinner.

The dinner was really huge and tasty. Totally local and traditional Japanese dinner sets.

Sorry for the mess since we were too cold to take a photo before jumping into bed! These mattresses and thick blankets were placed by the host when we were having our dinner.

Breakfast!

It was almost check-out timing, and we manage to take a picture with our host!

Thanks for being a great host!

We placed our luggages at the Tourist Centre and went around for more photos since there were time left before our bus departs.

First attempt at snowman in my life!

Such a pretty place, a pity that we did not explore everywhere in the village! I heard that even in summer or spring, it is as pretty! Maybe we will re-visit in a different time and season!

They have winter light ups every year at specific times. And from the pictures, it's really pretty. You can check out the timing for next year right HERE. :)

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*This trip was made on December 2012*