So, this is the first of two editions (please excuse the number of photos) as we use the 7 day Japanese Railway (JR) pass. Our first stop on the ‘bullet trains’ from Tokyo only took 1 hour 15 minutes, but covered 200 kms. We exited at Nagano and took a 45 minute bus ride into the ski area and then a 1.8 km walk through spine forest – why did we do this, well at Joshinetsu Kogan National Park you can see the ‘snow monkeys’ that bathe in the thermal hot springs.
The Japenese macaques were so funny to watch as they would be foraging in the snow for food, before then jumping into the thermal water – it was another sight that we will never forget.
We continued north to the city of Kanazawa were we visited Kanazawa Castle, Kenroku-en Gardens, Museum of Art, Obama Jinja Shrine, Omni-ch Market and the Naga-Machi Burke Yashiki District. As we were walking between sites, an elderly Japanese gentleman invited us in to visit the Tea Rooms he looked after, and following showing us around he took a few snaps of us sitting on the tatami mats (no cost), he just was so proud.
The next day we jumped onto the Tokyo Sihjaku train for the 300 kms journey back to Tokyo to ‘try out’ a capsule hostel, which was our last overnight stop. The concept of the ‘nine hour hotel’ itself is fantastic, with check-in providing you with a QR code printed on a card. This gives you complete access to shower, lifts and locker – with females on different floors to males, no access is possible as the QR code limits the access. The hotel itself was probably the cleanest we’ve stayed in and included was sleepwear, towels, slippers, and the waterfall showers were amazing. Sleeping in the capsule itself was unique (we both had lower ones) and although slightly claustrophobic, not unpleasant – and yes there was a privacy blind at the end of the capsule so people couldn’t see you sleeping.
