20 Oct 2015
上高地 大正池 - The mirror of Taisho Lake in Kamikochi
07:15 TRAIN: Matsumoto -> Shinshimashima Station
BUS: Kamikochi -> Taisho-ike bus stop
Bus stop was literally at the doorstep of the hotel.
Kamikochi Taishoike Hotel
上高地 大正池 ホテル
安曇 上高地, 上高地, 松本, 日本, 3901516
Tel: +0081263952301
Dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we spent the rest of the day exploring the Taisho Lake, Tashiro pond, along the Azusa river to the Kappa Bridge
Tashiro-ike
Colours of Nature
Dinner@ Taisho-ike Hotel
With some of their locally brewed beer
21 Oct 2015
上高地 - Kappa Bridge to Myojin ike
Thinking that we were early waking up at 05:30 to catch the first rays upon the lake, we were definitely not the first on the shoreline of Taisho lake that morning
07:30 Breakfast@Taisho-ike Hotel
After a warm breakfast, we took a bus to Kamikochi Bus Terminal, dropped off the luggage at the next hotel. Y420 for a short ride for 3 stops. Had to switch hotel due to room availability.
Topping up the waterbag with free natural mountain spring water ...
Hotel Shirakabaso (Kamikochi)
ホテル白樺荘
日本長野県松本市４４６８
Tel: 0263-95-2131
Spent the day exploring the area from Kappa Bridge to Myojin Lake area.
In case you think that I am the only one interested in photographing dead trees and swampy marshland ...
Lunch at 嘉門次小屋
For generations, 嘉門次小屋 has been providing for travellers and mountaineer in the area. Their salt grilled iwano (river trout) tasted a lot more fleshy and sweet compared to others we had in other restaurant.Chilling out by the river side, with a simple meal of zaru soba, grilled fish and house brew sake ...
Took the extended walk to the the furinake lake and lots of wild snow monkeys along the path
Back to the Hotel
Dinner at Shirakabaso was french fusion themed ... Risotto fricassee conger eel, Toyama spanish mackerel meuniere, Japanese beef steak, Panana cotta persimmon sauce ...etc
Not too bad but we were expecting a traditional japanese dinner though.
22 Oct 2015
白骨温泉 Shirahone
BUS: Kamikochi -> Shirahone (Y1450 per pax) There was only 1 direct bus at 15:45. We felt that it arrived at Shirahone too late, we decided to take the 8:40 bus which required us to make a transfer at one of the intermediate bus-stop at Sawando Shokomae.
“While waiting at Kamikochi 上高地 bus terminal, I observed their various staff at work. Bus captain cleaned/shined the wheels of his bus. A man from the office came out with leaf blower to "sweep" the ticketing area. Another young man saw to the buses and passengers boarding, announced bus departures, answered enquiries, swept up fallen needle leaves in between bus departures.
We made enquiries and found out we had to change bus to get to Shirahone Onsen 白骨温泉. Ticketing staff wrote down the interchange name for us. While boarding the bus the young man reminded us to ring the bell when we hear the right stop announcement. When we alighted at the interchange, another young man came up to the bus captain to ask about the passengers going to Shirahone. That's us!!. He showed us where to wait for our next bus. We are impressed and very very grateful for the Japanese service.”
Arriving at Shirahone Bus Terminal, we found the ryokan after a short uphill walk.
Shirahone Ebisuya
白骨ゑびすや
長野県松本市安曇４２０６－２
Tel: 0263932031
https://goo.gl/maps/69gaPfedJh12
Glad that we came here on the early bus which left us plenty of time to soak in the brillant autumn colors and explore the area
竜神の滝
Lunch on the go ... Shinshun salmon rice which is techincal not salmon but a hybrid of a freshwater brown trout and rainbow trout.
More local beers for the road
We loved the quietness of Shirahone, the warm of the great folks in Shirahone Ebisuya, the milky white water of the onsen, the nice modern japanese room and of course the fantastic food.
Would have to say that Shirahone Ebisuya made the best overall experience for us on this trip
Dinner@ 白骨ゑびすや Shirahone Ebisuya
All that can be eaten and drank ... its now time for bed ... zzz
23 Oct 2015
Back to Nagoya ...
Breakfast@ 白骨ゑびすや Shirahone Ebisuya
The porridge cooked with the onsen water of Shirahone
Free Shuttle bus from Ryokan (09:45) to Matsumoto Station (11:00)
We initially explore buying the 2/4 day free passport around kamimochi. This is not work for our itinerary. We were glad we did not purchase the free passport as the ryokan at shirahone provided free shuttle to matsumoto which saved us Y1950 per pax bus/train fare
TRAIN: JR Shinano 特急 Shinano to towards Nagoya 2:30 mins Y5800 Anticipating less crowd on the train on a weekday, we did not buy the reserved seats and got lucky, saving some money.
Lunch on-board consist of various packed food items from the supermarket 14:00 Arrived at JR Nagoya
Nagoya Flower Hotel
名古屋フラワーホテル
住所: 愛知県名古屋市中村区椿町１５－4
Tel: 052-451-2222
Half-day shopping in Nagoya Station Area, Takashimaya, Meitetsu, Bic Camera and the underground malls in Nagoya Station
Got hold of "The Nikka" at Bic Camera Nagoya which has a relatively large liquour section.
24 Oct 2015
Going Home ...
0730 Nagoya Meitetsu Station -> NGO (30 mins) Breakfast at Freshness Burger and then last minute shopping for souvenir snacks in the airport
