Best Warabi Mochi found
29 Oct 2025While driving towards Lake Hyoko, another google POI suddenly appeared while at a traffic light. We pulled an "emergeny detour" and found the best warabi mochi for the trip.
Hyokosuikin Park 瓢湖水きん公園
29 Oct 2025The famous lake where the migrating swans from Russian will stay here for the winter.
There were lots of various ducks, 20-30 swans when we arrived late morning. Still a very nice walk around the lake.
There were lots of various ducks, 20-30 swans when we arrived late morning. Still a very nice walk around the lake.
Soba 岩瀬の清水そば
29 Oct 2025Swanlake restaurant was closed. We rushed off to a soba restaurant as they were about to close. Seasonal oyster tempura were creamy and delicious.
Ryokan Chouseikan 長生館
29-30 Oct 2025Staying the night at Fuga No Yado Chouseikan (風雅の宿 長生館) in Murasugi Onsen (村杉温泉), famous for their radium water. Traditional onsen town, where it is common to see locals with their 20L container, refill from the public water sources.
Within the ryokan, there is a radium water drinking source. Nice ryokan, well- sculpted tranquil garden, great outdoor onsen with hot and cold pools. A short walk in the moss covered trail behind the ryokan. The ryokan reception told us "sukoshi momij", which probably the code word for "Everything is still green".
Within the ryokan, there is a radium water drinking source. Nice ryokan, well- sculpted tranquil garden, great outdoor onsen with hot and cold pools. A short walk in the moss covered trail behind the ryokan. The ryokan reception told us "sukoshi momij", which probably the code word for "Everything is still green".
Meals in Chouseikan 長生館
29-30 Oct 2025My favourite of this dinner is undoubtedly the steamed abalone. The oyster chawamushi and prawn sashimi were also very nice.
Dessert was interesting, a special vessel to grate kiwi into a niigata yogurt with fruits and ume jelly. First time seeing such a vessel.
Dessert was interesting, a special vessel to grate kiwi into a niigata yogurt with fruits and ume jelly. First time seeing such a vessel.
Swan-ful Morning
30 Oct 2025The ryokan reception advised the "ichiban" time for viewing the swans is 6.30am. That means 5.30 am in onsen, so that we can make it to the lake before 6.30am.
The scene at the lake was just chaotic and overwhelming. 6000+ swans filled the lake, groups of swans squawking continuously, mechanical flapping of their wings overhead, random groups taking off in all directions. Felt like a bazaar in a super busy airport with a lot of midair near-misses. As of Oct 24th, 6000+ swans has already migrated here from Siberia. Peaked at 9000+ last year.
Fingers freezing, totally cannot figure out how to capture the scene as everything kept zooming left, right, center.
Best type of birding possible, guaranteed sightings within 15mins drive.
The scene at the lake was just chaotic and overwhelming. 6000+ swans filled the lake, groups of swans squawking continuously, mechanical flapping of their wings overhead, random groups taking off in all directions. Felt like a bazaar in a super busy airport with a lot of midair near-misses. As of Oct 24th, 6000+ swans has already migrated here from Siberia. Peaked at 9000+ last year.
Fingers freezing, totally cannot figure out how to capture the scene as everything kept zooming left, right, center.
Best type of birding possible, guaranteed sightings within 15mins drive.
