[Trip Report] Tokyo + Kawazu + Karuizawa + Kusatsu Onsen + Shibu Onsen

arhjaye

arhjaye

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[Trip Report] Tokyo + Kawazu + Karuizawa + Kusatsu Onsen + Shibu Onsen (Photo Heavy)

My third solo trip to japan. A relaxing trip to enjoy the onsen and to ski! :s12:

17 feb 2017 - 27 feb 2017.

Day 1: Tokyo (Irori Hostel and Kitchen)
Day 2: Kawazu (Irori Hostel and Kitchen)
Day 3: Karuizawa (Hotel Grand vert kyu karuizawa)
Day 4 & 5: Kusatsu Onsen (Hotel Takamatsu)
Day 6 & 7 & 8: Shibu Onsen (Koishiya Ryokan)
Day 9 & 10: Tokyo (Irori Hostel and Kitchen)

Flew in by ANA and traveled around using JR East Nagano Niigata Pass

Didnt plan on doing a trip report so certain photos (e.g. of accoms and transport) might be missed out.

Will be photo intensive still so do be warned!

For more detailed write up of what I did do read my blog! Not fully updated but will write as and when I am free! https://travelandsuch.wordpress.com
 
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arhjaye

arhjaye

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Day 1

Not much except alot of eating and some shopping

20170217_000322 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Waiting to board my flight at 1am

20170217_090713 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Free wifi for keisei skyliner customers, just show passport and ticket to counter to claim voucher. Works but spotty, sometimes fast sometimes slow sometimes no connection.

20170217_112657 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170217_112657 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170217_113615 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

After leaving luggage at hostel, went to eat this immediately for breakfast! Mousse cakes by Hidemi Sugino at Kyobashi

20170217_125039 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170217_132158 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Had the Special Loin Set

20170217_132613 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

After having the cakes, went straight to tonta for lunch. Tonta is one of the top few tonkatsu places in Tokyo and it sure deserved it. Felt damn full after the cakes but luckily there was a queue for Tonta which allowed me to digest the cakes in time.
 
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20170217_151533 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

After lunch went to zoff Harajuku and make my new specs there. Those with very high degree should consider making specs in japan, much cheaper and quality is good too. There are English and Chinese speaking staffs in most big stores so no problem with communication.

20170217_203830 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170217_203902 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170217_205157 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

After doing some shopping at Harajuku, went to kaneko hannosuke at nihonbashi for tendon. Some warning in advance, if you sit on the first floor where all the frying action is, whatever you wear in, will be soaked with the smell of deep frying oil for the next few days.

20170218_075602 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

A messy picture of my hostel “room” separate with just clothes. Was comfortable and everyone kept to themselves so was quiet. Had barely any free space left after putting my luggage there though. Will stay here again if i'm backpacking
 
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Day 2!
Went to Kawazu for the sakura festival, originally was planning to go to atami for the plum blossom festival but chanced across kawazu a few days before so decided to come here instead since it was predicted to be mankai this few days.

20170218_084119 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Ltd Exp Odoriko to Kawazu. Didn’t manage to reserve my seats so had to queue for the non reserved seats. Manage to snag a seat if not I would be standing for the whole 3 hours of journey.

20170218_091842 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Chicken based Ekiben

20170218_113213 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170218_122138 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Really is people mountain people sea. But is to be expected since its just nice mankai on a Saturday

IMG_8004 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
IMG_8012 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
IMG_8016 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
IMG_8018 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
 
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IMG_8172 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
IMG_8173 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
IMG_8174 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Cute rabbits, this pair was just sitting there for damn long together while the rest was running about.

IMG_8197 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170218_164645 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
IMG_8208 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170218_165038 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

A ¾ cup of fresh squeezed mikan juice costing 600 yen?! Was super sweet and refreshing though. Mikan is a mix between yuzu and orange if I understood the seller correctly.
 
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IMG_8261 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
IMG_8278 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
IMG_8286 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170218_175907 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170218_175933 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
20170218_180608 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Stayed until the night illumination and I was dearly disappointed. Just a small area was lighted up nearer to the station. I think the more impressive one is lighted up much further away but didn’t want to walk back there.

Took local trains back to Tokyo since the ltd exp odoriko only runs till evening. Stood for half the journey and needed to make 3 transfers as well. Reached my hostel at around 10 and went to a nearby combini for cup noodles and snacks for dinner.
 
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Day 3!

Took the shinkansen up to karuizawa and will be staying here for 1 night.

IMG_8299 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Ski slopes at right beside karuizawa station

IMG_8308 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Main shopping area, Ginza street.

IMG_8336 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Hiking up to usui pass observation platform. No bus runs during winter so bopian needa hike up as didnt want to take a taxi.

Took me about 45 mins to reach ¾ of the way up. Then hitched hike a passing car to get to the shrine! So thankful for them accepting me! Was quite shag at that point.

IMG_8346 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

IMG_8352 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

IMG_8357 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Kumano Kotai Shrine

IMG_8363 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Left hall is in Nagano, right hall is in Gunma and the main hall in the middle is on the border between Nagano and Gunma

IMG_8370 by Arhjaye, on Flickr
 
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IMG_8512 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Kumoba Ike Pond, aka swan lake. Was hoping for all the trees and ground to be covered by snow but it was very sunny that day so most of the snow melted D;

IMG_8536 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

20170219_152856 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

IMG_8618 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Prince Shopping plaza, the items there are not exactly cheap though!

20170219_183204 by Arhjaye, on Flickr


Traditional Copper Pot with a chimney in the middle for shabushabu

20170219_184129 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Shabu Shabu Dinner right beside my hotel! Okinawa Pork!

20170219_202126 by Arhjaye, on Flickr


20170219_215755 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Ending the day with Haagen dazs icecream and strawberry from the konbini opposite my hotel.
 
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arhjaye

arhjaye

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arhjaye

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20170221_135323 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

On the left behind the walls is the rotenburo. Must go! The snow falling on your head while dipping in the onsen is just heavenly.

Btw if you hike up small path on the right in the picture, you can actually see the mens bath in full glory from a distance ;P

20170221_141243 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Kawaii girls selfie with kawaii black cat on the floor

20170221_150059 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

20170221_161959 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

20170221_180406 by Arhjaye, on Flickr

Dinne. Local Specialty mushroom, maitake mushroom tempura with soba
 
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