Need ideas for winter trip

[samtcy]

Ok, my turn to need some advice...

I'm planning a winter visit to Japan (not sure which area to go yet though, could be anywhere between Hokkaido to Kansai region) with my brother, but I'd like to have some suggestions on where else to visit and if there's any interesting events/locations/festivals/experience/trains during winter that you have encountered that is not found in japan-guide.com (since I've already gone through that website countless of times already).

Here's what's more or less fixed:
- Total days of trip to be at least 2 weeks to 3 weeks.
- We are keeping budget as low as possible so that we can squeeze in more days.
- Need to see snow...lots of snow...
- Getting a 7days JR pass.
- Going to Lagunasia (near Nagoya) for the One Piece themed event
- Possibly fly in/out Tokyo, or Fly in osaka and fly out Tokyo.
- Don't mind longer train travels.
- Bus rides kept to at most 30mins per journey.
- Travel between Jan to early/mid Feb. (return before CNY).
- Trying to avoid taking domestic flights.
- Would want at least 1 night in a ryokan.


Thanks.

 

[cancer81]

wah...

looks like samtcy zehzeh has really given us (experts and veterans) a real tough one...


sorry I spent most of my long weekend lazing around when I wanted to look through some of the materials I got at NATAS... for your benefit and mine

I better do that tonight

 

[evilerniex]

how about mount zao to see 'snow monster'?
Zao Travel Guide

or yamadera?
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/japan-271/yamadera-3080476.html

 

[tiffanygoh]

be prepared to wear many layers. it is freezing cold in jan and feb

 

[samtcy]

wah...

looks like samtcy zehzeh has really given us (experts and veterans) a real tough one...


sorry I spent most of my long weekend lazing around when I wanted to look through some of the materials I got at NATAS... for your benefit and mine

I better do that tonight

Eh? Got NATAS? When? Over liao arh?

how about mount zao to see 'snow monster'?
Zao Travel Guide

or yamadera?
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/japan-271/yamadera-3080476.html

Yeah, I've thought of Yamadera. Was interested in the nice view. But not sure if it's going to be slippery trying to walk up the stairs during winter.

Yup, I also did considered Mt Zao, but seems like need to take quite a long bus ride to get there. I'm not a fan of bus rides, i don't mind taking long train journeys, but really hate taking buses. Plus, I'm not really into skiing, just wanted to find somewhere with snow mobile to let my brother experience it.

be prepared to wear many layers. it is freezing cold in jan and feb

Yeah, I know, thanks. After my minus 20 degrees experience at Sounkyo onsen back in Feb 2012 and nearly freezing my toes off at Nozawa onsen back in 2012 Dec, I'm prepared for battle with the cold liaoz. Hehe.

I'm more worried for my brother since it will be his first winter experience...and he tells me he wants to experience heavy snow...
Not sure whether to bring him to Hokkaido, or Nagano + Tohoku.

If Hokkaido, then it'd be the usual Sapporo + Otaru + maybe Niseko + maybe Asahikawa. Then the rest of the trip would be in Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe) and Kanto (Tokyo).

As of now, my current plan is probably:
Day 1: Arrival at Osaka. Visit Osaka. Stay at Osaka.
Day 2: Visit USJ (Harry Potter). Stay at Osaka.
Day 3: Visit Nara. Stay at Kyoto.
Day 4: Visit Kyoto. Stay at Osaka.
Day 5: Visit Kobe. Stay at Osaka.
Day 6: (Sat) Osaka to New Chitose Airport via domestic flight. Stay at Sapporo.
Day 7: (Sun) Sapporo. Stay at Sapporo.
Day 8: Otaru. Stay at Sapporo.
Day 9: (JR Pass day 1) Daytrip to Niseko. Stay at Sapporo
Day 10: Daytrip to somewhere (dunno where).
Day 11: Daytrip to Asahikawa perhaps? Overnight train Hamanasu to Aomori.
Day 12: Morning arrival at Aomori. Aomori to Tokyo. Stay at Tokyo.
Day 13: (Sat) Tokyo to Lagunasia themepark (for One Piece event). Visit Lagunasia. Nagoya to Nagano. Stay at Nagano.
Day 14: (Sun) Visit Iiyama. Stay at Nagano or Togari Onsen.
Day 15: (JR Pass day 7) Nagano to Karuizawa to Tokyo. Stay at Tokyo.
Day 16: Daytrip Kawaguchiko perhaps? Stay at Tokyo
Day 17: Visit Tokyo. Stay at Tokyo.
Day 18: Visit Tokyo. Stay at Tokyo.
Day 19: Visit Tokyo. Stay at Tokyo.

But then again, this itinerary keep changing every day.

 

[coldkey]

Saw an interesting article today, Takeda Castle ruins.

 

[samtcy]

Oh, and by the way, does anyone knows whether I can use JR pass to take this special Shinkansen train in Tohoku?
JR“Œ“ú–{*FŠy‚µ‚¢—ñŽÔƒ|*[ƒ^ƒ‹*„‚Æ‚ê‚¢‚ä ‚Â‚Î‚³

Have anyone taken any interesting trains?
In Kansai, Chubu, Kanto, Tohoku, Hokkaido?
Any recommendations?

 

[samtcy]

Saw an interesting article today, Takeda Castle ruins.

Yup, I would be interested to go there early in the morning to take photos from the hill in the opposite side if I'm travelling alone...but don't think my brother will have the patience to wait a few hours for me to take photos and visit historical ruins.

 

[cancer81]

The NATAS fair held earlier this year. Jtb had a booth and loads of information is on offer with folks from the participating prefectures present to promote why their place is best place in Japan. I need to look at the stuff I collected again for sure.

Still otw home.

 

[cormet]

will have another natas late august!

 

[samtcy]

The NATAS fair held earlier this year. Jtb had a booth and loads of information is on offer with folks from the participating prefectures present to promote why their place is best place in Japan. I need to look at the stuff I collected again for sure.

Still otw home.

will have another natas late august!

Yeah, I remember bringing home many leaflets from my last Natas visit (not sure when was that...probably last year I guess) as well as some goodluck trip magazies. GOOD LUCK TRIP?????????????????????????? ??????????????????

 

[cancer81]

sorry sam....

the stuff that I collected is for Gifu and the alps area...

it is a nice area to visit during winter but nothing too interesting

I do know of 1 festival that takes place in the period you are going to Japan

Kawaichiya. Nozawa Onsen. Nagano. Japan. Ski Japan. Snowboard Japan. Winter Sports Japan. Hot spring.Outdoor bath.

 

[samtcy]

sorry sam....

the stuff that I collected is for Gifu and the alps area...

it is a nice area to visit during winter but nothing too interesting

I do know of 1 festival that takes place in the period you are going to Japan

Kawaichiya. Nozawa Onsen. Nagano. Japan. Ski Japan. Snowboard Japan. Winter Sports Japan. Hot spring.Outdoor bath.

Oh cool! I didn't know about that festival. Thanks for the info

For Gifu, I've thought about Shirakawago since the last time I went there it was a hot summer day...but since bus fare is not included in JR Pass and we were trying to keep costs low...so we are probably giving that area a skip this time round.

Right now, I've trying to locate snow mobile activity in Nagano/Niigata/Tohoku region...or else, I'd have to go Hokkaido for that.

 

[cancer81]

the Hokkaido ones normally feature snow mobiles running round in the mountain areas

not very sure about the chubu area

expensive, 10k yen per pax at the time I did it

 

[samtcy]

the Hokkaido ones normally feature snow mobiles running round in the mountain areas

not very sure about the chubu area

expensive, 10k yen per pax at the time I did it

Yeah, I've did snow mobile once at Tomamu resort at Hokkaido.
Expensive sia...

I emailed Nagano tourism office and they gave me a link to snow mobiling at Hakuba and Shiga Kogen.
http://hakuba.lion-adventure.com/snowmobile/
7000yen for 30mins.

 

[cancer81]

the one I did is about 1hr iirc

they also loan u equipment and got guides ensuring safety

I guess the money spent is worth it

 

[samtcy]

Does anyone knows of any ryokan in Tohoku or Hokkaido with private onsen in the room? Somewhere that's within 30mins bus ride from nearest JR train station.
I'm not too familiar with Tohoku region so am a bit lost.

 

[kifo]

Does anyone knows of any ryokan in Tohoku or Hokkaido with private onsen in the room? Somewhere that's within 30mins bus ride from nearest JR train station.
I'm not too familiar with Tohoku region so am a bit lost.

I can think of one: Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata

Here is one with attached bath
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