Showing posts with label Skiing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skiing. Show all posts

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Japan (Feb 2014) Day 3: Hakodateyama ski area and Kobe.

Day 3 (17 Feb): Hakodateyama ski area and Kobe. Stay at Kobe

Since my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law have not seen snow before, so I chose to bring them to a ski area near Kyoto to try our luck to see if it will snow on this day.

I had 2 options, 1 was the ski area at Biwako valley, and the other was slightly further, which was the Hakodateyama ski area (not to be confused with Hakodate at Hokkaido). 
Both ski areas are located within 1hr via train from Kyoto station within Shiga region. 
However, based on the weather reports of both places, it seemed like Hakodateyama would be colder than Biwako valley on  the day of our visit, which is why I decided upon Hakodateyama over Biwako valley. 

To reach Hakodateyama ski area, take about 1hr train on JR Kosei line from Kyoto station to Omiimazu station. Then at Omiimazu station, take a 25mins bus ride to reach the gondola station of Hakodateyama ski area. 

For those of you who are keen on going Biwako valley ski area instead, take a 40mins train ride on the JR Kosei line from Kyoto station to Shiga station, then transfer to a 15mins bus ride to reach the gondola station of Biwako valley ski area.

We had to catch the 0659am train from Kyoto station, so we bought some breakfast from convenience store to eat on the train. This is my hubby's breakfast. Sushi.

Chopper lip balm, bought from convenience store the previous day at Kyoto.
 The bus departure from Omiimazu to Hakodateyama ski area is non frequent, so if you plan on going, do check on bus timings on their website when you plan your trip.

After about 1hr train ride from Kyoto to Omiimazu, and a 25mins bus ride from Omiimazu station, we finally arrived at the gondola station. As you can see from the photo, we couldn't see any snow at all in the surroundings. So we were kinda disappointed initially. 
Price list for gondola and ski passes. A return trip gondola ride costs 1800yen.

Taking the 7mins gondola ride. You can see Lake Biwa on a clear day.
After the halfway mark, we somehow find our surrounding scenery changed into beautiful sea of white. 


Arrival at Hakodateyama ski area.



While waiting for the hubby and sis changing into their rental ski gears, it started to snow!
A very happy mother-in-law, who was really excited at seeing snowfall. :)
sister-in-law trying to ski

The hubby, trying to guide his sis on how to ski. 
While the 2 of them were out skiing, the 2 of us stayed at this cafeteria while waiting for them since we chose not to ski.

After about 10am, there seemed to be more people arriving. And this was a weekday, not a weekend.





It was around noon time when we left the ski area to catch the bus back to Omiimazu station to take the train back to Kyoto station.
Once we arrived at Kyoto, we went back to our hotel to pick up our luggage bags and then bought some snacks (since we skipped lunch) to eat onboard the train ride to Kobe, where we will be staying for the night.

Since we had the 4 days JR Kansai Area Wide pass, so I wanted to let my mother-in-law and sister-in-law to experience Shinkansen ride. But since the railpass doesn't cover the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka, therefore what we did was we took the Haruka Express from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka, then we transferred to the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe station. 
Takoyaki. 
Taking Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe.
Since our hotel for the night at Kobe locate near Sannomiya station and not Shin-Kobe station, therefore we had to take a short subway ride from Shin-Kobe station to Sannomiya station.
We happened to board a female-only carriage onboard the subway, so poor hubby had to go to the next carriage while the 3 of us stayed in the female-only carriage. :)

Our hotel for the night is the b Kobe hotel, located near Sannomiya subway station and Tokyu Hands store.
The location of the hotel is really good, with many restaurants and eateries nearby, and it's located between Tokyu Hands and a 24hr Don Quijote store.  

the b Kobe hotel
Toilet. No bathtub though, but the toilet lid has a sensor which lifts up the lid when it senses someone walking towards it.
 Since we skipped lunch, so we were all famished by the time we checked-in at the hotel. So we headed out to look for some early dinner. Eventually, we decided upon Gyoza no Osho (餃子の王将), located somewhere between our hotel and Tokyu Hands. It was inexpensive and nice.







After dinner, we went to nearby Tokyu Hands for some light shopping until their closing time before heading back to our room to rest. And then later on at night, we went to the 24hr Don Quijote store next to the hotel for some more shopping. :)

many eating outlets near the hotel



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Friday, March 7, 2014

Daytrips out of Osaka?


Suggested daytrips out of Osaka:


Kyoto
(My visits to Kyoto here)
1 of the most popular destinations of Japan. 
Actually, it would be even better to stay overnight at Kyoto and spend at least 2 days there. 
But if you don't have much time to spend in Japan, and you happen to stay in Osaka, then I would strongly recommend a visit to Kyoto for at least a daytrip.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kiyomizudera during autumn
Old street at Higashiyama district near Kiyomizudera.
Nishiki Market
More info on Kyoto:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html & http://www.kyoto.travel/

Suggested itinerary:
0800-0830 Osaka to Kyoto
0830-0845 Go to Tourist info office at Kyoto station to collect maps of Kyoto and bus routes.
0845-0900 Kyoto to Inari
0900-1030 Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
1030-1100 Inari to Kiyomizu-gojo station 
1130-1300 Visit Kiyomizudera
1300-1430 Have lunch at Higashiyama district, and explore the old shopping street at Higashiyama.
1500-1530 Walk through Hanami-koji street in Gion district.
1530-1600 Walk from Gion to Nishiki market.
1600-1700 Visit Nishiki Market.

How to go Kyoto from Osaka?
(If you have the nationwide JR Pass)
Shin-Osaka station to Kyoto station via Shinkansen (14mins)

(If you don't have any railpass, or if you are using either JR West Kansai Area Pass or JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass)
Osaka station to Kyoto station via JR Special Rapid Service on Kyoto line (30mins, 540yen)

(If you are using Kansai Thru Pass)
From Osaka station, walk to nearby Umeda (Hankyu) station.
Umeda (Hankyu) station to Karasuma station via Hankyu Kyoto Line Ltd Exp (45mins, 390yen)
From Karasuma station, walk over to nearby Shijo station.
Shijo station to Kyoto station via Kyoto City Subway Karasuma line (4mins, 210yen)




Nara
(My visits to Nara here)
In some parts of Nara, you can see deers roaming about freely. 



More info on Nara:

Suggested Itinerary:
0900-1000 Osaka to Nara
1030-1130 Visit Kofukuji
1130-1200 Walk to Todaiji. Along the way you can see deers roaming around. You can consider buying deer biscuits to feed them if you want. 
1200-1300 Visit Todaiji
1300-1430 Have lunch and then go to Kasuga Taisha
1430-1600 Visit Kasuga Taisha
1600 onwards, return back to Osaka.

How to go Nara from Osaka:
Osaka to JR Nara station via JR Yamatoji Rapid Service (55mins, 780yen).

(This is a slightly cheaper method, and also for those with Kintetsu Railpass or Kansai Thru Pass)
Osaka Station to Tsuruhashi station via JR Osaka Loop line (16mins, 170yen)
Tsuruhashi station to KintetsuNara station via Kintetsu Nara Line Rapid Exp or Semi Exp
(32mins for Rapid Exp, 45mins for Semi Exp, 480yen)




Kobe
(My visit to Kobe here)
Kobe Chinatown
Kobe Harborland
More info on Kobe:

Suggested Itinerary:
0900-1100 Visit Kitano area
1130-1230 Lunch at Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)
1300-1500 Visit Kobe Harborland
1500-1600 Kobe Harborland to Mt Rokko
1600 onwards (until sun sets) Visit Mt Rokko Observation deck (Mid Jan-End Mar closes at 1700hr, Rest of the year at 2100hr)
Return back to Osaka after viewing the evening view of Kobe from Mt Rokko.

How to go Kobe from Osaka?
Shin-Osaka station to Shin-Kobe station via Shinkansen
(13mins, 1450yen for unreserved seat, or 2810yen for reserved seat)

(If you don't have any railpass, or have the JR West Kansai Area Pass)
Osaka station to JR Sannomiya station via JR Special Rapid Service train (22mins, 390yen)

(If you have Kansai Thru pass)
Umeda (Hankyu) station to Kobe-Sannomiya station via Hankyu Kobe Line
(29mins for Ltd Exp train, 45mins for Local trains, 310yen)



Kurashiki + Okayama
(My visit to Okayama here, and Kurashiki here)
If you have the nationwide JR Pass, or JR Kansai Area Wide Pass, or JR West Sanyo Area Pass, you can consider making a daytrip to Kurashiki and Okayama. 
If you don't have any of the railpasses mentioned above, it would be pretty expensive to visit this area from Osaka due to the transport costs.
Kurashiki's Canal Area
Okayama castle
Korakuen
More info on Okayama:
More info on Kurashiki:

Suggested Itinerary:
0730-0900 Travel to Kurashiki
0900-1200 Explore Kurashiki Canal Area
1200-1300 Kurashiki to Okayama, then go to Okayama castle
1300-1400 Visit Okayama Castle
1430-1600 Visit Korakuen Garden

How to go Kurashiki from Osaka?
If you don't have any railpass, yet would like to visit Kurashiki/Okayama, I would strongly recommend that you get the JR Kansai Area Wide Pass. That railpass costs 7000yen and it covers the journey between Shin-Osaka to Kurashiki.
Considering that a 1 way journey without any railpass would already cost 5670yen (5350yen + 320yen), thus a return trip would cost 11,340yen. Therefore just spending 7000yen on that railpass is worth it.

(For those with nationwide JR Pass, JR West Sanyo Area Pass, or JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass, this journey is covered)
Shin-Osaka station to Okayama station via Shinkansen
(50mins for Shinkansen Sakura, 60-80mins for Shinkansen Hikari, 5350yen for unreserved seat, 5860yen for reserved seat)
Okayama station to Kurashiki station via JR Sanyo line or JR Hakubi line (17mins, 320yen).



Ise
(My visit to Ise here)
Okage Yokocho
Oharaimachi
Ise Inner Shrine

More info on Ise:

Suggested itinerary:
0800-1000 Osaka to Ise
1030-1400 Visit Okage Yokocho, Oharaimachi and lunch
1400-1530 Visit Ise Inner Shrine
1600-1800 Ise to Osaka.

How to go Tsuruhashi station from Osaka station?
Osaka station to Tsuruhashi station via JR Osaka Loop line (15mins, 170yen)

How to go Okage Yokocho/Oharaimachi/Inner Shrine?
(If you have Kintetsu Rail Pass or Kintetsu Rail Pass Wide)
Tsuruhashi station to Isuzugawa station via Kintetsu Ltd Exp train
(110mins, 3040yen for reserved seat, 1 Ltd Exp train departure every 40mins-hourly)
Ideally, take the 0813hr Kintetsu Ltd Exp train from Tsuruhashi, and arrive Isuzugawa at 1001hr.
(train timing correct as of 7/3/14, pls check hyperdia website to double check train timing for your visit)

Remember to go the the Ltd Exp counter at the train platform at Tsuruhashi to get your Ltd Exp Reserved seat tickets using your Kintetsu Rail Pass before you take the train. Remember, you can only use the Kintetsu Rail Pass to take up to 3 Ltd Exp train journeys within the 5 day period.

(If you don't have Kintetsu Rail Pass nor Kintetsu Rail Pass Wide)
Tsuruhashi station to Isuzugawa station via Kintetsu Exp train
(135mins, 1760yen, 1 train departure every hourly)
Ideally, take the 0818hr Kintetsu Exp direct train from Tsuruhashi, and arrive Isuzugawa at 1032hr.
(train timing correct as of 7/3/14, pls check hyperdia website to double check train timing for your visit)

How to go Okage Yokocho/Oharaimachi/Inner Shrine from Isuzugawa station? 
(Choose 1 of these 3 methods)
1) By bus (about 15mins bus ride)
2) By taxi (about 10 mins journey, it cost me about 1000yen for the taxi ride during my visit there)
3) Walk (about 30mins walk to reach Okage Yokocho and Oharaimachi from Isuzugawa station)


- Map of Okage Yokocho. Oharaimachi is located just next to Okage Yokocho.
And Ise Inner Shrine is located at the end of Oharaimachi.





Hikone + Nagahama
(My visit to Nagahama here)

Kurokabe square at Nagahama
More info on Hikone:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7000.html
More info on Nagahama:
http://kitabiwako.jp/nagahama/

Suggested Itinerary:
0815-1000 Osaka to Nagahama
1000-1200 Visit Nagahama
1200-1230 Nagahama to Hikone
1230-1600 Visit Hikone (Castle Road and Hikone castle)
1600 onwards, Hikone back to Osaka.

How to go Nagahama from Osaka? 
*Only covered by nationwide JR Pass or JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass
Osaka station to Nagahama station via JR Special Rapid Service Kyoto/Biwako line train
(100mins, 1890yen, about 1 train departure every 30mins for the direct train)

How to go Hikone from Osaka?
*Only covered by nationwide JR Pass or JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass
Osaka station to Hikone station via JR Special Rapid Service Kyoto/Biwako line train
(80mins, 1890yen)

How to go Hikone from Nagahama?
*Only covered by nationwide JR Pass or JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass
Nagahama station to Hikone station via JR Special Rapid Service train
(18-25mins, 230yen, about 1 train departure every 30mins)




Ski areas in Kansai region
(during winter season, usually from end dec to early march)

Hakodateyama ski area (no overnight accommodation)
(My visit to Hakodateyama ski area here)

How to go Hakodateyama ski area from Osaka?
Osaka station to Omiimazu station via JR Special Rapid Service Kyoto/Kosei line train 
(75-85mins, 1890yen, about 1 direct train departure every hourly)
Alternatively, you can go to Kyoto station and transfer to JR Kosei line local train (more trains per hour, but train journey duration will increase by additional 20mins) to reach Omiimazu station.

Omiimazu station to Hakodateyama's gondola station by bus 
(about 35mins bus journey, 220yen, you can find bus timings from Hakodateyama ski area's website)

Take gondola (cable car) ride up to Hakodateyama ski area 
(about 8mins, 1800yen for return trip on gondola)


Biwako Valley Ski area (no overnight accommodation)
How to go Biwako Valley ski area from Osaka?
Osaka station to Kyoto station via JR Special Rapid Service Kyoto line train (30mins)
Kyoto station to Shiga station via JR Kosei Line train (45mins)
Overall train fare from Osaka station to Shiga station is 1280yen.

From Shiga station, take a short 10mins bus ride to Biwako Valley ski area's gondola station. (320yen)

Take gondola (cable car) ride up to Biwako Valley ski area (1800yen for a return trip on gondola I think)



---information correct as of 7/3/2014
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