Minuk and I rose early, and instead of showering outside on our balcony, took advantage of the indoor reservable mineral bath 'Gessen'. We had a most relaxing soak, and hope we did not make too much noise, since it was only when we were leaving that we noticed the request to perhaps not use the batch until after 9am. Oops.
Back in our room, there was a final opportunity to soak in our balcony mineral bath, before heading down for an 8am breakfast date. Breakfast was also very elaborate, with multiple courses, artistically presented.
Back in our room, there was a final opportunity to soak in our balcony mineral bath, before heading down for an 8am breakfast date. Breakfast was also very elaborate, with multiple courses, artistically presented.
how the public baths work...
across the alps to kanazawa
We had time for a brief spin around town in the morning sunshine before bills were paid, farewells were made and we were all piled into the ryokan's van to catch the Snow Monkey Express back to Nagano, where we swapped lines to the JR Shinetsu line across the mountains to the west coast.
As we ascended into the mountains, our fine weather turned, and the scenes passing the train windows were bleak and wintry.
As we ascended into the mountains, our fine weather turned, and the scenes passing the train windows were bleak and wintry.
now that is a railway station...
We changed trains at Noetsu, and for the rest of the journey to Kanazawa, the Sea of japan was to our right, whilst the new shinkansen lines which will link Kanazawa to Tokyo via Nagano next year were striding across the landscape to our left.
Our own country's failure to properly invest in rail infrastructure was emphasised as we pulled into Kanazawa's grand Railway Station with its signature modern take on the Tori gate.
Our hotel, the ANA Crown plaza, was just a few steps away, around the busy car park. We were soon checked in, and ready to head out for some sightseeing after a brief stop in the station tourist office. Fortuitously for our plans, the rain had cleared, and the sun was shining.
Our own country's failure to properly invest in rail infrastructure was emphasised as we pulled into Kanazawa's grand Railway Station with its signature modern take on the Tori gate.
Our hotel, the ANA Crown plaza, was just a few steps away, around the busy car park. We were soon checked in, and ready to head out for some sightseeing after a brief stop in the station tourist office. Fortuitously for our plans, the rain had cleared, and the sun was shining.
In the afternoon sunshine, we headed off to walk to the Higashi Chaya geisha district, where rows of wooden houses are considered important cultural assets, and there is the chance of spying a geisha or maiko going about their business as the evening approached. It was a pleasant walk, across the Asanogawa River and past numerous blossoming cherry trees, though as the sun dropped in the sky, so did the temperature. Fortunately, many of the old buildings are repurposed as shops, so occasional respite could be sought inside, browsing the goods on display. One of the more memorable shops was the gold leaf emporium, where all manner of souvenirs incorporating gold leaf were for sale, including a wide variety of edible gold such as chocolates and sweets.
In the end, we filed to spot a single geisha or maiko (although Minuk and I did spy a kimono clad lady phoning a taxi). We met under the cherry blossoms at a shrine, and decided that it was too cold to continue walking about. So we hailed a taxi and returned to the station, heading up to the 6th floor of the FORUS department store to find dinner in the food court.