20240216 Shiga Kogen, Snow Monkeys

20240216 It snowed last night so Sharyn and Phil were up early and excited that's there was fresh snow or powder as they call it on the Mountain so I dropped them off early and they were lucky enough to be the first ones at the Gondola. 

Up they go for a great day on a mountain full of powder only to return very disappointed because the snow had turned to ice and it was too dangerous to play on.

I was just about to leave to drop the boys off at their ski school when I received a call from a not so happy Sharyn, apparently after it snowed last night, we also had a bit of rain that has turned the snow to ice making its much too dangerous to snow board. The boys we not happy but neither were Mum and Dad so we decided to do a day trip to check out the Snow Monkeys.

I have know idea how many tolls we passed through but they seemed endless and certainly not cheap.

Hakuba to Yamanouchi, Japanese toll roads are some of the most expensive in the world. As of 2022, the average price per kilometre was ¥24.6, for a standard single car.

We noticed many of these dead looking trees on our travels through Japan and found out they are apple trees. Aomori-made apples are most produced and cultivated in Japan and this has not changed for more than 100 years.

We finally arrived at the Shiga Kogen foothills along the Yokoyu River where lies Jigokudani, or Hell's Valley and the only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs, now for the long walk to the top.

The family take the lead leaving Grandma lagging in the background, I refuse to go arse over. 

Our walk to the top, about 1.6 km around winding ice covered, not to mention very slippery roads so it was a slow cautious walk to the top, well for me at least.

Hamish and Owen pause for a photo.

Owen hangs back to help Grandma just in case she slips over.

A much needed rest stop lined with much information of the area we are entering.

Korakukan, a historic inn established in 1864 and where Guests can share their outdoor hot spring bath with the monkeys.

Are we their yet, as we take a right turn to now climb a heap of stairs, my pet hate.

A Map of the surrounding area only it's all in Japanese.

A palm leaf covered in snow.

This would be my cheeky grandson loving the snow.

It was safer to walk in the mud than on the actually path.

Are We There Yet

20240213 Iimori Snow Boarding & Ski Resort

20240213 Today the boys are booked into snowboarding lessons with English speaking trainers, so it's off to Iimori Resort where at the bottom is flat and wide for all to learn relativly ease. There are 6 different ability levels to choose from as well as night skiing at the bottom on the Toomi section so beginners can practice in the evening as well. Unfortunetly Ash has the flu and is too sick to ski so he stays home and spend some grandma and grandson time, if I can get him off his bloody iPad.

I managed to get Ash out of the house and off his iPad for a walk along the ice-covered roads within our area.

My cheeky grandson try's his best to give his Grandma a hard time, as he does but I'm always one step ahead of him.

All dressed and ready to take on the Iimori Goryu slopes, man I wish I could sky.

Iimori Goryu Snow Resort Hakuba is a popular resort named Goryu (5 Dragons) because of the resemblance the rugged peaks of the Japanese Alps have to that of the mighty mythical beasts, well I'm not so sure about that.😕

Hamish and Owen take to the snow for their first lesson on how to snowboard and are quick to pick up the skills, kids are just so resiliant.

After a few quick lessons the boys and their trainer head up in the chairlift to try their luck on the slopes.

Full of confidence after his lessons, Hamish heads up the chair left with his Mum to show off his new skills.

And here they come, Mum and son skiing down the slop's together.

Owen shows off as he learns some new tricks until he lands on his behind but he's quick to recover.

The Winter Ice Sculpture are so cool.

Their are many interesting Ice Sculpture's found around the snow fields.

Down the slopes come's Dad and Son.

Someone is looking awfully confident and after only a few lessons, well done Hamish.

Sharyn taking some time out on the ski slops.

The people you run into on the slopes, Shelly and Sharyn, friends for ever.

Egyptian Pharaoh on the ice, sharyn took this one on top of the moutain.

The End

20240211 Japan, Hakuba

20240211 I'm up early to get ready for my flight to Tokyo with my daughter and family for elevel days and the boys are super excited as they drag their suit cases behind them. Leaving at 10:30am for a nine hour flight, arriving at 6:30pm Tokyo time, its going to be a long flight with three boy aged 9 to 13, thank god for ipads and movies.

Look out Tokyo this lot are on their way for a new adventure.

The flight was plesant enough with little turbulance but trust me, take your own food, it was so disgusting I ended up writing a letter of complaint to Jetstar, I even asked for a refund for the mushroom risotto I ordered after thrown away the Lasagne they served😡. 

Once we arrived we made our way through customs, collected our luggage and headed to the food court for some much needed Japanese food to see us through the night.

 

Narita Tobu Hotel was a short walk from the airport but after dragging a suitcase, carring a camera and a laptop I was sure nacked by the time we arrived. Once we all settled into our rooms I was quick to hit the sack but unfortunetly we were woken by a stomping noise above us, what the hell.

20240212 We were all up early for a quick breakfast before catching the shuttle bus to the train station for our next adventure to Hakuba. Apart from being a world class ski resort and Alpine enthusiasts destination for over 100 years, it also has an ancient past. Shio no Michi” or “Salt Road” now known as Route 148 was originally documented as being used to transport Jade over a thousand years ago, and the Salt Road was a major trading route for goods, largely salt. Goods were transported through forests and over mountainous terrain ending up in Matsumoto City, thankfully their were many natural hot springs along the road to help ease that weary travelers on their journey.

So here we all are waiting for the bullet at Tokyo station and as usual Ash is annoying his brother.

The Shinkansen, known in English as the bullet train, wow these are certainly spiffy looking trains.The Shinkansen, or Bullet Train, is a network of high-speed reailway lines in Japan, initially it was built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo to aid economic growth and development.

Owen's first time at seeing and touching snow, it feels just like ice, he reacons.

We arrived in the city of Nagano which is best known for hosting the 1998 Winter Olympics and which is also famous for sking and snowboarding. 

Called the roof of Japan as it boasts the highest mountain ranges in the country, the Japanese Alps.

Now to find where we board our bus to takes us to our finally desternation, Hakabu Valley, which means white horse that was derived by the shape of a horse of snow on the mountain side during spring time. Hakuba's history goes back to over 6,000 yrs which during these early days a type of serpentine stone found in Hakuba was dug out of the mountains and utilised in the making of stone axes.

Now for a two hour bus trip from Nagano to Hakuba.

Phil and Owen settle in for a two hour bus ride through winding roads and snow covered mountains.

From my window I managed some fly by photo's while taking in the sites along the way.

This river went on for ever and I ended up finding out it was the Hime River which is 60km.

A fly by photo of a beautiful homestead nesled in the forest.

A little township we passed on our journey to Hakuba.

Another spectacular site on the final leg of our journey.

We finally arrived at our new home for the next week thats surrounded by snow and mountains, a bit chilly and lucky for us the house is nice and warm thanks to to owner cranking up the fire place.

The boys a quick to have a play in the snow and as usual Ash is out to get his brother Hamish.

The boys having fun in the snow.

The boys build their first Snowman.

The Snowman takes shape but is soon tackled to the ground by three playful boys.

Dad given Owen a few tips on how to snow board before he hits the sky school the next day.

Brisbane to Japan