Those that know me, know that most days start with a big walk in the morning. I spent last night close to Tokyo Station, which is also close to the Imperial Palace. So on my walk this morning, I decided to make the Palace my destination. You really can’t see a lot of it during normal hours, so I wasn’t likely to be overly disappointed at 6:30am! I did startle a few policemen however, who looked concerned that I was going to try to be visiting! Nope, just out with the dedicated people of Tokyo exercising.
My next adventure back into Tokyo Station was far more successful than past attempts to navigate it! It was time to buy my Shinkansen pass to Iiyama, a relatively short trip and then on to Nozawa Onsen. I found the right platform and carriage first off, this is unheard of… I’m sure I’ve just jinxed future forays into train stations now!
The last time I came to Nozawa Onsen in 2016, the Shinkansen stopped at Nagano and from there you needed to catch a quaint and rickety little local train onwards to Nozawa (and then a bus). The new Shinkansen line was being built to Nozawa at the time, for completion shortly there after. Today’s trip went through Nagano and then I got off at Iiyama, with a short 20 min bus ride to Nozawa. I’m not sure how much time I saved, probably 2-3 hours, but I honestly miss that local train, it was a great slow intro to the mountains. In Nagano there was no snow on the ground, once we popped out from the tunnel into the Nozawa valley, snow was on the ground and we‘d missed all of the graduation into snow and alps and were just “bang”… there.
I’ve been up this line a few times now and to Nozawa Onsen three or four times, but all that should be familiar is not. I’m still lost, I still can’t find the bar that Big Al and I used to frequent, and I’m constantly wondering if I’ve been down this road! Still, I enjoyed hot buns in the street for a late lunch, found the kimono shop, got fitted for my gear for a big 6 days on the slopes starting tomorrow, and have sorted out some local snacks. Nozawa is a big apple growing region, so while I was busy getting lost in the laneways I should know, I bought a couple of apples, in the vain hope that I might manage to be healthy these holidays. When I got back from my town sojourns, I settled into the the common room with a green tea and the owner walked by with a bag of apples for me….. so lovely…. I’m going to have to eat all of these apples now…. Cannot insult anyone by not eating their food!
Dinner: Nabeyaki-Udon + beer, 1680 yen $18.50
Temperature: 2 degrees Celcius
Snow depth- 1.65m
Snow forecast- Significant snowfalls expected Friday and Sat, 30-60cm per day
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