2 weeks in Japan winter road trip | Ginzan Onsen, Lighthouse, Biggest Tori Gate Niigata (Episode 2)

2 weeks in Japan winter road trip | Ginzan Onsen, Lighthouse, Biggest Tori Gate Niigata (Episode 2)

[Music] [Music] [Music] oh God we have made it to our first spot we did not know that in order free to get to ginon last night it was a total surprise for us we thought that we could park closer to it but this is actually the last parking that you could park your vehicle at and take a shuttle bus down over to the V on so it is 500 yen per person for the shuttle ride and this is actually the tourist center I think it’s called Tosha Roman I’m not sure I’ll put the location down below but yeah this is where you park your cars and trucks and take the 500 y shuttle bus down over and uh I guess they just make make their rounds back and forth back and forth it’s only a 4minute drive from here anyway so let’s uh kind of split the rounds a little bit cuz we have this little cute little Cabana yeah yeah it’s like a little that we found and it has like the cutest little table and and chairs and seats that kind of look like mushroom heads covered in snow covered in snow office post office yeah just in that corner just sitting ping up no careful SC this is a beautiful even a beautiful stop before the Gin onon so if you guys get a chance you have to park here anyway unless you want to walk 1.5 km down the road which I don’t see anybody walking in this negative degree weather but it is so beautiful here like look for the trees CED inow oh so magical yeah so we’re just uh kind of going to look around maybe Build a Snowman and go down over to the on after the shuttle [Music] yeah you just can’t help but playing snow I know so what [Music] her she down [Music] make sure the news is great oh yeah not bad for a first snowman yeah why does it look like um saw yeah I think it’s long nose I think the nose yeah God I swear it has facial features of with a human of of of a human yeah hey not bad here good job yeah oh no your arch nemesis the sun’s coming come to outelt no it’s going to melt you’re not going to melt I didn’t say that [Music] word we have finally made it here to the beautiful gin onen it is located in the mountainous city of obanazawa in the Yamagata Prefecture and it is Japan’s most famous on Town yeah yeah I believe it cuz there’s a whole lot of people that came out to visit that lot tour but yeah it used to be a silver mining town uh and also it gets its name kinza yeah called Silver Mountain it’s called Silver Mountain so yeah especially in this um white snowy day but also obviously due to the silver mining yeah and that was between like this area was kind of developed around the 1920s and 30s and we’re here today and there’s lots of what we’re seeing is lots of uh accommodations here our old traditional Japanese in which are Riot ones so yeah they’re they’re filled with them here and they have like these beautiful lanterns that light up in the evening that kind of take you back to old time yeah yeah yeah actually came over last night and you could actually see people sitting in the balcony yeah yeah so that’s the right kind of that you’re talking about looks as amazing during the day as at night yeah uh but especially when the light to turn on that warm light yeah with the white snow yeah with the white snow it looks really nice really nice but yeah this is the famous onson that people always talk talk about it was actually also pop really popularized by uh a famous TV drama and then the the movie Spirited Away so we’re finally here I just wanted to I’ve dragged oim along cuz I was like I really want to see this in real life and is it is just as beautiful and if you ever get a chance to come in winter come here it’s so nice oh and I forgot there’s also a foot bath but there were like lots of people in there so we’re going to cast but it so nice for our toes yeah especially yours yeah but look look at the view yeah this place looks incredible I love the white snow the hot spring and then the white snow on the trees and all like the wooden wooden structures surrounding it with the warm cozy lights that really like really makes this place so nice there’s nobody going to mention how cool that Dragon uh Basin or whatever that was yeah yeah yeah it’s got hot water in it got steam coming out yeah that’s saw lady like kind of put her hand yeah in it and just kind of like maybe like wash your hand or something wash your hand kind of like get those tingles the shields out of the way yeah yeah yeah we found a secondary spot that has um the footp so uh but still it’s so interesting because there’s a footpath there’s a bench you you sit on the bench taking the and taking the views yeah yeah it’s funny cuz I I thought people were kind of loitering like yeah they built it right on the bridge which is pretty cool very cool just walking along the pathways we’ve seen so many unique souvenir shops and there’s like quite little cafes too along with the Bri scattered around uh but it’s really there there’s people sitting in restaurants you know upstairs looking down at us it’s just really nice but uh it’s it’s it’s a beautiful place to at least come visit once yeah just the arm of the place kind of like a cozy small town yeah I had that a cozy small town feel uh but yeah we’re going to head back now it’s kind of getting late uh we had a plan of settling in yeah actually we had to drive 8 hours all the way over to Nagano yeah but uh it’s kind of late so we’re hopefully going to just drive halfway so hours away from here find an accommodation and then make our do a not going a day after yeah uh cuz at 8 hours and especially it’s it’s snowing I don’t think safe not safe yeah so yeah uh let’s head back so cute oh my gosh she making those little that is like the perfect part yeah oh I don’t want to squish it I leave it oh so cute oh there’s ducks look at this [Laughter] ducky shoot I feel like we should put in the water it probably like just float away I think I’ll do float and melt away yeah all right no no I’m going to put it oh snowman’s still there byebye Mr snowman it’s it’s kind of nice uh sitting over there look at how cute he is yeah Miss [Music] [Music] oh my God is that a vending machine I think so let’s pull over that is the cutest vending machine oh my goodness what is this place I know it looks amazing this is so cute right yeah oh well let’s see let’s see what they have is there anything hot here espresso let’s see how about this one it’s all green what does that mean is this our ear gray okay did you get it yeah isolated vending machine it’s so nice but like people are just going by they just need a quick drink all right here we go there you go good oh oh it’s the mini one this has to be one of the cutest yes yeah one of the cutest I thought I saw deer oh my God like getting delirious but it is just like in an isolated roadside area chain station as Wasim says it is and it has three cute vending machines uh with the wooden uh structures and if you guys just want to take a moment to listen nothing silence and peace that is what we love and maybe a quick snow fight you should fres harder that we’re getting it’s so fluffy yeah oh yeah like fresh snow so nice yeah okay we need to go dry up yeah we’re going to have our nice Kieran hot tea and we have about two more hours to go to reach there I’m having so much fun you guys we’re having the time of our lives definitely and we’re happy to be able to share it with you guys we are grateful let’s get on the road yeah [Music] yes so we’re going uh through Highway 290 uh seems like it’s a quiet Highway nobody goes through here this late at night so yeah the tracks are pretty powdery uh there are a few times uh the car did kind of like um lose traction a little bit but uh thankfully snow tires so we still have enough traction uh to still have control but uh yeah it’s uh it’s much thicker than the the main Highway that we just got off of not sure if that was what seven or I forgot yeah I forgot the one that we saw a whole bunch of tunnels and bridges and all that so and they have active snowplows the ride’s been nice so far it’s just sometimes some places feel a little Eerie cuz it’s yeah around late it’s dark yeah yeah especially that I mean you do have your street lights but then sometimes you do go go through the rural parts of the countryside or mountains where um yeah just B basic uh reflectors on the road if anything yeah I feel like that’s usually the case um especially if you’re enjoying the daytime doing your activities and of course if you’re like on a road trip you might spend the end of the day kind of getting to your next spot so that’s what’s happening but with us there were a lot of shenanigans going on back there at the oh at the restaurant the tire chain station yes oh man with with the cutest little wooden structured uh vending machines it just looks so nice in the peaceful it was it was pin drop silence even like the wind was quiet right like you get out and you just feel like you’re breathing and you feel like you’re the loudest person in the area but uh it was so nice like it’s it was okay when we got out but then I don’t know something happens it’s been happening for the past 2 3 days that we’ve been in the road trip we’re not special or anything but we truly appreciate this blizzard and the falling of the the snow that every time we’re out and we’re just like admiring it there’s like a just it just intensifies it just intensifies and it just it was just swirling all around us and we just couldn’t help it it was just such a magical moment for the both of us is yeah we were jumping for joy it was it was such a sweet magical moment for us we we found it’s a new found appreciation for cold and winter season in general it’s just it’s so beautiful especially here in Japan we’ve been loving it where for [Music] oh cute little truck came over to 7 with the bit of snow oh gamus good morning guys I still got to get that right no it’s fine ohas so this morning uh we had a what did we sleep for like 3 hours yeah what time did we get here last night was it 1:30 almost it was it was actually 1:45 is believe so yeah yeah we didn’t go to know I know I was showering at 3:30 Yeah so basically we didn’t go to bed until after 4:30 yeah and then uh they had like a free breakfast so we stayed at a comfort in right behind us really great check-in process the van was really lovely and then even the staff here upon checkout was great but the breakfast spread was quite nice there was Continental as well as your Oriental options as well so it was really nice good combo and so after what three 3 and maybe 3 hours half hours of sleep that’s all we got yeah we have a 3 and 1 half hour journey ahead of us to go see some snow monkeys um the bathe in the spring Hot Springs exactly yeah that that is like wild right we’ve never seen that we want to go see it for ourselves but let’s make the journey down over to Nagano we are in nigata right now and three and a half hours later we should be in Nagano but we had to make a quick quick pit stop at 7-Eleven get the Cure in usual and usual as well if I’m not eating the other Mochi from the supermarket yeah but uh is it bad that I got dessert at uh breakfast uh yeah no it’s fine I I think works this is for the three and a half hour Journey I’m trying to get her off this thing let’s enjoy life she has an uh it is called mochi mochi equals happiness Let’s uh let’s let’s get on the road by the way can we app appreciate little kitty in kimono yeah KK she’s so cute right and it’s funny every time I’m driving like it turns turns and it’s looking at me yeah she she turn she does literally turn and look at was and then she’s just on the road I I do kind of get load striking I she’s so cute what a what a pretty souvenir we got yeah wish us luck we want to get there see the monkeys show you guys the monkeys what a site it’ll be yeah and then see if we can make it to the next destination if not just uh camp for the night yeah so yeah we do need some sleep though oh my God tell me about let’s go [Music] [Music] decided to pull over because we saw this beautiful mountain range with fresh snow I would say personally this that’s possibly the the most snow that I’ve seen on a Mountaintop would you say so yeah like it it looks it looks like fresh powder uh it seems like this region got fresh powder last night as we roll in today is a Sunday so a lot of people are out and about we saw them uh shoveling snow off their cars and uh yards yeah but uh yeah what’s the plan for today well since uh we have a change of plans we instead are going to explore a beautiful area of nigata we thought we are in the prefecture why not visit one iconic landmark in our opinion before we leave it’s iconic yeah there was no way however we do have to backtrack 48 minutes up to the West Coast it’s okay and right yeah especially if it comes to lighthouses so there’s this beautiful lighthouse overlooking the Sea of Japan and we thought we’d go explore that and then come back down over towards the snow monkey area yeah uh we’re still losing some time and running behind we’re actually a day behind but who cares it’s a road trip you just adapt as you go right exactly so we have mapped out our route and uh just FYI I still haven’t found an accommodation for us our budget is under $55 and I can’t seem to find anything on that specific route there are accommodations where we have to uh it’s an hour away go past the snow monkey attraction and then we have to come back up that’s not what we’re trying to do I think we’re just trying to go in One Direction and find I have a bright idea if we don’t there’s a beautifuli right next to the river that that’s that’s always helpful that I would like to stay at yeah 1100 of them it seems like Wasim had a better experience at the past missionary key like as far as sleep sleep quality wasn’t bad uh but I’m the one who’s opting to like do that cuz it’s right by the river and I see this beautiful like bridge and I want to see it for myself and maybe want to Shared but hopefully we get to find a hotel within our budget range if we don’t you shall find us at that Mai yeah how beautiful does this rice Patty look with snow covering it right I’ve never seen rice a rice Patty field yeah in snow you you you kind of expect it cuz we we’ve seen a bunch in uh Thailand uh Bali yeah Bali to have a mixure of like rice P fuels and snow it’s a different it’s yeah it’s just so beautiful it’s a nice contrast it’s a warm day it’s not that chilly yeah yeah so it’s it’s it’s Pleasant uh so yeah we’re just going to take our time uh get over to the lighthouse go visit the west coast of Japan that’s going to be our first time visiting the West Coast so yeah see the Sea of Japan which is going to be nice yeah and then yeah make our way down so we’ll catch you guys on the Ro let’s [Music] [Music] go yeah it looks so nice with the rice fuels uh covered in snow with with the um path leading the way yeah so nice nice yeah we thought we saw some really big tour Gates on our trip through Japan uh we saw the one in hakun the heaviest one in Mima but uh this one beats them all Beats them all does not even compare and this is all by accident yeah we just found this out on our way exactly because the thing is it’s visible from so far away and we are talking about this tour gate behind us amazing so huge it’s a massive to togate built to commemorate the uhu shinen in 1982 the thing is as tall as 30 m yeah 20 M wide on the two pillars and then 38 M across in length it’s massive right right this and this is the the largest uh togate in Japan yeah yeah the double I just can I fathom like I don’t know I feel like I’m still trying to like reel from seeing it exactly uh and it it’s actually a roadway too so it’s a three lane wide Road this is the yahiko otori this is a Shinto Shrine Tory gate that leads over to the Shinto Shrine on the other side and what’s really cool about this Tory gate is that you can see mount yahiko on the other side and yeah through it and it’s so beautiful it’s like the mountain Mount yo is standing Grand on the other side and I’m curious to see how it looks maybe we should take a walk so we’ll go walk that way look at the mountain that way nigata has definitely surprised us yes yeah pleasant surprise we should have booked like one more day here but we have things planned that we have to keep going around but wow yeah uh I I would say you got to see this in person yeah you know what it would be nice kind of standing at the bottom of it yes well I guess this is me compared to the Tory gate it is so beautiful and so Grand wow [Music] we are witnessing one of the most beautiful sunsets that we’ve seen thus far in Japan yeah and the view is standing from the lighthouse yeah and the light the light turned on yeah it’s just going around and around you know it’s going around around the climb up here was moderate it was moderate yeah yeah but uh beautiful sens today nice candy colored uh clouds skies and yeah just to just to take it all in on this Viewpoint we are looking at the Sea of Japan guys yes first time it’s amazing but wow wow amazing this was a trip well worth it we finally made it just right on time for set yeah and blue hour and just just the skies it’s very entrancing wow some of these random finds on our road trip have been some of the most memorable and picturesque time yeah that we’ve had here it’s not like a tourist attraction or anything and there are only like three people five people in total including us here feel special kind of off the beaten path beautiful let’s do a quick exploration and then I head back let’s go I guess you can go down yeah you can go all the way up to the edge all the way to the edge over the waves are crashing you know what I’m thinking I don’t know if we should come back in summer think so and then you actually have a little Bridge or overpass that kind of you actually see cars going over it’s so nice and we also got to see the lights turn on for the very first time as as the lights turning so nice this is called the kakuda misaki lighthouse here in nikata so if you guys are around sure do drop by yeah yeah you’ll enjoy it so guys we just arrived at a hotel this is going to be our firstand parking uh in a public parking spot so we just wanted to show that to you guys because it was the first for us so just so if you guys are ever in Japan and road tripping you you know the process of parking around so uh oh and also the rest of the update is going to happen up in the room so for now we are in a public parking you’ll see that with those uh big PE signs in and there’s actually a sensor in the park spot uh sometimes it comes with a gate at the bottom if you stay there long enough like usually a great period of 3 minutes it knows that you have the intent of parking so it kind of blocks it like erases itself and and blocks your car right now ours just started flashing red it was actually not lit up so yeah after that um there usually a timetable or schedule of how much it costs parking so it could be either a 6-hour period 24hour period uh an hour so an hour can cost you from 200 6 hours could cost you I believe what 500 800 5 yeah so it is after 8 um so it is going to cost us 800 but if we do check out before 8:00 a.m. it’s going to cost us 500 so it’s actually 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. oh 600 pm. yeah mhm so you don’t pay prior but it keeps track of what time you got in and what time you plan on leaving so plan on leaving is you actually have to come to the machine put in your car slot number it lets you know how much you owe because it’s been less than an hour so it kind of charges for an hour which is 200 or if you have a suo of pasmo sometimes you get a discount so over here it’s 180 so you save 20 there so in the morning when we do check out before 8 instead of paying 800 we should be paying 500 500 with our yeah now you know this is a sensor system it’s only by light there other ones with the bar so same concept it just keeps track of your car you there now you know so this is the update we didn’t venture too far off from neata we’re still in the prefecture and we just decided to get a hotel here which was around $30 and definitely under our budget of $55 because I searched all all along the Route all the way over to the snow monkey Park and there was nothing to be found it’s a nice Metro we’ve stayed in smaller no we’ve stayed in smaller but then we also stay out what is it called Liv Max or Liv Max Liv Max yeah uh Liv Max hotels and resorts in like many other different prefectures so we know what it’s like yeah uh it’s just cozy comfortable small but gets has everything we need yeah yeah we’ll catch you guys in the next one thank you guys for coming along yeah see you in the next one bye

2 weeks in Japan for a winter road trip. Ginzan Onsen, snow monkeys, and Niigata Tori Gate
💙 RECOMMENDED PLACES TO STAY
05:08 – Kido Sazaemon Ryokan:https://go.stay22.com/ksF4Wzlqca
05:11 – Ryokan Kosekiya:https://go.stay22.com/berE2p9uzR
05:12 – Unagiya Ryokan:https://go.stay22.com/K-JY5YMpUK
05:38 – Yuno Ryokan:https://go.stay22.com/Tbt4ZP0eZ3
05:48 – Nagasawa Heihachi Ryokan:https://go.stay22.com/6tBCYLqXcO
06:29 – Ryokan Matsumoto:https://go.stay22.com/qBBTvWe2m2
18:39 – Comfort Inn:https://go.stay22.com/ZObvVg3BG2

In Episode 2, we visit Ginzan onsen during the day, and breathtaking scenic drives to a light house on the west coast by the Sea of Japan and finding the biggest Tori gate in Niigata. From charming mountain villages to snow monkeys in hot springs, this road trip is packed with must-see destinations and unique experiences perfect for your Japan itinerary.

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