Golden Week is a series of four national holidays in Japan which is regarded as a time of vacation for the Japanese people. Initially, I only have plans of taking a rest during this period because of my busy schedule (experiments and Church duties) before and after these holidays. But when I stumbled upon this unique ropeway which is just 4 hrs from my place, I made an itinerary and look for other interesting and beautiful places near the ropeway to spend my 2-day self-love, de-stress holidays.
SECOND STOP: KAMIKOCHI. Most favourite place in Japan. It replaces Hakone, which is also a beautiful place overlooking Mount Fuji, in my list. Kamikochi is dubbed as the Banff and Yosemite of Japan. I went there in spring when the snow still embraces the mountains which provides a spectacular mountain scenery.
Kamikochi belongs to the Northern Japan Alps of Nagano Prefecture which opens around the last week of April until the third week of November and shuts during winter. Trivia: The Northern Japan Alps, also known as Chubu Sangaku National Park, is a volcanic mountain range that stretches across Toyama, Nagano and Gifu Prefectures and includes several 3000 meter high peaks and breath-taking hiking courses. (Source: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6043.html)
Kamikochi is a roughly 15 kilometer long plateau in the Azusa River Valley, about 1500 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by tall mountains, including Nishihotakadake (2909 m), Okuhotakadake (3190 m), Maehotakadake (3090 m) and the active volcano Yakedake (2455 m). (Source: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6043.html)
I was super amazed with the gorgeous view of the snow-capped mountains and the turquoise water of the Azusa River while inside the bus and approaching Taisho Pond. I can’t help but murmured “ang ganda”. I got off at Taisho Pond (a pond formed in 1915, when an eruption of the nearby volcano Yakedake dammed Azusa River) and walked the 3.8-km distance to Kappabashi where buses to Hirayu Onsen awaits.
Below was the amount of money I spent to de-stress and show love to myself . For the detailed itinerary, you can shoot me a message.
BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES:
Grand TOTAL: ¥36, 038
Card Total: ¥26, 910
¥3, 600 Bus from Kanazawa to Takayama
¥10, 030 Nakao Kougen Hotel Kazaguruma
¥2, 500 Dinner at Hotel
Note: It is a bit expensive but there are no restaurants and convenience store
near the hotel. No choice but to take the dinner offered by the hotel.
¥300 Dinner drinks (Ginger Ale). I did not know that the drinks they offered was not
for free. Well, I did not ask :-). Very expensive for just a small bottle of ginger
ale.
¥150 Bath fee or hotel tax
¥8, 200 Okuhida Marugoto Value Ticket which include the return ticket for Shin-hotaka
ropeway, a return ticket to and from Kamikochi/Hirayu Onsen Bus Terminal
and an unlimited bus ride from Takayama Nouhi Bus center to Shin-hotaka
Ropeway Station
¥2, 130 Souvenir (ref magnet and some sweets for myself)
Cash Total: ¥9, 128
¥160 Train fare from Fukudaimenishifukui Station to Fukui Station
¥2, 540 Train fare from Fukui Station to Kanazawa Station
¥1, 000 Lunch (May 3) at Shin-Hotaka Ropeway Station
¥390 Ref Magnet
¥520 Ref Magnet and Water
¥980 Lunch (May 4) at Hirayu Onsen Bus Terminal
¥1, 690 Train fare from Takayama Station to Toyama Station
¥348 Dinner (May 4)
¥1, 340 Train fare from Kanazawa Station to Fukui Station
¥160 Train fare from Fukudaimenishifukui Station to Fukui Station
Have yet to pay: ¥1, 240
¥1, 240 Train fare from Toyama Station to Kanazawa Station
Note: The local train from Toyama to Kanazawa is operated by a private
company but they share the same platform. Since I entered and exited in a
JR (Japan Railway operated by the Japanese government) station, I was not
able to pay for the fare from Toyama Station to Kanazawa Station.
¥8, 200 Okuhida Marugoto Value Ticket
The following would be the expenses if I did not buy the Okuhida Marugoto Value
Ticket
¥2, 200 Takayama to Shin-Hotaka Ropeway
¥3, 000 Roundtrip Ropeway Ticket
¥390 Shin-Hotaka Ropeway to Hotel
¥790 Hotel to Hirayu Onsen Bus Terminal
¥2, 090 Rountrip ticket Kamikochi/Hirayu Onsen
¥1, 600 Hirayu Onsen to Takayama
¥10, 070 TOTAL
¥1, 870 SAVINGS