Exploring Hakuba in Summer — Day 1 of My 3-Day Nagano Trip | Japan Travel Vlog

Exploring Hakuba in Summer — Day 1 of My 3-Day Nagano Trip | Japan Travel Vlog

Hi, I’m Minh. I’ve been lucky to call Japan home for almost 10 years now and I absolutely adore everything about this beautiful country I’d love to take you along as we explore its magic together If my videos bring you a little joy, feel free to leave comments and subscribe I can’t wait to share more with you! In late July, we took a 3-day summer trip to Nagano Our first stop – Hakuba Famous for its world-class ski slopes in winter, Hakuba is just as stunning in summer. With the Northern Alps towering above and lush greenery all around it’s perfect for hiking, cycling and soaking in the mountain air Today, we’ll take you along for a summer cycling adventure through Hakuba. Please turn on subtitle to enjoy the vlog. Good morning! We’re picking up some bento boxes at Shinjuku Station to have lunch later on the train, so we’ll have more time to explore Hakuba this afternoon. The direct train to Hakuba leaves at 8 AM. The view outside is so beautiful! The train ride from Shinjuku to Hakuba takes a about 4 hours so we’re making the most of it by having lunch onboard. “The bento still smells so good” We’ve just finished our lunch! Almost at Hakuba Station now – I’m getting excited! We’ve arrived at Hakuba! As soon as you step out of the station, you’re greeted by these stunning mountains We’re renting bikes from this little shop just a minute’s walk from the station. It’s called “Uncle’s Shop”（おじさんの店) – such a cute name ^^ Let’s gooo 🚴‍♀️🚴 We’re heading to Ooide Park (大出公園） The scenery along the way is absolutely stunning. The green summer mountains still have a touch of snow left on top, so beautiful! We’re almost there! Let’s park the bikes here and explore the park on foot. The whole place is filled with the sounds of summer the breeze, the cicadas, and the gentle flow of the Himekawa River. Ooide-Tsuribashi Bridge stretches over the Himekawa,with the Hakuba Sanzan mountains in the background It honestly looks like a painting – a magical summer landscape. Some people are playing in the river. I bet the water’s super refreshing. Just as I thought – the water is so cool. Wow, dipping my feet in is even colder than I imagined! But on a hot day like today, relaxing here is just perfect. and everything around is just gorgeous. It’s a bit cloudy today, so we can only catch glimpses of the mountains, but I bet on a clear day, this place would be even more breathtaking. The view from Ooide-Tsuribashi Bridge is also really beautiful The weather in Hakuba is so cool and pleasant, the hydrangeas are still blooming beautifully even though their season is already over in Tokyo There’s a little rest hut here for visitors — it feels like stepping into an old traditional house We bought some shaved ice and enjoyed it here. “Itadakimasu 😋” ‘The strawberry flavor is so good!’ A cup of shaved ice is just perfect for a hot summer day 🍧 This’s where we bought our shaved ice 😊 Next, we’re riding around and heading to Hakuba Bridge (白馬大橋) The rice fields and distant mountains make the whole scene feel like something straight out of a Studio Ghibli movie This road is stunning — it almost feels like it’s leading us up into the mountains. And the best part? It’s so quiet.
Every now and then a car passes by, but otherwise, it’s just us. There it is — Hakuba Bridge The view here is really beautiful too. We’ve just arrived at Shimofurimiya Hosonosuwa Shrine The old, peaceful shrine nestled at the foot of the mountain In the past, villagers used to come here to pray for rain and for good harvests. These days, it’s also where local festivals are held. The tall cedar trees provide shade and create such a calm, almost mystical atmosphere. Wow, look at that giant cedar tree! It’s believed to be at least 1,000 years old, over 40 meters tall, and has a trunk about 10 meters in diameter. They say it even survived a lightning strike — and it’s considered a sacred tree. I’m going to take a moment to pray here. Really love the peaceful atmosphere here After biking and walking around, our legs are starting to feel a bit tired. So what better place to relax than a foot bath onsen? This one’s actually free, and it’s located just near Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal. Right next to the foot bath is a statue of Yukake Yakushi (湯かけ薬師), a revered Buddha believed to have the power to heal illnesses and bless people with good health. I’m going to sit here and soak my feet for a bit and the mountain view in front of us is absolutely beautiful! So relaxing! The hydrangea bushes along the road are so pretty! Even though their peak bloom is over, they’re still really beautiful We’re on our way to Kinagashi-Gawa Walking Path now. It’s so peaceful here — just the two of us. The whole place is wrapped in the fresh scents of summer grass, the gentle sound of flowing water, insects buzzing, and the rustling breeze. And the view is amazing. The layers of trees overlap like something straight out of a famous landscape painting. If I lived nearby, this would definitely be my go-to spot for morning or evening walks I feel happy that this is our last stop for the day we can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view without worrying about rushing to the next place Out of all the spots we visited today, I think this might be my most favorite… the view is just breathtaking How about you? Would you visit Kinagashi-Gawa Walking Path and soak in this amazing atmosphere too? We’ve made it back to Hakuba Station, returned our bikes at Uncle’s Shop, and now we’re on the bus heading back to our hotel. The view outside is so beautiful, isn’t it? It took us about 5 minutes to get to the Happo Information Center from Hakuba station Now let’s walk to the hotel where we’re going to stay tonight Here’s the hotel
the building looks so lovely from the outside. Wow, the view from the window is incredible! Just in time for sunset — the sky is glowing, it’s so stunning! Imagine waking up to this every morning… it’d be amazing, right? We’re heading out for dinner now.
We planned to eat at this place They’ve been making Yamabuki miso since the 17th century, and now serve Japanese dishes using it Minh: “They started their business from the 17th century” But sadly, they were fully booked,
so we ended up at a Tonkatsu place nearby instead. Looks delicious! “Itadakimasu” 😋 Thank you so much for watching! I hope you had a relaxing time watching my vlog 🥰 If you enjoyed it, please like, comment and subscribe to see more from me Your support means the world to us! Thanks again and I hope to see you in the next vlog🥰

Hi, I’m Minh!
In this vlog, join me on a peaceful summer ride through Hakuba. I biked through quiet village paths, under golden sunshine, with cicadas singing in the rice fields and the North Alps hiding behind dreamy clouds. It was a calm, beautiful day—and I hope you feel that too through this vlog✨
Please turn on subtitles to enjoy the vlog 😊

Chapters:
00:00 – 1:52 Intro
1:53 – 3:35 Getting on the train from Shinjuku to Hakuba
3:36 – 7:30 Renting bike and exploring Oide Park
7:30 – 8:48 Cycling to Hakuba Bridge
8:49 – 10:49 Shimofurimiya Hosonosuwa Shrine
10:50 – 11:38 Relaxing time at a Onsen Foot Bath
11:40 – 14:20 Kinagashigawa River Park
14:21- End On the bus to hotel, check in and dinner

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About me:
My name is Minh, based in Tokyo, Japan and I’m sharing the beauty of Japan and my life here through this channel.
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