Japan? Japan!

Another +1 for Osaka as a great base for day trips. My sister recently did Himeji, Hiroshima and Naoshima in a couple of trips.

Wakayama is on my wishlist, as a destination rather than day trip.

 

i got the money shot

 

The Nagano area ski fields are pretty easy to get to - either Shinkansen to Nagano then 1-2 hours on a bus up to Hakuba/Myoko/Shiga - or ?6 hours on a bus from Narita/Tokyo. Both ok options, although I would also recommend staying in Nagano for a day or two if the Snow Monkey's interest you, they're an easy bus up from the Nagano station, and there's a few neat breweries around...

Have spent 5 days in Myoko last trip, stayed here... but they didn't allow children (great for us, but not for you lol).
Mates have stayed on the 'main street' of Myoko too but can't remember where. The main ski area is pretty good for most skill levels and the rental place on the main drag is super tourist friendly (great coffee, too).

+1 for this - almost always my recommendation.
Hiroshima/Miyajima is a *long* daytrip but so much easier than changing hotels just for one or two nights.
The 5 day JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass is cheaper than a return trip Osaka<>Hiroshima too, so if you get the timing right you can save a small bit on other JR trains - eg to/from KIX.

Looking like I'm going to spend the 2-3 days between Osaka and Tokyo hitting up Nagoya - so time to chase up breweries... I'll leave the train museum as a surprise for the others, they won't appreciate it as much as I will

 

The train museum in Nagoya is good. If they don’t like it they can always go across the road to Legoland.

 

Oh, I plan on going to both... assuming you can get into Legoland without children - we couldn't in Osaka

 

Anyone with car rental experiences to share, good or bad? I figure the major places are going to generally be pretty consistent experiences?

 

The annoying thing about rental cars is the lack of ETC card for Tolls.nnnot sure if has changed theses days but no ETC / manual tolls are annoying.

Plenty of hire companies advertise english Nav, less important these days with Apple / Android car play.

 

Dammit, missed out on Nintendo Museum tickets twice now...

And it looks like Yamazaki aren't doing their proper distillery tours in Feb...

On the plus side, it's finally started puking down in Niseko!

 

Oh wow, did I get lucky with that?

Though was going to see the Sagano illumination afterwards but it turns out the Wednesday was the day they don't run.

 

I'm not sure, reports seem to be hit and miss as to how easily people get tickets... after I missed out on the end of Jan days, I went with a couple of unpopular times in Feb and still missed out.

Also missing out on the Sagano as it doesn't run in Jan or Feb...

 

Hi All,

So I am after advice on good food, bars and things to see or try that are unique or good fun.
Especially in Furano / Kushiro / Rasua.
Not our first time in Japan, but first time in the Winter season.

Wife and I am heading to Hokkaido for two week, Departing Syd Jan 31st - Returning 13th Feb.
Purpose is primarily Snow Skiing, we have seven nights accommodation in Furano, on the Kitanomine side.
Then we head to Sapporo for a 2 days too visit the brewery, see the Sapporo ice festival and eat a lot of Sapporo style Ramen.
From here fly to Kushiro, hire a car and stay overnight, before an early morning start to see the Red headed cranes in the wild, before driving the car to Rasau where will overnight.
Early next morning (hopefully) join the boat cruise through the early season drift ice, see a few eagle etc in the long cold golden hour light.
Then we drive to Nemuro Airport, leave the hire car and fly back to Tokyo in the afternoon.
Free night and day in Tokyo before we return to Syd the following morning.

Any recent info or advice appreciated.

 

If you're driving in Japan.. just have a read of this...
https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/threads/the-dark-side-of-japan-tourism.115019/

 

Every time I rent with Nippon I just tick the ETC option and they make a big fuss explaining to me how to insert the card, it's no longer an issue, as far as I know!

 

For Furano:
I would recommend eating in town, plenty of good options, easy if you have a car.
On the Kitanomine side, I went to a new joint, Lounge Furano which is owned by locals who used to live in the US for a long time - they are extremely passionate about their Nihonshu and will explain the various bottles on offer in detail. Well worth it.
Ajito is cheap, easy and busy/fun if you're after something quick.
Ezo Dining is delicious, we went twice.
If you can work out when the fuck Inaka Soba is open or not, you're a better man than me - every time we went it was shut, I think the old couple there just open up for a few hours when they feel like it
Country Kitchen we were told is good but never went.
Nozo was brand new and had good drinks & food but $$.
Sushi Dokorotakahashi in town is quite good if you're after decent tick the box on a piece of paper Sushi/Sashimi.
Unfortunately on the slope dining is extremely limited.
When I was there last year the only on mountain lunch option had a fire and was closed. On either side there's a couple of options at the base, Ramen on Kitanomine and the usual fare on the other side
Both are buy a ticket from a machine, hand the ticket to someone, wait for the number to pop up on a display while smiling quietly at all the Americans standing there with their ticket not realising they have to hand it in before their food is prepared
Ronin Coffee is good on the way to the Kitanomine Gondola but is always busy. Easier to grab a coffee and whatever tasty treat they have on offer at the Rojo caravan/coffee shop at the bottom of the Gondola stairs, then line up with it and drink on the way up .
Towards the end, we started just leaving our ski gear in the car, hopping in in the morning, stopping at White Room which is very western with pastries & good coffee then off to the other side for the morning, just parked at the hotel.

 

It's dead simple. Don't overthink it, just make sure you know how to drive in snowy conditions if you go in winter.
- Be on time. It's extremely rude not to be.
- make sure you bring an international driver's licence, unlike any other country I have been in, they absolutely insist on it.
- be prepared for the full gaijin treatment, including being told how to shift the car in drive, smile and wave, be nice.
- don't speed any more than everyone around you.
- have warm clothes in the car and some snacks. If you have a minor bingle (I haven't but friends have) police will be called and it will take hours.

 

Bahah holy shit, this comment made my evening. Certainly became daily entertainment for us.

+1 to Ajito and EZO.
El Asador for great steak - expect to pay for the top wagyu cuts though.
Teppan Okonomiyaki Masaya was a great feed and the staff know how to put on a show for the tourists.

 

Furano Omelette Curry, we enjoyed the one at the Natolux Hotel near the station, both there's a few around town.

Genghis Khan (lamb cooked Mongolian style on a shield) is also good, and seems to be common all over Hokkaido.

In Kushiro if you have time to get to the fish market, try the kattedon (build yourself rice and seafood bowl), but the timing might not work.

 

Thank you for taking the time for such in depth response.

I found this website: https://japanskiexperience.com/news-and-articles/furano-restaurant-guide/
Which aligns with what you said, interesting
'Inaka Soba Only lunch service and the restaurant would close when the fresh soba runs out.' - so at least I have a guide!

 

Thanks for the info, will try a Furano Omelette Curry omelette for sure.
Think we wilI be arriving to late in Kushiro for the fish market.

 

So my other burning questions are on transfer options from:

1. Asahikawa Airport to Furano accommodation.
2. Furano accommodation to Sapporo.

I am thinking Taxi / car from Asahikawa.
Not sure the other way Furnao to Asahikawa - Train? / Car? / Bus?

Appreciate any advice..?