Sunday 22 December
This morning we realised how much baggage we have between us. We decided that it would be a pain to have to walk to the subway station, let alone negotiate steps and line changes, dragging our bags, so we elected to take a taxi, or, should I say 2 taxis - 4 people plus big bags plus carry bags, backpacks and Elly's camera bag.
We were to board the Shinkansen, ( Bullet train) to Nagano, 1 hour 40 north west of Tokyo, then bus for another 1 hour 30 to Nozawa Onsen, which is a spa town and skiing village.
The boys have been sweating on the snow reports for the last week, and have been worried about the lack of snow, being so early in the ski season. However, this morning's report gave the good news that it had been snowing all night and things were looking good.
Our instructions from the lodge in which we were booked were: get off the bus at Nakao bus stop, and we are 250 m up the hill. So we did that, walking up the main road (up hill), dragging our bags, in heavy snow - very beautiful, but no sign of the lodge.
Dan volunteered to go into a shop and enquire, and as usual, they were very helpful. It transpired that we were walking up the wrong hill. So back to the bus stop, snow getting heavier, turned 90 degrees left and walked up that hill.
There we came to our lodge which sits alone, right at the base of 2 ski lifts, completely surrounded by snow, which made carrying our bags interesting. Once at the door we were greeted by Johnny, an Australian, who showed us our rooms, and told us he would show us around the area, and show us where to hire ski equipment.
This was amazing service, as he escorted us through town, showing us where to go to get all we needed, and left us to sort out the equipment hire
The lodge, called the Kenashi Liftside House, is a beautiful, modern building on 3 levels. We are on level 2. On level 1 is a Qantas flight attendant and her husband. We each have bathroom and kitchen facilities on our levels, but can share if we wish. Upstairs on level 3, is a penthouse for the owner. The vista from our living area and bedrooms is just magnificent.
Johnny is interesting, he lives in Bali, where he teaches surfing and yoga. He is living here for a few months, looking after the lodge and keeping things in order.
Tomorrow morning he is going to ski with us to show us the mountain, so we can get our bearings, but before that, he is going to get us up to give us a yoga lesson before breakfast. He is one of those supremely fit looking individuals with a physique to die for. I asked him if his yoga lesson would give me one of those, and he said yes, if I kept doing it. As I speak he is bringing the yoga mats up for tomorrow.
Mike and Dan have gone to a local Onsen, which is a traditional Japanese bath, segregated and completely naked. Johnny showed us a video demonstrating all the etiquette and rules that you need to follow. They have now just arrived back, and said it was really good.
I think we are in the best lodge here, in the best position, so we should have a great few days.
Monday 23rd - Friday 26th
Our first day skiing was fun, in clear weather, and with Johnny showing us the ins and outs of the mountain.
That evening it snowed, and kept snowing during the next day. Which has set the mountain up with a good initial cover on which to build.
I managed, on the second day out to wipe out 2 members of the family; first of all I managed, with no skill at all on my behalf, to crash straight into Michael, when he was simply minding his own business. This caused me to go sprawling, but Michael somehow managed to stay vertical.
My next target was Elly, as I glided over the rear ends of her skis, sending me, missile like into the snow. Fortunately we wear helmets, so I only had a bit of whiplash, whilst Elly also remained vertical and unscathed.
On Christmas Day we had a good ski in the morning, but received the news that Elly's mum was in hospital, so that dampened things down somewhat, and we are keeping a close eye on that, hoping that she will improve.
In the afternoon, while the boys kept skiing, Elly and I took a bus tour to see the Snow Monkeys, which are something new to me. It is an hours drive from here, then a half our walk through a magnificent snow covered forest, to see about a hundred of these monkeys living in the snow, along the river. Obviously an ancestor some time ago discovered hot spring water there and decided to settle.
It is so funny watching them as a few lower themselves into a purpose built spa, just like we would, and just sit there watching the world as they soak up the warm water. They don't get concerned at all with the people standing around watching, they just go on with their lives.
Back home for another day of skiing and for Elly to take the camera out for some photos in beautiful weather, because more snow is forecast. At 9 am each morning, the loudspeakers all over the mountain burst forth with stirring inspirational music, and I'm sure it must be just like this skiing in North Korea, as we picture the youth being inspired to ski for the advancement of their country. In actual fact it's probably some Japanese pop tune.
The village of Nozawa Onsen is very picturesque, and we have spent a good deal of time walking through it, particularly in the dark evenings looking for restaurants. Unlike some of the other ski resorts in Japan which are virtually overrun by Australians, this place is very quiet, without the usual après ski watering holes etc. There are a good number of Aussies and other nationalities here, but it remains very much Japanese in style and culture.
I have found that it can be difficult if it is necessary to follow Michael and Daniel down a ski run, because, everything will be quite normal for a short time, and then one of them will turn 90 degrees and head off into some powder snow, and the other might break off in the other direction, eventually to join up again further downslope, whilst conservative old dad wonders whether he is still on the right trail.
We have just received the dreaded bad news that Elly's mum Mary/Marysia/Mimi has just passed away today, so we will be terminating our Japan Adventure and returning home. We will be home Saturday early afternoon and Michael will come with us.
Sorry to say this will be the last posting for this blog.
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