The Japanese Alps — A Long Weekend
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
The Japanese Alps A Long Weekend
The Japanese Alps
This blog post is going to be nothing to do with online marketing….I just decided to write about my long weekend with my family to the Japanese Alps.
For most people, this is an area really off the beaten track…..and as someone who loves to travel, I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I am enjoying sharing it with you.
A bit of Info:
The Japanese Alps are a series of mountain ranges in Japan that divide the main island (known as Honshu) in two.
There are a few peaks over 3000 meters and they are home to most of the highest mountains in Japan, although not the most famous one, Mt. Fuji.
There are also a host of onsens ( hot springs) although we could not go there, as my friend has a few tattoos….these are very taboo in Japan and you will be asked to leave certain places if found out….wierd (their rules, not mine).
This actually dates back to old Yakuza lifestyles where all gangsters were identified by their tattoos.
The Japanese Alps A Long Weekend
I live in a place called Nagoya….Japan’s 4th largest city and have done so for 12 years. The past weekend, we decided to go on a short trip up to Nagano and stay in a lodge in the Japanese Alps.
Yours truly was the designated driver..so off we set. Four adults and two 3 year olds who spent the whole trip laughing, shouting, and going from best friends to enemies…and back to best friends again…lol
The Japanese Alps (in the background)
One of the things you notice in Japan is the amount of electric cables. There are too many earthquakes to have them underground.
I still remember when my house shook for ages during the quake that caused the Tsunami.
Mother nature is to be respected…….
And feared!
Anyway, after a 4 hour drive..and a few stops for caffeine we arrived at the lodge.
It seemed like a mini version of the Outlook hotel, thankfully minus Jack Torrance…although saying that, one of the only 3 staff there was very odd, and made everyone feel uneasy.
I wish I had taken some photos of it…but I was worried what eerie things may have appeared on the images.
The Japanese Alps A Long Weekend
If you ever get the chance to visit Japan, sure Tokyo is amazing, and Kyoto is incredibly culturally rich….but try and get out to the Japanese Alps if you can…the beauty is breathtaking.
We visited a mountain called Yatsugatake with a cable car ride to the top (off-season so no snow). The weather was perfect….about 28 degrees and not the usual 35 degrees and 90% humidity that I am used to in summer.
The Japanese Alps – With 2 Trouble makers
The views form the top were stunning, only spoilt by a greying guy in the middle of the above pic…..the Japanese Alps in the background.
The Japanese Alps — Fun on the way back down
Like all trips with kids, they got tired so eventually we had to come down.
To stave off the boredom, my daughter found it incredibly funny to have me pretend to be falling out of the cable car.
Kids have a warped sense of humour, even at 3 years old!!
Still, this is why I do my online business.
To be able to spending time with my family and to see the smile on my daughters face as opposed to only hearing about it.
The Japanese Alps – Food in the Mountains
Japanese food is famed for being healthy. One of the most loved dishes is something called ‘Soba’ . These are buckwheat noodles and come prepared in a variety of ways.
The pure mountain water of Nagano, purified over thousands of years means they are extra delicious here.
The image below is of a small Soba restaurant in the heart of the Japanese Alps.
The Japanese Alps – Soba
The Soba here can be served hot or cold, although in summer, cold is the preferred choice. You simply dip them in the soup (See dark brown cup) and eat.
The tempura is then dipped in the light brown broth, which has a hint of freshly ground ginger.
All in all a a very tasty and healthy lunch.
After this, I felt less guilty about the beers that had been drunk the night before.
I really love the simplicity of Japanese cuisine presentation.
In a rural setting such as the Japanese Alps, it feels very ‘Japanese’.
If you ever get the chance to visit Japan…go to the Japanese Alps….and hit me up too, and we can have a beer together.
PS. I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the Japanese Alps. I would be grateful of you could hit the like button if you did.
Adam Payne
My Blog: whoisadampayne.com
Skype: adam.john.payne
Phone: 81 909 184 9205
Email: adamnagoya@yahoo.co.uk
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