D6 Shin Hotaka & Hirayu Onsen

As the weather forecastpredicted, today was indeed the perfect day to visit Shin Hotaka.
The bus ride took almost 2 hours, the view along the roads was again amazing.

Ski resort near Hirayu

Passing a ski resort on bus

The ropeway took us over 800m higher; at elevation of 2km.

Arriving peak

Unique double decker ropeway

Scenery at the top was breathtaking.

At the observation deck

Through an telescope

Jon made a proper snow ball here!

And together we made a snowman! The snow was so fluffy it was hard to make a snowball.

Scenery in the ropeway

We took short break at Hirayu onsen on the way back. Our first hot spring in the different outdoor spa. They have a total of 7 outdoor baths for men and 9 for women. It was a perfect setting to bath while enjoying the sunsets over the peaks. I could not stay in the water too long; it was getting hot and I was getting palpitations.

We had an ice cream each afterwards to cool ourselves down. By the time we got out it's completely dark outside. It's only 5pm!

D4 Karuizawa

Today is the day for many of our first times.

sashimi for breakfast

Saw Mount Fuji for the first time.

Took shinkansen for the first time.

Trying walking on snow for the first time and most importantly skiing for the first time.

Though it was man made snow at Karuizawa ski centre. It stayed pretty fresh till about 2 pm, then it started to become more like slushies. From needing assistance to get onto the chair lift, I managed to go down the track a few times without falling over!

Being early season and also a weekday during school term, the queue for the chair lifts were moving pretty quick.

After getting worn out from the exercise, we went to the shoppong plaza next to the train station. Bought 1 thick winter jacket each and a hat for Jon totaling 150-160AUD! Bargain;)

chicken karage with tea

We are staying in Matsumoto for the night. Traditional Japanese style, nice size and nice decor too