We started out at 7am this morning and headed for the Japanese Alps. After arranging for our luggage to be transferred to the next hotel (which cost about $50) we then took a rickety old train to Tateyama and then a series of cable cars, buses, electric trolley busses and a ropeway which took us up and over and through the mountains. The first two stops we did not get off at as signs warned of a recent bear attack and walking trails were still snowy. The views from the bus were beautiful as we climbed higher into the mountains. We got off at Murodo (2,450m) and spent quite a bit of time there walking through the ice walls, around Mikurigaike Pond, viewing the volcanic sulfur pits and of course having snowball fights 😄 We had a picnic lunch there before moving on to Kurobe Dam. The view as we were going down the ropeway was amazing. We walked up, and then down, too many stairs to count. We had afternoon tea there and then took the last tunnel trolley to Ogizawa where the Alpine Route finished. We then took a local bus to the Kurobe Kanko Hotel. We have a traditional Japanese room (except for the tv I guess 😉) and the hotel is very nice. There are 4 onsens, two indoors and two outdoors, segregated between male and female. For those who don't know how an onsen works this is how it goes, you go into a room and strip off to the nude and all you can take is a little modesty towel (hand towel) to the bathing area. You then have to sit down on a little shower stool and scrub yourself clean, then you get into the bath nude and you can use the hand towel only on your head or to pat your face dry, it is not allowed in the water. The water is about 41 deg cel so it is very hot and we could not stay in there long! The water is natural minerals so its supoosed to be very good for you. It was a weird experience but as they say, when in Japan do as Japanese do 😄 A buffet dinner was included and it was a huge spread of japanese food, Steve absolutely loved it, I thought it was good but I'm not a fan of the raw seafood 🐟 When we got back to our room our futon beds had been made so all we have to do now is go to sleep 😴
