Day 2 of Our Holiday.
Woke up around 10 am after a surprisingly good night’s sleep. And, miraculously, my neck wasn't hurting!!! Which, let me tell you, was a BLESSING given how much agony I was in the previous night!
Alex too slept surprisingly well. This was probably more down to both of us being exhausted, rather than the hotel having super comfortable beds.
Checked out just before noon.
Walked to the train station and had no idea which platform we needed to go on to get to Negano, or which ticket to buy. It’s a huge station with lots of entrances and the only guard we could did not speak a lick of English.
I said to Alex, what we needed is a young Japanese person who speaks English to help us, and literally about 10 seconds later, a young (mid-20s) and very kind woman who spoke English, saw we were floundering and bought tickets for us (with our money) and walked us down through the gates toward the correct platform. How Japanese people nice or what?!
We had a bit of time before the next train so we grabbed some sandwiches and then boarded the Shenkusen (the Bullet Train) at 12.30 pm.
There are two type of tickets you can by for the Shenkusen, reserved seating or unreserved. We had the latter and so had to board the first four carriages only.
The train ride was effortless and pleasant. Though given the futuristic appearance of the bullet train, the inside was a little old fashioned and drab.
When we got to Negano it was snowing very lightly and we bought tickets for the connecting bus to Hakuba. With half an hour to kill we got out of the cold and sat in a cafe. But the cafe had a connected smoking room. With no door. So naturally the smoke came into the non smoking section. After about 20 minutes Alex was having trouble breathing so we left and stood downstairs in the cold. Not that we minded that at all as it was lovely.
Eventually the bus came and we got on and off we went for the hour journey to Hakuba Guru. The bus was packed and I used the time to catch up on the travel blog while Alex listened to music and looked out the window at the winter wonderland.
Late in the journey the guy next me, a navy guy from Perth as it turned out, starts chatting with me. Wouldn’t you know it, but while we were chatting we missed our stop! (my bad). No harm no foul though as we got off at Hakuba station and took a short 10 minute cab to our hotel.
Stelle Belle Hotel Review
We checked into our hotel, which is a bit plain looking from the outside, compared to some we passed in the cab, and our room (which was their most expensive ‘suite’) was two rooms and a bathroom. It’s nice but dated. No problem though because we knew what we were getting when we booked the room. And given we booked late, it was the best available.
The ‘King’ bed advertised however we discovered were two twin beds pushed together. And both were very hard and not overly inviting or comfortable.
After getting to our room we collapsed on the bed and chilled (which we both needed). I started a new book (Joe Hills ‘Horns’) while Alex did some of her puzzle book. Then, after about half an hour, we both had a much needed nana-nap.
Upon awaking (around 6.30 pm) we bundled up and went outside to find somewhere to have dinner.
The gal behind the counter at our hotel (the one who spoke English) suggested we might like to eat at the Sushi Katusu (?), and as it was on a few minutes walk away, we did.
When we got there, who should greet us but the self same woman, who obviously works at both places! (and no doubt get commission for suggesting guests eat there).
After originally sitting at a table by the door, we were able to move over to a table by a nice crackling open fire. The food was traditional Japanese and a little underwhelming. But, the service was polite and friendly, and the atmosphere very relaxing (we were the only people in the place). So no complaints from us.
After dinner we went for a bit of a walk in a vain attempt to find a 7-11 that was rumoured in myth and legend to exist, somewhere near.
After about 40 minutes of wandering around in the snow we gave up and headed back to the hotel. Not that we minded the walk of course. This place is like Narnia after all! And wandering around here at night is fantastic.
When we got back to hotel I went down to the lobby (the only place with wireless) and checked my email for the first time in 3 days (so nice not to be connected to the net all the time, I can’t begin to tell you) and posted a travel blog.
By the time I got back to the room, Alex was sound asleep, so I read some more of the Joe Hill novel, ‘Horns’, before falling asleep myself.
Woke up around 10 am after a surprisingly good night’s sleep. And, miraculously, my neck wasn't hurting!!! Which, let me tell you, was a BLESSING given how much agony I was in the previous night!
Alex too slept surprisingly well. This was probably more down to both of us being exhausted, rather than the hotel having super comfortable beds.
Checked out just before noon.
Walked to the train station and had no idea which platform we needed to go on to get to Negano, or which ticket to buy. It’s a huge station with lots of entrances and the only guard we could did not speak a lick of English.
I said to Alex, what we needed is a young Japanese person who speaks English to help us, and literally about 10 seconds later, a young (mid-20s) and very kind woman who spoke English, saw we were floundering and bought tickets for us (with our money) and walked us down through the gates toward the correct platform. How Japanese people nice or what?!
We had a bit of time before the next train so we grabbed some sandwiches and then boarded the Shenkusen (the Bullet Train) at 12.30 pm.
There are two type of tickets you can by for the Shenkusen, reserved seating or unreserved. We had the latter and so had to board the first four carriages only.
The train ride was effortless and pleasant. Though given the futuristic appearance of the bullet train, the inside was a little old fashioned and drab.
When we got to Negano it was snowing very lightly and we bought tickets for the connecting bus to Hakuba. With half an hour to kill we got out of the cold and sat in a cafe. But the cafe had a connected smoking room. With no door. So naturally the smoke came into the non smoking section. After about 20 minutes Alex was having trouble breathing so we left and stood downstairs in the cold. Not that we minded that at all as it was lovely.
Eventually the bus came and we got on and off we went for the hour journey to Hakuba Guru. The bus was packed and I used the time to catch up on the travel blog while Alex listened to music and looked out the window at the winter wonderland.
Late in the journey the guy next me, a navy guy from Perth as it turned out, starts chatting with me. Wouldn’t you know it, but while we were chatting we missed our stop! (my bad). No harm no foul though as we got off at Hakuba station and took a short 10 minute cab to our hotel.
Stelle Belle Hotel Review
We checked into our hotel, which is a bit plain looking from the outside, compared to some we passed in the cab, and our room (which was their most expensive ‘suite’) was two rooms and a bathroom. It’s nice but dated. No problem though because we knew what we were getting when we booked the room. And given we booked late, it was the best available.
The ‘King’ bed advertised however we discovered were two twin beds pushed together. And both were very hard and not overly inviting or comfortable.
After getting to our room we collapsed on the bed and chilled (which we both needed). I started a new book (Joe Hills ‘Horns’) while Alex did some of her puzzle book. Then, after about half an hour, we both had a much needed nana-nap.
Upon awaking (around 6.30 pm) we bundled up and went outside to find somewhere to have dinner.
The gal behind the counter at our hotel (the one who spoke English) suggested we might like to eat at the Sushi Katusu (?), and as it was on a few minutes walk away, we did.
When we got there, who should greet us but the self same woman, who obviously works at both places! (and no doubt get commission for suggesting guests eat there).
After originally sitting at a table by the door, we were able to move over to a table by a nice crackling open fire. The food was traditional Japanese and a little underwhelming. But, the service was polite and friendly, and the atmosphere very relaxing (we were the only people in the place). So no complaints from us.
After dinner we went for a bit of a walk in a vain attempt to find a 7-11 that was rumoured in myth and legend to exist, somewhere near.
After about 40 minutes of wandering around in the snow we gave up and headed back to the hotel. Not that we minded the walk of course. This place is like Narnia after all! And wandering around here at night is fantastic.
When we got back to hotel I went down to the lobby (the only place with wireless) and checked my email for the first time in 3 days (so nice not to be connected to the net all the time, I can’t begin to tell you) and posted a travel blog.
By the time I got back to the room, Alex was sound asleep, so I read some more of the Joe Hill novel, ‘Horns’, before falling asleep myself.
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