From Mountains to Beaches: Canada - Korea - Japan - Singapore - Indonesia - Maldives
Mar 2, 2013, 7:35 pm
#61
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CGK
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From Mountains to Beaches - Hyatt Regency Kyoto and the Ancient Capital
Leaving Osaka in the morning after breakfast, I arrived at Shin Osaka station by subway from Honmachi station and boarded the short Shinkansen service towards Kyoto. This was a very short journey and upon arriving at Kyoto, guests of the Hyatt Regency Kyoto can exit at the West exit and walk across Hachijo-dori to the taxi company located opposite the JR Kyoto Station. They will arrange for a complimentary taxi that will bring guests to the hotel. Though it has to be noted the service is valid for one way only. We arrived at about 10 minutes past 1pm, and it was a relatively busy time for check-in. However I was assisted after a short wait, though there was no upgrade to the room I booked as the hotel seems booked. Feeling kind of disappointed since I was expecting an upgrade, I asked if there were possibility of rooms clearing up later in the day, and I was offered another room in an annexe wing, which the receptionist mentioned was a bit of a walk. I did check out the room after getting our room facing the garden on the same floor as the lobby. Since the larger room didn't have a very nice layout and had a worse view on top of a longer walk, I decided to stick with the current room allocation.
Front Entrance to the Hyatt Regency Kyoto
The lobby at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto is unlike any other Hyatt Regency, and for those familiar with Hyatt's branding, the Regency brand is considered one of the lower tier in the chain, but the one in Kyoto is really very well designed and reflects the tradition of crafts in Kyoto. In fact, I find the hotel to have one of the classiest lobbies ever and it exudes the feel of a boutique luxury hotel, not unlike that of the Park Hyatt. Just behind the lobby is the restaurant where breakfast is served, while the floor below houses the Japanese restaurant Touzan. The room I was assigned to was on the same floor as the lobby and a short walk away from the breakfast restaurant making it very convenient.
Lobby and Reception
It was a nicely decorated room and the layout of the room is standard hotel layout with the bathroom on the left upon entrance. An enclosed area houses the bathtub and walk-in shower, while the toilet is a separate room. The remaining space was a bit tight for the sink but it was furnished with a stool. Overall I was pleased with the design of the bathroom and it sure beats the average Hyatt Regency hotels in North America. The design is actually similar to the Andaz in West Hollywood, and even the bathroom amenities are the same by Pharmacopia.
Bathroom Perspective
The bedroom was spacious and elegantly designed as well, with a headboard covered in fabrics that have Japanese embroidery motifs while a chair with an ottoman fronts the huge window overlooking the zen garden. There was also 2 more chairs along the semi-circular study desk that is one whole piece connected to the TV console. There was lots of wood in the decor, making it similar in feel to the Park Hyatt in Seoul. As a welcome amenity I was provided with fresh strawberries in the room and this was really unexpected since strawberries are really expensive fruits in Japan.
Bedroom
In addition to breakfast, we were given a voucher that includes credits for dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Breakfast in the hotel was quite average and while it was superior than many hotel's breakfast, it was average when compared to the one in St Regis Osaka we had prior to coming to Kyoto. One thing I note was the roast beef served during the breakfast buffet and for both days we ate breakfast, seating was more than adequate. On the day we had dinner at Touzan, the food was pretty good, and while not exactly that of a Kaiseki, I did enjoy the set course dinner at the restaurant, and it was not as expensive after the discount applied using the voucher.
Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto
We started touring Kyoto on the first day by visiting the Nishiki Market 錦市場 which is one of the most famous markets in Japan. There was definitely lots of Japanese foodstuff for sale here and plenty of snacks to fill the stomach as we had not have lunch yet. In the end we popped into a sushi restaurant for a late lunch and each ordered a Kyoto sushi set. I definitely love Japan for the fact that each region and city has their own food specialty and the Kyoto sushi set comprised of nigiri and rolls that were more or less unique to the city. The taste was refreshing and if I must say, it was sweeter than the normal sushi sold outside Kyoto. There was also a wonderful scent in the rice which I think might have been from the use of a different type of vinegar in the preparation.
Kyoto Sushi Set at Nishiki Market
After lunch I wanted to check out Nijo-jo, one of the castle in Kyoto, but it was closed by the time we arrived there, and thus we ended up exploring the area around the Heian-jingu 平安神宮. This place is actually a huge park but since it was getting late and ready to close as well, we just took a peek into the shrine and left. Visitors could also visit the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art since it is in the same vicinity, and the building housing this museum is interesting enough as it combines Japanese architecture forms with a colonial design. To look for the Heian Shrine, just find the huge red Torii archway which marks the entrance to the shrine. It is relatively easy to reach this area by stopping at the Higashiyama subway station and following the stream to the main road. It is a pretty scenic walk amongst the little stream and the residential areas of Kyoto.
Stream in Kyoto
To end our first day in Kyoto, we headed back to Shijo-dori, which is the main avenue that runs parallel to Nishiki market. Shijo-dori is the main commercial centre of Kyoto and between Shijo and Kawaramachi subway station, it is easy to find the major boutiques and several large department stores including Daimaru and Takashimaya. Across the river, one can reach Gion district and find the famed Minami-za Kabuki Theatre. Thus we ended up having a nice meal of Japanese BBQ on our first night in Kyoto at one of the restaurants along the river.
Christmas tree at Kyoto Takashimaya
On the second day, it was definitely off to visit Kyoto's most famous attraction - the Golden Pavilion or known as Kinkakuji 金閣寺. Do note that Kyoto is also home to the Ginkakuji 銀閣寺 (or the Silver Pavilion) which sounds and is written very similarly. We took a subway to the Nijo castle in the morning expecting to visit the castle on the way, but it turns out to be closed that day as well, thus we took a bus from the outside of the castle which will bring us directly to a bus stop close to the Kinkaku-ji. Kyoto is very tourist friendly as it has 3 main bus lines that ply around the major tourist sights and can be differentiated by the normal local bus lines through its colour of red, yellow or green and it is codenamed as the 'Raku' bus with the numbers 100,101, and 102.
Kinkakuji or Golden Pavilion 金閣寺
It took us around 20 minutes or so to reach the Kinkakuji from Nijo Castle and another short 3 minute walk to the entrance of the Kinkakuji. We arrived in time before the crowds to get some nice photos of the golden pavilion, and the beauty of the pavilion amidst its surroundings are just a sight to behold. Definitely worth it for the trek to head here. Besides the main golden pavilion at the entrance though, there is little else to explore of the area besides a couple of souvenir stands. Traveller should get their lucky charms at the first souvenir stand halfway in the walk across the temple gardens as the shop at the end does not sell as much of a variety. There is also a tea house for visitors to rest their weary legs or warm themselves up during winter and a shrine at the end of the temple grounds.
A Man offers his Prayers
From Kinkakuji, we took the Raku bus again towards Ginkakuji, the silver pavilion, and unlike the Kinkakuji, there was an alley up towards Ginkakuji that was lined with shops selling snacks and gifts. This made for a nice leisurely walk towards the temple. Before entering the main gardens of the temple, do take a while to admire the zen courtyard past the ticket booth. The gardens of the Ginkakuji is much larger and was also more beautiful as the addition of sand puddles added a layer of beauty to the garden. Thus while the unfinished pavilion is bare and not coated with silver leaf as one might expect given its name, Ginkakuji offers another sort of tranquility for attraction. For those visiting in spring during the cherry blossom season, there is a path known as the Philosopher's path connecting Ginkaku-ji to Nanzen-ji, another temple in Kyoto that is very popular. Sadly during late autumn, there was nothing much lining the stream along this path as it was all barren trees.
Ginkakuji or Silver Pavilion 銀閣寺
Our last stop for the day was Kiyomizudera 清水寺 which is one of the largest temples in Kyoto and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most enjoyable part about visiting this temple was the market along Matsubara-dori on the walk up to the temple which sells a large variety of foodstuff and gifts. Look for one of the shops selling green tea puffs and tiramisu dessert as they have a nice space to sit down in between the uphill trek to the temple.
Matsubara Dori 松原通
Another good reason to visit the temple is for its amazing views over Kyoto as a result of its vantage position. The main hall has a large outdoor verandah that provides a wonderful view. Besides the main hall, couples would be interested to check out the Jishu-jinja or a shrine dedicated to the Japanese god of love, and hence popularly known as a matchmaking shrine. One thing I noticed was the large number of tourists and locals visiting this temple wearing the traditional Japanese kimono outfit, and I think there are some shops renting or selling these outfits for those who are looking to immerse themselves in the culture.
Ladies in Kimono
Lookout over the city of Kyoto
Overview of the Kiyomizudera Temple 清水寺
From the temple, we walked back down and took a leisurely stroll on the main road towards Gion district, the area where Kyoto's famous Geishas entertain their clients. This area supposedly also houses some of the best and most expensive restaurants in town. However with a reservation back at the hotel, we chose instead to have some dessert at Gion Tsujiri 祇園辻利 which is one of the most famous green tea retailer that is also popular for its range of desserts based on green tea. Me and my sister shared a green tea parfait which is highly recommended when in Kyoto.
Gion 祇園 district after sunset
Gion district at night is one of the streets to walk around and as I mentioned earlier, the other end of Shijo-dori across the river marks the commercial and shopping are while Shijo-dori to the east of the Minami-za Kabuki Theater is the area where one can find traditional arts and crafts of Kyoto along with dessert stores and Japanese restaurants. This eastern end marked by the grand kabuki theatre Minami-za marks the start of Gion district and it is a pleasant place to spend my last evening in Kyoto.
Minami-za 南座 Kabuki Theatre
Front Entrance to the Hyatt Regency Kyoto
The lobby at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto is unlike any other Hyatt Regency, and for those familiar with Hyatt's branding, the Regency brand is considered one of the lower tier in the chain, but the one in Kyoto is really very well designed and reflects the tradition of crafts in Kyoto. In fact, I find the hotel to have one of the classiest lobbies ever and it exudes the feel of a boutique luxury hotel, not unlike that of the Park Hyatt. Just behind the lobby is the restaurant where breakfast is served, while the floor below houses the Japanese restaurant Touzan. The room I was assigned to was on the same floor as the lobby and a short walk away from the breakfast restaurant making it very convenient.
Lobby and Reception
It was a nicely decorated room and the layout of the room is standard hotel layout with the bathroom on the left upon entrance. An enclosed area houses the bathtub and walk-in shower, while the toilet is a separate room. The remaining space was a bit tight for the sink but it was furnished with a stool. Overall I was pleased with the design of the bathroom and it sure beats the average Hyatt Regency hotels in North America. The design is actually similar to the Andaz in West Hollywood, and even the bathroom amenities are the same by Pharmacopia.
Bathroom Perspective
The bedroom was spacious and elegantly designed as well, with a headboard covered in fabrics that have Japanese embroidery motifs while a chair with an ottoman fronts the huge window overlooking the zen garden. There was also 2 more chairs along the semi-circular study desk that is one whole piece connected to the TV console. There was lots of wood in the decor, making it similar in feel to the Park Hyatt in Seoul. As a welcome amenity I was provided with fresh strawberries in the room and this was really unexpected since strawberries are really expensive fruits in Japan.
Bedroom
In addition to breakfast, we were given a voucher that includes credits for dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Breakfast in the hotel was quite average and while it was superior than many hotel's breakfast, it was average when compared to the one in St Regis Osaka we had prior to coming to Kyoto. One thing I note was the roast beef served during the breakfast buffet and for both days we ate breakfast, seating was more than adequate. On the day we had dinner at Touzan, the food was pretty good, and while not exactly that of a Kaiseki, I did enjoy the set course dinner at the restaurant, and it was not as expensive after the discount applied using the voucher.
Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto
We started touring Kyoto on the first day by visiting the Nishiki Market 錦市場 which is one of the most famous markets in Japan. There was definitely lots of Japanese foodstuff for sale here and plenty of snacks to fill the stomach as we had not have lunch yet. In the end we popped into a sushi restaurant for a late lunch and each ordered a Kyoto sushi set. I definitely love Japan for the fact that each region and city has their own food specialty and the Kyoto sushi set comprised of nigiri and rolls that were more or less unique to the city. The taste was refreshing and if I must say, it was sweeter than the normal sushi sold outside Kyoto. There was also a wonderful scent in the rice which I think might have been from the use of a different type of vinegar in the preparation.
Kyoto Sushi Set at Nishiki Market
After lunch I wanted to check out Nijo-jo, one of the castle in Kyoto, but it was closed by the time we arrived there, and thus we ended up exploring the area around the Heian-jingu 平安神宮. This place is actually a huge park but since it was getting late and ready to close as well, we just took a peek into the shrine and left. Visitors could also visit the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art since it is in the same vicinity, and the building housing this museum is interesting enough as it combines Japanese architecture forms with a colonial design. To look for the Heian Shrine, just find the huge red Torii archway which marks the entrance to the shrine. It is relatively easy to reach this area by stopping at the Higashiyama subway station and following the stream to the main road. It is a pretty scenic walk amongst the little stream and the residential areas of Kyoto.
Stream in Kyoto
To end our first day in Kyoto, we headed back to Shijo-dori, which is the main avenue that runs parallel to Nishiki market. Shijo-dori is the main commercial centre of Kyoto and between Shijo and Kawaramachi subway station, it is easy to find the major boutiques and several large department stores including Daimaru and Takashimaya. Across the river, one can reach Gion district and find the famed Minami-za Kabuki Theatre. Thus we ended up having a nice meal of Japanese BBQ on our first night in Kyoto at one of the restaurants along the river.
Christmas tree at Kyoto Takashimaya
On the second day, it was definitely off to visit Kyoto's most famous attraction - the Golden Pavilion or known as Kinkakuji 金閣寺. Do note that Kyoto is also home to the Ginkakuji 銀閣寺 (or the Silver Pavilion) which sounds and is written very similarly. We took a subway to the Nijo castle in the morning expecting to visit the castle on the way, but it turns out to be closed that day as well, thus we took a bus from the outside of the castle which will bring us directly to a bus stop close to the Kinkaku-ji. Kyoto is very tourist friendly as it has 3 main bus lines that ply around the major tourist sights and can be differentiated by the normal local bus lines through its colour of red, yellow or green and it is codenamed as the 'Raku' bus with the numbers 100,101, and 102.
Kinkakuji or Golden Pavilion 金閣寺
It took us around 20 minutes or so to reach the Kinkakuji from Nijo Castle and another short 3 minute walk to the entrance of the Kinkakuji. We arrived in time before the crowds to get some nice photos of the golden pavilion, and the beauty of the pavilion amidst its surroundings are just a sight to behold. Definitely worth it for the trek to head here. Besides the main golden pavilion at the entrance though, there is little else to explore of the area besides a couple of souvenir stands. Traveller should get their lucky charms at the first souvenir stand halfway in the walk across the temple gardens as the shop at the end does not sell as much of a variety. There is also a tea house for visitors to rest their weary legs or warm themselves up during winter and a shrine at the end of the temple grounds.
A Man offers his Prayers
From Kinkakuji, we took the Raku bus again towards Ginkakuji, the silver pavilion, and unlike the Kinkakuji, there was an alley up towards Ginkakuji that was lined with shops selling snacks and gifts. This made for a nice leisurely walk towards the temple. Before entering the main gardens of the temple, do take a while to admire the zen courtyard past the ticket booth. The gardens of the Ginkakuji is much larger and was also more beautiful as the addition of sand puddles added a layer of beauty to the garden. Thus while the unfinished pavilion is bare and not coated with silver leaf as one might expect given its name, Ginkakuji offers another sort of tranquility for attraction. For those visiting in spring during the cherry blossom season, there is a path known as the Philosopher's path connecting Ginkaku-ji to Nanzen-ji, another temple in Kyoto that is very popular. Sadly during late autumn, there was nothing much lining the stream along this path as it was all barren trees.
Ginkakuji or Silver Pavilion 銀閣寺
Our last stop for the day was Kiyomizudera 清水寺 which is one of the largest temples in Kyoto and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most enjoyable part about visiting this temple was the market along Matsubara-dori on the walk up to the temple which sells a large variety of foodstuff and gifts. Look for one of the shops selling green tea puffs and tiramisu dessert as they have a nice space to sit down in between the uphill trek to the temple.
Matsubara Dori 松原通
Another good reason to visit the temple is for its amazing views over Kyoto as a result of its vantage position. The main hall has a large outdoor verandah that provides a wonderful view. Besides the main hall, couples would be interested to check out the Jishu-jinja or a shrine dedicated to the Japanese god of love, and hence popularly known as a matchmaking shrine. One thing I noticed was the large number of tourists and locals visiting this temple wearing the traditional Japanese kimono outfit, and I think there are some shops renting or selling these outfits for those who are looking to immerse themselves in the culture.
Ladies in Kimono
Lookout over the city of Kyoto
Overview of the Kiyomizudera Temple 清水寺
From the temple, we walked back down and took a leisurely stroll on the main road towards Gion district, the area where Kyoto's famous Geishas entertain their clients. This area supposedly also houses some of the best and most expensive restaurants in town. However with a reservation back at the hotel, we chose instead to have some dessert at Gion Tsujiri 祇園辻利 which is one of the most famous green tea retailer that is also popular for its range of desserts based on green tea. Me and my sister shared a green tea parfait which is highly recommended when in Kyoto.
Gion 祇園 district after sunset
Gion district at night is one of the streets to walk around and as I mentioned earlier, the other end of Shijo-dori across the river marks the commercial and shopping are while Shijo-dori to the east of the Minami-za Kabuki Theater is the area where one can find traditional arts and crafts of Kyoto along with dessert stores and Japanese restaurants. This eastern end marked by the grand kabuki theatre Minami-za marks the start of Gion district and it is a pleasant place to spend my last evening in Kyoto.
Minami-za 南座 Kabuki Theatre
Mar 4, 2013, 7:50 pm
#67
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CGK
Programs: FlyingBlue | Krisflyer | SPG | HHonors
Posts: 1,563
Thank you Earthlings!
Yup OZ F is wonderful, and with their new Suites, it puts them at the top of most airlines! Glad to know you like the watermark too 
I hope to post about it soon!
Thank you Moomba! Japan is really fantastic, and I do love the food there!
Thank you chicagodesi, glad to know you could be 'part' of the journey!
I hope to post about it soon!
Thank you chicagodesi, glad to know you could be 'part' of the journey!
Mar 4, 2013, 7:59 pm
#68
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CGK
Programs: FlyingBlue | Krisflyer | SPG | HHonors
Posts: 1,563
From Mountains to Beaches - Hyatt Regency Hakone
Hyatt Diamond membership is valuable because they have suite upgrade vouchers which one could use to guarantee a suite for your stay upon making any reservation. As luck would have it, the Hyatt Regency Hakone has the Regency Suite available for my stay, and I was able to redeem one of the four given annually for a suite upgrade.
Onboard the Green Car in the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hakone
Leaving Kyoto slightly after breakfast allows us to reach the JR Kyoto station just in time for the 11:30am train to Odawara. Hyatt Regency Kyoto has a shuttle bus service that will pick guests up from Odawara station at 2:15pm. As the Shinkansen we will be taking arrives at Odawara around 1:40pm, we would have more than enough time to catch the shuttle bus which we had to register with the hotel concierge.
Monument at Odawara Station 小田原
The Shinkansen is definitely one of the reason why I enjoy travelling in Japan as moving from cities is just so easy and convenient. Upon disembarking from the comfortable cabin of the Shinkansen, we looked for the monument as that is where the shuttle bus will pick guests up from. I even had time to buy the Hakone Free Pass from the Odawara station first! My sister had some time to even buy some bread from the bakery for some snack on the way to the hotel. I spotted the bus while waiting and turns out that the bus arrives early today and ticks off a list of names who have registered for the ride to the hotel. We waited for another a couple more guests as there was still time.
The Lounge at the Lower Lobby Floor
Right at 2:15pm, the bus departed and it was perhaps a 40 minutes ride to the hotel through some winding roads which can cause a headache if you suffer from motion sickness. Arriving at the hotel, I was assisted immediately with the luggage and the receptionist whisked me inside to complete the check-in process. The process went by very fast and the lady who checked me in proceeded to escort me to my room, explaining the Diamond amenities and pointing out the facilities of the hotel as we passed by. There is a main 'living room' lounge where wi-fi is provided, as rooms do not have individual wi-fi. But then again most guests are here to relax so I surmise wi-fi is the least of their concern. The izumi spa and onsen is on the adjacent wing of the hotel which can be accessed via the lower lobby floor where all the restaurants are located. The reception desk is on the upper lobby floor, along with the main entrance. There is also a small library that can act as a quiet corner for guests when people are dining in the 'living room'.
Living Room of the Regency Suite Twin
Being assigned a Regency Suite, I checked if there is the possibility of seeing Mt Fuji from our room and the receptionist did say it is possible on a clear day. Access to the suite is by the traditional key, and not a key card. Upon entrance, the first thing that greets guests is the foyer where clogs have been prepared for guests to use. There are some cabinets to store your stuff here. The foyer leads to a .huge living room with slightly curved windows, while an alcove behind the foyer is furnished with 2 sets of work desks and chairs. Beside the living room is a walk-in closet where the receptionist .showed us the set yukatas that are meant for use within the hotel compounds and the ones to be used for sleeping. The hotel also provides matching pouches to hold your belongings while using the yukatas which is a nice touch!
Bathroom with Walk-in Shower and Tub
The bathroom is connected to the walk-in closet and while the rest of the suite is stellar, the bathroom is good. There is a spacious walk-in shower where the tub is also located at. The long console is fitted with one sink and the rest of the space is meant as a dressing table. The toilet is located at the other end of the closet with its own small sink, again another attention to detail.
View of the Bedroom from the Enclosed Balcony
My favourite part of the room is probably the bedroom which has a nice enclosed balcony furnished with a table and 2 chairs. It would be a great place for tea while admiring the 270-degree view of the valley as the corner location of the suite allows for this. A large bottle of water is provided complimentary for guests along with tea as well as teapots and boiler.
Keys to the Suite
One of the reasons to visit this property is the indoor onsen located on the second floor of the west wing of the hotel. The hotel also provides complimentary drinks in the 'living room' lounge from 4pm to 7pm with coffee, tea and juices in the morning from 7am to 10am. There is also a fireplace in the center of the living room and the seats around it is always highly coveted amongst guests.
Living Room in the Evening
During my stay here, I was actually able to have the onsen all to myself at night between 9-9:30pm, so this was really appreciated since guests are expected to be completely naked inside the onsen.
Izumi Spa Onsen
Breakfast was included for Diamond members and like the St Regis Osaka, there was a choice of a Japanese breakfast set. There was a nominal supplement for choosing the Japanese breakfast so we chose the Japanese set for the first day and had the buffet for the second day. The Japanese breakfast set consisted of rice, grilled mackerel, miso soup, poached egg, fruits and assorted pickles. It was good, but not comparable to the one we had at St Regis Osaka. The breakfast buffet spread in the hotel was adequate and I noticed that the bread and pastries were actually sourced from the same bakery as in the Odawara Station exit.
Japanese Breakfast Set at the Dining Room
As I mentioned earlier, I had gotten for me and my sister a 2-day Hakone Freepass that could be used to take the public transport around Hakone along with the ropeway, cable car and sightseeing cruise at Lake Ashi. This is highly recommended for guests staying in Hakone for 2 days or more. I believe there is also a package for a day trippers that includes a return ticket from Shinjuku station in Tokyo. When in Hakone, the Lake Ashi cruise and the ride on the cable car (which is called the Hakone Ropeway to avoid confusing it with the funicular cable car) is a must since the views are pretty awesome under the right weather conditions. On the day we decided to head to Lake Ashi, it was cloudy in the morning though the weather cleared to give way to wonderful blue skies. From the Hyatt Regency Hakone, we had to walk slightly uphill to Kami Gora Station which is the 2nd last stop for the funicular cable car ride between Gora 強羅 Station and Sounzan 早雲山.Station. Upon reaching Sounzan 早雲山, we boarded the ropeway up to Owakudani 大涌谷.station before heading downhill to Togendai 桃源台. From the ropeway, it is a good vantage point over the rest of Owakudani.
Owakudani Valley 大涌谷
Upon reaching Togendai, there was a short wait queueing for the next Hakone Sightseeing Cruise departure. Togendai can serve as a stopover point as there are some souvenir shops, photo booths and a restaurant in the station. There was also a stamp booklet where visitors can collect stamps featuring characters from Doraemon from the various points of interests such as the major ropeway, train and ferry stations. I think people buying the Hakone Freepass might only be entitled to a return trip (two times journey) on the sightseeing cruise. On the map included with the Freepass, the cruise is meant to run between Togendai, Hakonemachi and Moto-Hakone, and as I meant to stop at Moto-Hakone, I didn't alight after the ship stopped at Hakonemachi. But it turns out the ship is returning to Togendai. This meant I ended up plying the Togendai-Hakonemachi route 3 times, and perhaps the route to Moto-Hakone doesn't run in winter, but I did not proceed to find out why. However this meant I was able to board both variety of the 'pirate' ship that cruises Lake Ashi and there was definitely photo opportunities from the deck with all sorts of ornaments to keep kids occupied onboard. The view from the cruise was also spectacular especially in sunset on our return trip.
Sunset Cruise at Lake Ashi 芦ノ湖
Hakonemachi is a suburb of Hakone and located at the southern end of Lake Ashi. There are a couple of hotels, a post office and a large tourist center selling all sorts of snacks and specialty foodstuffs including the black eggs that Hakone is famous for. While we did not try the eggs, we had lunch of Hot Soba in the noodle restaurant beside the tourist center. After lunch, the skies kind of cleared up and we visited the Hakone Checkpoint 箱根関所, a sort of tourist attraction which is meant to replicate the checkpoints during the Edo period where Hakone serves as a major crossing between Kyoto and Edo (ancient Tokyo). It was an average attraction at best, but visitors can climb up to a viewpoint between the display area and a small museum showcasing artifacts from Hakone's past as a major checkpoint. It was a beautiful view of Lake Ashi as the skies cleared and the sun sets!
Lake Ashi 芦ノ湖 Viewpoint
As the sun was setting, and we did not want to miss the last ship back to Togendai, we headed back to Hakonemachi Terminal to board the 'pirate ship' back to Togendai, and we were rewarded with a sunset view of Mount Fuji from the ropeway between Togendai and Ubako station.
Sunset View of Mt Fuji 富士山
Before returning to the hotel, we stopped by for dinner at Itoh Dining by Nobu and had a nice set dinner, though we were the only diners in the restaurant which is a short walk away from Koen-Shimo Station along the Hakone Cable Car between Gora and Sounzan. Hakone is a pretty nice place as a break away from the city to enjoy the onsens, views of the valley and a day cruising Lake Ashi. The best motivation for me though was the onsen as it was an amazing experience not to be missed while in Japan!
Appetizer at Itoh Dining by Nobu
Onboard the Green Car in the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hakone
Leaving Kyoto slightly after breakfast allows us to reach the JR Kyoto station just in time for the 11:30am train to Odawara. Hyatt Regency Kyoto has a shuttle bus service that will pick guests up from Odawara station at 2:15pm. As the Shinkansen we will be taking arrives at Odawara around 1:40pm, we would have more than enough time to catch the shuttle bus which we had to register with the hotel concierge.
Monument at Odawara Station 小田原
The Shinkansen is definitely one of the reason why I enjoy travelling in Japan as moving from cities is just so easy and convenient. Upon disembarking from the comfortable cabin of the Shinkansen, we looked for the monument as that is where the shuttle bus will pick guests up from. I even had time to buy the Hakone Free Pass from the Odawara station first! My sister had some time to even buy some bread from the bakery for some snack on the way to the hotel. I spotted the bus while waiting and turns out that the bus arrives early today and ticks off a list of names who have registered for the ride to the hotel. We waited for another a couple more guests as there was still time.
The Lounge at the Lower Lobby Floor
Right at 2:15pm, the bus departed and it was perhaps a 40 minutes ride to the hotel through some winding roads which can cause a headache if you suffer from motion sickness. Arriving at the hotel, I was assisted immediately with the luggage and the receptionist whisked me inside to complete the check-in process. The process went by very fast and the lady who checked me in proceeded to escort me to my room, explaining the Diamond amenities and pointing out the facilities of the hotel as we passed by. There is a main 'living room' lounge where wi-fi is provided, as rooms do not have individual wi-fi. But then again most guests are here to relax so I surmise wi-fi is the least of their concern. The izumi spa and onsen is on the adjacent wing of the hotel which can be accessed via the lower lobby floor where all the restaurants are located. The reception desk is on the upper lobby floor, along with the main entrance. There is also a small library that can act as a quiet corner for guests when people are dining in the 'living room'.
Living Room of the Regency Suite Twin
Being assigned a Regency Suite, I checked if there is the possibility of seeing Mt Fuji from our room and the receptionist did say it is possible on a clear day. Access to the suite is by the traditional key, and not a key card. Upon entrance, the first thing that greets guests is the foyer where clogs have been prepared for guests to use. There are some cabinets to store your stuff here. The foyer leads to a .huge living room with slightly curved windows, while an alcove behind the foyer is furnished with 2 sets of work desks and chairs. Beside the living room is a walk-in closet where the receptionist .showed us the set yukatas that are meant for use within the hotel compounds and the ones to be used for sleeping. The hotel also provides matching pouches to hold your belongings while using the yukatas which is a nice touch!
Bathroom with Walk-in Shower and Tub
The bathroom is connected to the walk-in closet and while the rest of the suite is stellar, the bathroom is good. There is a spacious walk-in shower where the tub is also located at. The long console is fitted with one sink and the rest of the space is meant as a dressing table. The toilet is located at the other end of the closet with its own small sink, again another attention to detail.
View of the Bedroom from the Enclosed Balcony
My favourite part of the room is probably the bedroom which has a nice enclosed balcony furnished with a table and 2 chairs. It would be a great place for tea while admiring the 270-degree view of the valley as the corner location of the suite allows for this. A large bottle of water is provided complimentary for guests along with tea as well as teapots and boiler.
Keys to the Suite
One of the reasons to visit this property is the indoor onsen located on the second floor of the west wing of the hotel. The hotel also provides complimentary drinks in the 'living room' lounge from 4pm to 7pm with coffee, tea and juices in the morning from 7am to 10am. There is also a fireplace in the center of the living room and the seats around it is always highly coveted amongst guests.
Living Room in the Evening
During my stay here, I was actually able to have the onsen all to myself at night between 9-9:30pm, so this was really appreciated since guests are expected to be completely naked inside the onsen.
Izumi Spa Onsen
Breakfast was included for Diamond members and like the St Regis Osaka, there was a choice of a Japanese breakfast set. There was a nominal supplement for choosing the Japanese breakfast so we chose the Japanese set for the first day and had the buffet for the second day. The Japanese breakfast set consisted of rice, grilled mackerel, miso soup, poached egg, fruits and assorted pickles. It was good, but not comparable to the one we had at St Regis Osaka. The breakfast buffet spread in the hotel was adequate and I noticed that the bread and pastries were actually sourced from the same bakery as in the Odawara Station exit.
Japanese Breakfast Set at the Dining Room
As I mentioned earlier, I had gotten for me and my sister a 2-day Hakone Freepass that could be used to take the public transport around Hakone along with the ropeway, cable car and sightseeing cruise at Lake Ashi. This is highly recommended for guests staying in Hakone for 2 days or more. I believe there is also a package for a day trippers that includes a return ticket from Shinjuku station in Tokyo. When in Hakone, the Lake Ashi cruise and the ride on the cable car (which is called the Hakone Ropeway to avoid confusing it with the funicular cable car) is a must since the views are pretty awesome under the right weather conditions. On the day we decided to head to Lake Ashi, it was cloudy in the morning though the weather cleared to give way to wonderful blue skies. From the Hyatt Regency Hakone, we had to walk slightly uphill to Kami Gora Station which is the 2nd last stop for the funicular cable car ride between Gora 強羅 Station and Sounzan 早雲山.Station. Upon reaching Sounzan 早雲山, we boarded the ropeway up to Owakudani 大涌谷.station before heading downhill to Togendai 桃源台. From the ropeway, it is a good vantage point over the rest of Owakudani.
Owakudani Valley 大涌谷
Upon reaching Togendai, there was a short wait queueing for the next Hakone Sightseeing Cruise departure. Togendai can serve as a stopover point as there are some souvenir shops, photo booths and a restaurant in the station. There was also a stamp booklet where visitors can collect stamps featuring characters from Doraemon from the various points of interests such as the major ropeway, train and ferry stations. I think people buying the Hakone Freepass might only be entitled to a return trip (two times journey) on the sightseeing cruise. On the map included with the Freepass, the cruise is meant to run between Togendai, Hakonemachi and Moto-Hakone, and as I meant to stop at Moto-Hakone, I didn't alight after the ship stopped at Hakonemachi. But it turns out the ship is returning to Togendai. This meant I ended up plying the Togendai-Hakonemachi route 3 times, and perhaps the route to Moto-Hakone doesn't run in winter, but I did not proceed to find out why. However this meant I was able to board both variety of the 'pirate' ship that cruises Lake Ashi and there was definitely photo opportunities from the deck with all sorts of ornaments to keep kids occupied onboard. The view from the cruise was also spectacular especially in sunset on our return trip.
Sunset Cruise at Lake Ashi 芦ノ湖
Hakonemachi is a suburb of Hakone and located at the southern end of Lake Ashi. There are a couple of hotels, a post office and a large tourist center selling all sorts of snacks and specialty foodstuffs including the black eggs that Hakone is famous for. While we did not try the eggs, we had lunch of Hot Soba in the noodle restaurant beside the tourist center. After lunch, the skies kind of cleared up and we visited the Hakone Checkpoint 箱根関所, a sort of tourist attraction which is meant to replicate the checkpoints during the Edo period where Hakone serves as a major crossing between Kyoto and Edo (ancient Tokyo). It was an average attraction at best, but visitors can climb up to a viewpoint between the display area and a small museum showcasing artifacts from Hakone's past as a major checkpoint. It was a beautiful view of Lake Ashi as the skies cleared and the sun sets!
Lake Ashi 芦ノ湖 Viewpoint
As the sun was setting, and we did not want to miss the last ship back to Togendai, we headed back to Hakonemachi Terminal to board the 'pirate ship' back to Togendai, and we were rewarded with a sunset view of Mount Fuji from the ropeway between Togendai and Ubako station.
Sunset View of Mt Fuji 富士山
Before returning to the hotel, we stopped by for dinner at Itoh Dining by Nobu and had a nice set dinner, though we were the only diners in the restaurant which is a short walk away from Koen-Shimo Station along the Hakone Cable Car between Gora and Sounzan. Hakone is a pretty nice place as a break away from the city to enjoy the onsens, views of the valley and a day cruising Lake Ashi. The best motivation for me though was the onsen as it was an amazing experience not to be missed while in Japan!
Appetizer at Itoh Dining by Nobu
Last edited by Moomba; Mar 5, 2013 at 12:46 am
Mar 5, 2013, 12:29 am
#69
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CGK
Programs: FlyingBlue | Krisflyer | SPG | HHonors
Posts: 1,563
From Mountains to Beaches - All Nippon Airways HND-CTS
NH0077 Tokyo HND - Sapporo CTS
STD-STA: 19:00-20:30
Actual: 19:12-20:20
Boeing 777-200 JA9867
Seat 18A
The weird timing of the Haneda airport limousine bus meant that I either had to leave before noon for my flight in the evening or just head on a cab. I decided for the convenience of an early check-in, thus headed to Haneda earlier to check-in since I would need to bring my snowboard with me. The one thing I hated about domestic ANA check in was how it was multiple useless procedures. First we were issued with an e-ticket printout with the gate information, then we had to queue again for baggage check-in, and upon crossing security, we then get boarding passes at the gate itself. Pretty dumb in my opinion as now they needed more than one person to handle all these and there was copious amounts of paper wasted.
Tokyo Haneda Airport Departure Hall
The check in agent for this flight was also quite fussy in the dimensions of my snowboard bag as she measured it closely and I had to pay extra baggage fees of 5,000 yen for them. Not cheap, but still saving me the hassle of renting boards in Niseko. After check-in was complete, I returned back to Tokyo since I have a one day pass of using the Monorail. I was able to meet up with my sister in town for a lunch of sushi before spending the rest of the afternoon in Asakusa, tasting the snacks sold along the shops leading to the Senso-ji temple.
Tokyo Monorail Cabin
Inviting the Year of the Snake at Asakusa Senso-ji
In the evening, I returned to Haneda and took the chance to visit the open-air rooftop to capture some cool views of the 787s by All Nippon Airways. Since blue is my favourite colour, ANA has one of my favourite airline liveries and it was nice to see the 787s graced in their liveries.
Viewing Deck at Haneda Airport
The 787 in ANA Livery
After spending some time taking photos of the planes, I headed back to the terminal and there was lots of dining options in Haneda. In addition, there are a lot of shops selling specialty foodstuff. However nothing caught my fancy and I proceeded to go past security where I bought a bento box for dinner during the flight. Due to the late departure, there wasn't much choices left in the stores and I ended up with a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) bento.
Bento Box from Haneda
I waited by the gate and it was crowded and busy, but I did find a seat and relaxed until boarding was called by the group numbers listed in the ticket that was assigned. Upon boarding, I found the seat to be alright and wondered why ANA will utilize such a huge plane between Tokyo and Sapporo since the plane was relatively empty and I ended with a whole row of 3 seats to myself. Not bad at all!
Inspiration of Japan
Economy Class Cabin on ANA's Boeing 777
The orderly boarding process and empty cabin made for a quick turnaround for the plane as we begin pullback to take-off. As soon as we reached cruising altitude, I took a look at the inflight menu that passengers can purchase food and beverages from. ANA provides complimentary beverages for this short 1 hour flight to Sapporo but the Yuzu and Honey beverage caught my eye. I remember loving JAL's SkyTime Yuzu drink back when I used to fly them. Thus I waited until the beverage service started before ordering my Yuzu and Honey drink that I was able to pay using my credit card. In the meantime, I started on my bento box. It turns out the bento box wasn't as good as I expected it to be. The food is cold and tasteless, and the pork cutlet was kind of dry. Makes me wonder why the Japanese likes to buy bento boxes for their meals on the Shinkansen though. I did manage to finish the pork cutlets as they were still edible and that was my dinner. Luckily I had some snacks beforehand while touring the temple in Asakusa, so it was all good. The saving grace to the bento box was the pork dumplings that came with it as the pork filling was tasty and had lots of flavour!
Tonkatsu Bento
When the flight stewardess returned with the Yuzu drink, it was presented to me with a glass filled with ice and a wet towel. These little touches makes it a pleasure flying on any Japanese airline! Actually when travelling by Shinkansen, the wet towel is also given out. The drink was good and I totally loved it so much I ordered it again on the flight back to Tokyo.
Yuzu & Honey Drink onboard ANA
A short while later, the flight stewardess came back again with a basket and turns out that passengers who purchased from their inflight menu gets a commemorative magnet featuring planes used by ANA over the past 60 years. (Yes, it has something to do with their 60th Anniversary too!)
ANA 747-400 Magnet
Collect all the Magnets
I spent the remainder of the flight relaxing and browsing the inflight magazines. However as it was mostly in Japanese, there was not much to read, except their fleet information. ANA was also heavily advertising its 787 service for flights within Japan.
ANA Magazine, Inflight Menu and Sky Shop Catalogue
The ANA Fleet
It didn't take long before the plane started its descent and marks the end of my first time flying ANA, and it was a wonderful flight with them within Japan. Landing in Sapporo was pretty smooth and it felt cold immediately after seeing all the snow around the airport. It was exciting as well, since I know I am looking forward to fresh powder tomorrow morning! With their new Pacific routes from Tokyo, and new 787 jets, ANA is one of the airlines within Star Alliance which I would like to take more often!
ANA Boeing 777-200
STD-STA: 19:00-20:30
Actual: 19:12-20:20
Boeing 777-200 JA9867
Seat 18A
The weird timing of the Haneda airport limousine bus meant that I either had to leave before noon for my flight in the evening or just head on a cab. I decided for the convenience of an early check-in, thus headed to Haneda earlier to check-in since I would need to bring my snowboard with me. The one thing I hated about domestic ANA check in was how it was multiple useless procedures. First we were issued with an e-ticket printout with the gate information, then we had to queue again for baggage check-in, and upon crossing security, we then get boarding passes at the gate itself. Pretty dumb in my opinion as now they needed more than one person to handle all these and there was copious amounts of paper wasted.
Tokyo Haneda Airport Departure Hall
The check in agent for this flight was also quite fussy in the dimensions of my snowboard bag as she measured it closely and I had to pay extra baggage fees of 5,000 yen for them. Not cheap, but still saving me the hassle of renting boards in Niseko. After check-in was complete, I returned back to Tokyo since I have a one day pass of using the Monorail. I was able to meet up with my sister in town for a lunch of sushi before spending the rest of the afternoon in Asakusa, tasting the snacks sold along the shops leading to the Senso-ji temple.
Tokyo Monorail Cabin
Inviting the Year of the Snake at Asakusa Senso-ji
In the evening, I returned to Haneda and took the chance to visit the open-air rooftop to capture some cool views of the 787s by All Nippon Airways. Since blue is my favourite colour, ANA has one of my favourite airline liveries and it was nice to see the 787s graced in their liveries.
Viewing Deck at Haneda Airport
The 787 in ANA Livery
After spending some time taking photos of the planes, I headed back to the terminal and there was lots of dining options in Haneda. In addition, there are a lot of shops selling specialty foodstuff. However nothing caught my fancy and I proceeded to go past security where I bought a bento box for dinner during the flight. Due to the late departure, there wasn't much choices left in the stores and I ended up with a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) bento.
Bento Box from Haneda
I waited by the gate and it was crowded and busy, but I did find a seat and relaxed until boarding was called by the group numbers listed in the ticket that was assigned. Upon boarding, I found the seat to be alright and wondered why ANA will utilize such a huge plane between Tokyo and Sapporo since the plane was relatively empty and I ended with a whole row of 3 seats to myself. Not bad at all!
Inspiration of Japan
Economy Class Cabin on ANA's Boeing 777
The orderly boarding process and empty cabin made for a quick turnaround for the plane as we begin pullback to take-off. As soon as we reached cruising altitude, I took a look at the inflight menu that passengers can purchase food and beverages from. ANA provides complimentary beverages for this short 1 hour flight to Sapporo but the Yuzu and Honey beverage caught my eye. I remember loving JAL's SkyTime Yuzu drink back when I used to fly them. Thus I waited until the beverage service started before ordering my Yuzu and Honey drink that I was able to pay using my credit card. In the meantime, I started on my bento box. It turns out the bento box wasn't as good as I expected it to be. The food is cold and tasteless, and the pork cutlet was kind of dry. Makes me wonder why the Japanese likes to buy bento boxes for their meals on the Shinkansen though. I did manage to finish the pork cutlets as they were still edible and that was my dinner. Luckily I had some snacks beforehand while touring the temple in Asakusa, so it was all good. The saving grace to the bento box was the pork dumplings that came with it as the pork filling was tasty and had lots of flavour!
Tonkatsu Bento
When the flight stewardess returned with the Yuzu drink, it was presented to me with a glass filled with ice and a wet towel. These little touches makes it a pleasure flying on any Japanese airline! Actually when travelling by Shinkansen, the wet towel is also given out. The drink was good and I totally loved it so much I ordered it again on the flight back to Tokyo.
Yuzu & Honey Drink onboard ANA
A short while later, the flight stewardess came back again with a basket and turns out that passengers who purchased from their inflight menu gets a commemorative magnet featuring planes used by ANA over the past 60 years. (Yes, it has something to do with their 60th Anniversary too!)
ANA 747-400 Magnet
Collect all the Magnets
I spent the remainder of the flight relaxing and browsing the inflight magazines. However as it was mostly in Japanese, there was not much to read, except their fleet information. ANA was also heavily advertising its 787 service for flights within Japan.
ANA Magazine, Inflight Menu and Sky Shop Catalogue
The ANA Fleet
It didn't take long before the plane started its descent and marks the end of my first time flying ANA, and it was a wonderful flight with them within Japan. Landing in Sapporo was pretty smooth and it felt cold immediately after seeing all the snow around the airport. It was exciting as well, since I know I am looking forward to fresh powder tomorrow morning! With their new Pacific routes from Tokyo, and new 787 jets, ANA is one of the airlines within Star Alliance which I would like to take more often!
ANA Boeing 777-200
Last edited by quirrow; Mar 10, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Mar 5, 2013, 1:01 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AA EXP, HHonours Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt GP Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 178
You might have stayed in the exact same suite as I did in HR Hakone a few years ago. I loved that hotel, the only thing they are missing is an outdoor onsen.
Mar 5, 2013, 11:16 pm
#71
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CGK
Programs: FlyingBlue | Krisflyer | SPG | HHonors
Posts: 1,563
)
Mar 5, 2013, 11:24 pm
#72
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CGK
Programs: FlyingBlue | Krisflyer | SPG | HHonors
Posts: 1,563
From Mountains to Beaches - Kimamaya at Niseko
To get to Niseko, I had pre-booked a spot on the White Liner shuttle bus that will bring me from New Chitose Airport to the Grand Hirafu Welcome Center. My friend who will booked the lodge at Kimamaya has mentioned to the receptionist of my late arrival which is expected to be around 12 midnight. The fare for the one-way service booked through the website was 2,070 Yen and takes about 2 hours or so. Upon arriving at Sapporo, I headed out to the arrival hall and managed to find a shuttle bus counter who directed me to the White Liner bus service counter. I had to wait for a while before they called for the boarding of the shuttle bus but it was pretty empty at this time of the night and there were lots of seating available.
The bus ride was comfortable and I was able to do some photo editing for half of the journey since I was not feeling sleepy, and managed to catch a nice nap for the next hour. Upon reaching the welcome center, there was a representative from the Kimamaya Lodge who picked me up. It was really great for the hotel to pick me up in the middle of the night and I really appreciated the gesture since I was the only guest arriving at this small lodge. From the short drive to the lodge, I got to know the rep's name who I shall refer to as Taka. He is actually also the housekeeper and the youngest member of the staff in the lodge. Another staff I will meet often is Peter who also works as the receptionist and driver in the day.
Library and Lounge
Unlike many hotels, Kimamaya is more of a ski lodge since it has only 9 rooms. Thus the personal service made a whole lot of difference. First of all, upon arrival, guests place their shoes on a rack and are provided with slippers. Meanwhile, Taka helped me to unload my luggage and even showed me the area to store skis and snowboards at the basement. It felt like home and the whole lodge was very nicely done.
The Bar in Kimamaya
Though the room I was booked in (Alpine 1) was the smallest, it was adequate for 2 persons. There was hooks to hang the jackets on the entrance and by the windows. Along the corner are ledges where one can place their phones and they have an iPhone/iPod dock with alarm clock too. The bathroom was also very nicely renovated with a walk-in shower and towel warmers which was useful to hang all our gloves too from a day out in the slopes.
Bathroom in Kimamaya
The other amenities in the lodge includes a living room lounge where one can lie beside the fireplace to read or borrow DVDs to watch in the room. All rooms are equipped with DVD players and LCD TVs hung on the wall. There is also a small bar at the end of the living room with a microwave should guests like to buy pizzas from the convenience store just a short walk away. Location wise, there is a shuttle bus stop outside the lodge, but Taka or Peter is always kind enough to provide us with a ride on the hotel's van to the Mountain or Welcome Center. So this was a perk of staying here as well!
The Barn
However the best part of the facilities was the hot stone or wooden spa bath tubs that guests can book. I ended up showering in these baths most of the time since they were really amazing to soak in after a day at the slopes. The wooden baths has a strong scent of the wood and is really nice to relax in, while the stone bath might be more suitable for those who do not like the scent, but both were really great to soak in!
French Toast and Egg
Breakfast was included in our room rate and it was served in The Barn, a barn that was renovated to become a restaurant and bar. The access was via the basement and it is definitely a delight having breakfast here with the sunlight illuminating the space on sunny days. Breakfast was served ala carte and we can order from the menu, with the French Toast being highly recommended! There was also a self-serve pastry counter with yogurts for guests to munch on while waiting for their main course. Coffee and juices are also included and they do use coffee by illy's which is one of my favourite coffee!
Gifts from Kimamaya
There were more perks though as the owners of the lodge was in town as well and thus they had a happy hour kind of thing in the evening which allowed guests to mingle. In addition, they also provided drinks coupon to have cocktails at night in the bar at The Barn. At the last day of our stay, we were presented with gifts which included some chocolates and a notepad as well as a handwritten card to thank us for the stay.
Kimamaya at Night
While the room might be small, what the lodge offers is amazing service and a feeling of comfort at the end of the day after a tiring day of snowboarding. It offers personality and a level of service that is unmatched in hospitality as it feels like you're invited as guests in a country home. This is one of the places that I yearn to return to, and I would probably choose to stay with them again when I am back in Niseko. Highly recommended when looking for a place to stay while skiing in Niseko!
And below are some of the photos of why Niseko is worth a visit. A write up of snowboarding in Niseko can be found on my blog for those who are interested.
View of Mt Yotei - Fuji of the North
Hokkaido Snow Crab Ramen at Hanazono
Skiing in Annupuri
View from the Summit of Hirafu
Dusk falls over Mt Yotei
The bus ride was comfortable and I was able to do some photo editing for half of the journey since I was not feeling sleepy, and managed to catch a nice nap for the next hour. Upon reaching the welcome center, there was a representative from the Kimamaya Lodge who picked me up. It was really great for the hotel to pick me up in the middle of the night and I really appreciated the gesture since I was the only guest arriving at this small lodge. From the short drive to the lodge, I got to know the rep's name who I shall refer to as Taka. He is actually also the housekeeper and the youngest member of the staff in the lodge. Another staff I will meet often is Peter who also works as the receptionist and driver in the day.
Library and Lounge
Unlike many hotels, Kimamaya is more of a ski lodge since it has only 9 rooms. Thus the personal service made a whole lot of difference. First of all, upon arrival, guests place their shoes on a rack and are provided with slippers. Meanwhile, Taka helped me to unload my luggage and even showed me the area to store skis and snowboards at the basement. It felt like home and the whole lodge was very nicely done.
The Bar in Kimamaya
Though the room I was booked in (Alpine 1) was the smallest, it was adequate for 2 persons. There was hooks to hang the jackets on the entrance and by the windows. Along the corner are ledges where one can place their phones and they have an iPhone/iPod dock with alarm clock too. The bathroom was also very nicely renovated with a walk-in shower and towel warmers which was useful to hang all our gloves too from a day out in the slopes.
Bathroom in Kimamaya
The other amenities in the lodge includes a living room lounge where one can lie beside the fireplace to read or borrow DVDs to watch in the room. All rooms are equipped with DVD players and LCD TVs hung on the wall. There is also a small bar at the end of the living room with a microwave should guests like to buy pizzas from the convenience store just a short walk away. Location wise, there is a shuttle bus stop outside the lodge, but Taka or Peter is always kind enough to provide us with a ride on the hotel's van to the Mountain or Welcome Center. So this was a perk of staying here as well!
The Barn
However the best part of the facilities was the hot stone or wooden spa bath tubs that guests can book. I ended up showering in these baths most of the time since they were really amazing to soak in after a day at the slopes. The wooden baths has a strong scent of the wood and is really nice to relax in, while the stone bath might be more suitable for those who do not like the scent, but both were really great to soak in!
French Toast and Egg
Breakfast was included in our room rate and it was served in The Barn, a barn that was renovated to become a restaurant and bar. The access was via the basement and it is definitely a delight having breakfast here with the sunlight illuminating the space on sunny days. Breakfast was served ala carte and we can order from the menu, with the French Toast being highly recommended! There was also a self-serve pastry counter with yogurts for guests to munch on while waiting for their main course. Coffee and juices are also included and they do use coffee by illy's which is one of my favourite coffee!
Gifts from Kimamaya
There were more perks though as the owners of the lodge was in town as well and thus they had a happy hour kind of thing in the evening which allowed guests to mingle. In addition, they also provided drinks coupon to have cocktails at night in the bar at The Barn. At the last day of our stay, we were presented with gifts which included some chocolates and a notepad as well as a handwritten card to thank us for the stay.
Kimamaya at Night
While the room might be small, what the lodge offers is amazing service and a feeling of comfort at the end of the day after a tiring day of snowboarding. It offers personality and a level of service that is unmatched in hospitality as it feels like you're invited as guests in a country home. This is one of the places that I yearn to return to, and I would probably choose to stay with them again when I am back in Niseko. Highly recommended when looking for a place to stay while skiing in Niseko!
And below are some of the photos of why Niseko is worth a visit. A write up of snowboarding in Niseko can be found on my blog for those who are interested.
View of Mt Yotei - Fuji of the North
Hokkaido Snow Crab Ramen at Hanazono
Skiing in Annupuri
View from the Summit of Hirafu
Dusk falls over Mt Yotei
Mar 6, 2013, 1:50 pm
#73
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
Nice photos.
Was trying to get up to CTS on my last trip to Japan but want to spend a little more time there when it is not cold and can do some hiking.
It is my understanding the amount of snow is very unusual at this time as my colleagues from Japan have noted to me….I have also heard the snow on Hokkaido is epic this year.... perhaps it was only this past week or so....
As to snow boarding, although never got into the same growing up with seasons passes at Blackcomb, I will say there was nothing to date more graceful in my life than looking down on Craig Kelly’s sweeping turns from a chairlift at mt. baker on a slope that was irregular, steep (probably technically closed) and full of drop offs and at a downhill ski racer clip (I recall in was in the early 90s, after a storm that struck the lower mainland dumping between 6-9 ft of snow on both whistler and local mountains, including, baker in about a 10 day period....[i will say that it used to be the case when i was big into skiing, snow boarders were ONLY allowed on creekside at whistler...that dates me a little...]
Was trying to get up to CTS on my last trip to Japan but want to spend a little more time there when it is not cold and can do some hiking.
It is my understanding the amount of snow is very unusual at this time as my colleagues from Japan have noted to me….I have also heard the snow on Hokkaido is epic this year.... perhaps it was only this past week or so....
As to snow boarding, although never got into the same growing up with seasons passes at Blackcomb, I will say there was nothing to date more graceful in my life than looking down on Craig Kelly’s sweeping turns from a chairlift at mt. baker on a slope that was irregular, steep (probably technically closed) and full of drop offs and at a downhill ski racer clip (I recall in was in the early 90s, after a storm that struck the lower mainland dumping between 6-9 ft of snow on both whistler and local mountains, including, baker in about a 10 day period....[i will say that it used to be the case when i was big into skiing, snow boarders were ONLY allowed on creekside at whistler...that dates me a little...
]