We flew from Christchurch to Auckland on the 10am departure to Narita International Airport in Japan, which made for a very long day. Narita Airport was very efficient. We had QR codes, but everyone went through the same line. The only issue was getting my fingerprints to work – this is a common problem for me.
We couldn’t remember where to get Suica cards, so we bought Airport Limousine Bus tickets using our credit cards instead. We were staying at a hotel near Haneda, and the hotel had a shuttle bus from the airport, which made things easy when we were completely exhausted.
The next day, we took the shuttle bus back to the airport and got our Suica cards. We purchased the standard version since we’ve already booked our next trip, and it remains valid as long as it’s used at least once every two years. We used the trains to get to Kawasaki Daishi. Google Maps didn’t work as well as expected, but the area was quiet, peaceful, and had hardly any tourists.
Our next stop was Roppongi Mori Tower. We got there via three trains and a bus. From what I had read, I learned that Tokyo buses have a flat fare – we tapped on at the front and exited through the rear door. A short uphill walk brought us to the tower, which was very easy to access. There was no queue, making it a great alternative to Tokyo Skytree. There’s also an art exhibition at the top included in the ticket. We caught up with friends and then took the train back to the hotel.
The biggest lesson from Day 1: Public transport is a breeze, just follow the signs when transferring trains. Get a Suica card – it saves time, reduces stress, and makes everything easier with simple tap-and-go access. And finally, good shoes are essential as we walked over 14,000 steps.
We flew Japan Airlines from Haneda to Sapporo for a six-night stay at Wyndham Garden Sapporo.We booked this a long time ago using credits, so there was only one room type available.
The room is small, with two twin beds, a short sofa, and a dresser-type unit. There’s an electric kettle, two mugs, and two glasses. The bathroom looks like a prefabricated unit, but it has all the necessary amenities. It suits two people fine. We travelled with two carry-on-sized bags and two backpacks, so we used the sofa for our luggage.
There’s no on-site laundry, but we found one about a 10-minute walk away. It cost 1,000 yen for a large load, including washing and drying in 50 minutes. You need to bring your own detergent – we travel with laundry pods so there’s no risk of leaks.
They offer breakfast for purchase, which set us up well for the day. There’s also free coffee and ice cream available until 5pm, a complimentary welcome drink, and a bar open from 5.30pm to 9pm.
Most of the staff speak or understand some English, so we had no issues communicating. Everyone was very friendly and helpful.
We were lucky enough to be in Sapporo for the Spring Lilac Festival and enjoyed all sorts of street food every day. On our first night, we booked a bar-hopping tour to get an idea of the local food scene. It was a great decision, and we really enjoyed it.
Day 1, we walked to the Clock Tower and the TV Tower – both well worth the effort. We also took part in a Japanese tea tasting ceremony. That night, we headed up to the Mt Moiwa Ropeway. It was chilly at the top, but absolutely worth it.
Day 2 was the Olympic Museum. We took the subway, then a bus, followed by a short walk. There were a lot of different races happening, with participants running up the ski jump. We also took the chairlift up. The museum was interesting, with plenty of interactive games, although some were out of service.
Day 3 was the Sapporo Beer Museum. This is well worth the effort to get there – there are English explanations, and the beer is excellent.
Day 4, we visited Sapporo Zoo. We’ve been to nicer zoos, but seeing the wolves made it worthwhile.
Day 5 was Sapporo Art Tower, reached by subway and bus. This was the first time we encountered a busy bus. The park features a wide range of art and sculptures spread across a large, hilly area.
We’ve walked over 10,000 steps every day, used our Suica card for all our travel, and met many tourists from around the world.
The weather ranged from 15 to 24 degrees, with only a brief shower one morning.
We arrived at Club Wyndham Chikumakan Nagano and we were very pleasantly surprised. We drove using Google Maps – plenty of parking and a very easy check-in. Everyone speaks at least some English, and we had no trouble understanding them.
Our suite was on the second floor, and after the tiny hotel rooms we’ve been used to, it felt like a mansion, with a lovely outlook. We went for a quick walk and found a FamilyMart nearby. There are also great walking and cycling paths along the river.
They’ve just installed an on-site coin laundry with five washing machines and dryers. It’s 300 yen for a wash and 100 yen for the dryer. The front desk can provide change.
After reviewing travel times from the resort, we decided to rent a car from Nissan Rent A Car when we arrived at Nagano Station. We’re so pleased we did; it saved us nearly an hour most days.
Our best day out was at the Togakushi Folk Museum and Ninja House. There were a couple of museums, an earthquake house, various ninja activity courses, and a ninja house that you have to escape from. It was challenging but so much fun. No photos were allowed inside. After that, we walked across the road and part way along the path into the botanical gardens.
The next day, we visited Matsumoto Castle. It’s absolutely stunning, but the stairs are a real workout – our thighs and calves took two days to recover. I would have liked to learn more about the history. Thankfully, it wasn’t too crowded, as I imagine it could feel quite uncomfortable with large crowds.
On the way back, we stopped at the Ueda Castle Ruins. They’re starting to renovate the gatehouses, which was interesting, and there were very few tourists.
The following day, we drove to Shiga Kogen as the weather wasn’t great, and we are planning to ski there next year. There’s a lot of renovation happening at the club property. We also found a great café, Green Café, and had another excellent meal.
On our final day, we visited
Narai-juku, a historic village from the Edo period. Very interesting to explore.
We also had one of our best dinners at a small restaurant near the club, a Japanese restaurant serving French cuisine. It only seats about 10 people, and it was all locals apart from us. With Google Translate and a shared bottle of red wine, it turned into a fantastic night.
There are plenty of other things to do around Nagano, so we may return.
We then stayed at a hotel in Nikko, which really reminded us how good our club properties are!
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