Japan

[West Aussie Glen]

Day 8. Check out of our Kyoto Hotel, Bullet Train to Tokyo (514 kms, 2 hrs 37 minutes, with 6 stops on the way) Local Train to Shinjuku (sort of suburb of Tokyo) and check in to new hotel by about 1.30.
Walk back to Shinjuku station and head for the Ginza shopping area .Nothing super interesting but some great lights.

[cravenhaven]

Great photos, thanks Glen for sharing.

[West Aussie Glen]

Day 9. Head to Nagano on a Bullet Train in search of easy access to Snow. Also Nagano was shown as where the winter Olympics were held but when we arrived no sign of snow. Apparently like Shiojiri you need to bus it out to the ski fields. We quickly changed our train tickets and caught the next train back to Tokyo which meant we had time for a quick trip to check out the snow at Echigo-Yuzawa which was our planned destination for the next day.
Arrived at Echigo-Yuzawa about 4 pm, to find this opposite the train station


It was snowing and got heavier while we had a short walk down the street and back to catch our return train to Tokyo












 Sprinklers built into the road help to keep it clear



Some amazing icicles



Snowing what I called heavily as we arrived back at the station.

[West Aussie Glen]

Day 10 and last day on the Bullet Trains and back to Echigo-Yuzawa


Headed for the Cable Way to find guys on the roof of the start of the cable way clearing the snow

Caught the Cable way up to about a mid point on the ski slope with some great views on the way up and at the top.



A short walk across to snow to have lunch in an Italian Restaurant with great views from our table by a window


On the walk back to the station, not an ST but a Honda


And then a human snow plough

[Marcus]

Such a contrast between old Japan and new Japan

[West Aussie Glen]

Last day. Check out of hotel leaving our bags while we go for a walk around Shinjuku
One side of a park we found another shrine (surprise surprise)



Then off to the observation level of the Government Office twin tower building. Entry free and a great view on Tokyo and Mt Fuji as well as a nice place to have lunch.


Next a walk through the Keo Plaza Hotel found us amongst a coming of age ceremony for local youth with both sexes in traditional costume


The girl on the right below is an exchange student from Canada.

Some contrast to end the story

[Marcus]

Briliant stuff Glen, thanks for posting

[Shiney]

Awesome, loved it
Thanks for sharing mate

[West Aussie Glen]

Just learnt how to use Youtube. Promise this will be my last post to this thread

Bullet Train Arriving at Station

http://youtu.be/mUvlEaP6Ghw

Mt Fuji from Bullet Trian

http://youtu.be/43d5X266XYs

[Wild Rose]

Just learnt how to use Youtube. Promise this will be my last post to this thread

Thanks very much Glen the whole Japanese trend has been very enjoyable
Thanks for sharing