We got up early today for Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort!!! It's our very first time, uber excites! This resort is very convenient from Tokyo because it has its very own Shikansen station. Using our JR Pass, we happily reserved seats for this trip and got off at Gala Yuzawa station, after Gala Yuzawa Eichigo Station.
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| Gala Yuzawa Station |
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| The stuff people were carrying on the escalator |
Once we entered the snow resort, english speaking staff approached us and provided useful information on ticket prices and the discounts we could get with the JR Pass:
- 10% discount off ski lesson
- 10% discount off equipment rental
- All day locker rental
Thank you JR Pass!! We paid for entrance and gondola pass and we were in! We had emailed in to book a beginner ski lesson at 1.30pm and decided to sled in the morning then ski in the afternoon. Our equipment rental was like this:
Full day : Ski Jacket and Pants
Half day (Morning) : Sled and rubber boots
Half day (Afternoon) : Skis, boots and poles
For each category, we had to fill up 1 slightly complicated form, and the 10% discount ticket we had could only be used for 1 form. That was kind of irritating but well, it's a business..
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| Equipment rental on the left, lockers and gondola right ahead |
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| I need to zap something. Give me a target. Now. |
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| In the gondola |
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| View going up, waaaahhhhh |
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| And we are here! |
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| Sledding slope |
Sledding was fun! Especially the part where you can just fall off your sled and slide and slip all over the place while going down. After some time, I decided to check off my to do item - a snow Domo-Kun! Can you see it!!
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| Camo Domo |
Before we knew it, it was time to return the rubber boots and sled and go back down to rent the skis.
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| View going down.. Waaahhh.. |
We returned all the items with no problem and proceeded with the ski rentals. I found out that the ski boots are really no joke. They are hard, tough and difficult to walk around in. After we struggled into the ski boots, we 'reported' to the ski school booth, which is really just a table, with an instructor behind it. Our instuctor turned out to be a really encouraging and good natured guy from Scotland.
We had to remember the numbers on our skis so that we don't accidentally take someone else's. But I just assumed that someone else's ski beside RJ's was mine and remembered the wrong number. So I took the wrong ski which was immediately reclaimed by another lady in our beginner ski class. She turned out to be a solo traveller from Hong Kong and she's really cool. Respect!
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| Learning how to turn |
Halfway through the lesson, it began to snow! Super cool!!! It was great because I got to experience falling snow, but when it started melting on my head, it became less cool immediately.
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| Still happy, with the hood on |
The beginner class taught us the pose to be in while moving, how to slow down and stop, and how to turn. I couldn't grasp turning but was informed that I'll get the hang of it eventually. After the class, i was keen to try the slope that looked short and gentle (the slope where my ski poles cut across at the pic on top)
RJ wanted to relax and get something to eat but i persuaded her to try the slope once before we go. And off we went together with Ms C (solo traveller from HK) on the ski lift! It was really cool, but we kind of did not pull down the safety bar till we were quite high up. Not intentionally of cos, it was our first time on the ski lift.
When it was time to get off the ski lift, we got up, slid and fell immediately. And RJ said, I think I sprained my foot again. O gosh and we were like in a pile on the ground. After we got up, RJ appeared to be fine so off we went, almost sending each other over a small drop. I veered off the path and managed to stop before the drop, and RJ came towards me and I was screaming like a mad woman, STOP STOP sTOpPPP!! And still RJ came on and crashed into me. Thank goodness we did not continue moving.
Anyway off we went down the slope. Omg, I had thought it would be a small and manageable slope but it was not. It was steep and quite long! And I fell, and got up and fell. Once I fell at such an awkward angle and just could not get up. Ms C tried to get over and help me but really.. We were all 自身难保 on the slope. While I was struggling, RJ had whizzed off uncontrollably down the slope.
When I finally got up on my own, I told myself 'what the heck, don't care, just go!' and off I went! And it was exhilaratingly fast down the slope. When it was too much for me, I just fell to the side, got up and went off again. The last leg of the slope was really cool because I managed to ski down all the way without falling. Wheeeeeeeee!!
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| Happy after completing the slope |
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| The snowboarders were very cool. Will try that next time, easier to get up |
I wanted to try the slope again but RJ did not, so she went off back down to get out of the boots. But when I turned back towards the ski lifts, I saw that it was already closed for the day. It stopped operating at 4pm and I felt lucky that I managed to go down the slope once. So off I went to take the gondola back down to the locker room. I managed to get a gondola all on my own.. So....
And back to the locker room! The ski pants with the suspenders are kind of cute.
Ate an icecream while waiting for the train back to Tokyo.
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| Queue for the train back |
RJ was really tired and her foot hurt so we agreed to have dinner separately. I decided to check out Tokyo station's RAMEN ST!!! When we got to Tokyo station, RJ was somewhat revived and we decided to eat at a udon cum ramen shop at Tokyo Station. I found the ramen light and satisfying!
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| Yea that's my shadow over the ramen. |
After the meal, I continued exploring Tokyo Station and came across Calbee!
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| Freshly baked potato chips! |
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| Potato Ice cream! |
I got a double cheese potato chip very excitedly. But my excitement was slightly over rated. The chips were warm and soft yet crispy. But I found them too salty and I didn't fall over in yummy ecstacy. On I went towards Ramen St!!
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| KIT KAT Chocolatory!! |
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| So preeeeettyyy |
And finally I reached Ramen Street!
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| Queues for ramen |
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| I think this is the popularity ranking (?) |
The queue for the ramen at no. 1 was really long and I did not want to join it. I did not feel like a tonkotsu or anything too oily so I decided to try the most unique looking ramen at Nippon! I selected my choice at the machine, and passed the ticket to the staff. I was then ushered to my seat and given a 'bib' to tie around my neck. I did so, thinking that I probably wouldn't need it.
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| Waiting waiting |
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| Wow! I love the presentation! |
After a short while, the ramen appeared! I really liked it, it came with a smear of chilli paste /sauce at the side which went really well with the broth. The fried lotus roots were really good and so were the veggies. The noodles were super!! Thicker than the usual and they had a really good smooth texture! After I was done, I looked at e 'bib' and there were like soup spatters here and there. Lolol, i totally needed it since I was happily slurping away.
I miss this ramen just by thinking of it. I have to go back and eat it!! Slurp!
There was Daimaru right at Tokyo Station and while looking at wines, plum wines, groceries and stuff, RJ msged that the room key was with me.. And so it was. LOL. So after ramening and getting a yuzu wine from daimaru, I set off happily for Ikebukuro and back to the apt!
Japan Day 12 - Tokyo Tsujiki Fish Market Ginza Kani Douraku Meiji Shrine Yoyogi Park Harajuku
