Winter in Japan “Japan … is a dream”, a fellow snow bunny reported to MARIA VISCONTI, over a glass of mulled wine - a disclosure that provided sufficient inspiration for a winter adventure abroad in 2015.
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ears of skiing locally in Australia made us comfortable with the old routine of packing up the car and heading for the slopes. Yes, we dreamt occasionally of the big powder hubs but the thought of international travel and language barriers was enough to keep us in the known path. Goodness knows what hurdles would have to be conquered if we ventured abroad. “Japan… is a dream” stayed in the back of our minds and this year, inspired by a desire to shake up old routines, we took the plunge. The rest is history.
Tokyo to Nagano
© iStock/Rat0007
Getting to Japan is easy and the two-hour time zone difference from the east coast of Australia negates jetlag. From Tokyo’s Narita Airport we
follow the signs for the Shinkansen (bullet trains) that will take us on the one-hour journey to Nagano. Thanks to the Japan Rail staff at the Airport station, and signs in English, we board in one smooth, worry-free manoeuvre. (Yes, we were well prepared. “Do not leave home without a Japan RailPass -you can only get it in Australia prior to leaving” – we’d been helpfully advised!) Bent on not missing any opportunity to combine culture with a skiing trip, at Nagano I steer the gang towards one of the many Ramen (a specialty of the area) eateries lining the main street. We have a hotel van booked to pick us up - but not just yet! Not until we pay a visit to Zenko-ji, the 7th-century Buddhist temple which, according to legend, will ensure my passage to the Land of Happiness.
WINTER 2015 outandaboutwithkids.com.au
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