Thursday, 24 January 2008

Shirahone Onsen






We were planning on having a daytrip from Matsumoto to Tsumago but our quest to find the perfect onsen leads to Shirahone onsen instead. We get a train to Shinshimashima (our favourite place name so far) and take a fantastic bus ride through the snow covered mountains (see the previous post) to this onsen resort. Apart from the nearby ski resorts the place is closed down for winter and we seem to be the only people there. Get a bit panicky about becoming stranded there but find a kindly lady in the tourist office who manages to make us understand that Awanoyu Ryokan has an onsen that is open to the public today(add .com to look at their website). We are especially excited as it costs a bomb to stay here normally. The bus driver who brought us here & is warming his toes by the heater kindly offers to drive us there free of charge. I think we are a bit of an anomaly. People seem to wonder what on earth we are doing here.

Well, it is all worthwhile in the end as the onsen is absolutely amazing! As well as two indoor single sex baths with water of differing temperatures and sulphur content there is a fantastic mixed outdoor onsen which is surrounded by snow. The water is so milky that mixed bathing is okay & better still we only have to share it with one other Japanese guy who is sleeping in a corner with a flannel on his head.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hope the water is nice and warm Brr!