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Inns With Superb View Of Autumn Leaves (Pt 1)
16 August 2008 |
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Autumn is Japan's autumn, the most colorful season. It is the season for a good long walk to take in the colourful scenery, bathe in secret hot springs to relax body and soul and explore autumn flavours at the table.
The focus - deluxe hotels that offer spectacular views for trip with a loved one or the family.
The guide to the best autumn resorts begins in Tokyo with a one hour, 40 minutes trip on the Shinkansen to Fukushima. This city surrounded by several mountain ranges, is a famous spotfor viewing the red leaves of autumn and there are some very nice hotels around too.
Begin at Fukushima Station taking a bus to the famous red leaves spot Joudo-daira. As the bus ascends on the half hour ride, the scenery changes along the way.
From Joudo-daira, take the path and climb up to Azuma-kofuji a dormant volcano, and symbol of Joudo-daira to enjoy a wonderful view!
Visit Wasukura Hot Spring Resort by taking a shuttle that can be booked along with room reservation.
The Washikura Hot Spring Resort which sits at an altitude of 1830m is one of Japan's famous hidden hotsprings. Apart from nature views, the hotel offers outdooe baths with various types of hot spring water, pumped directly from the origin. Dinner at the resort is a 15-course meal made with mountain produce including bamboo shoots, fern, herring, wild mushrooms and a sizzling duck hotpot. A 5-minute walk from the hotel is the Tsuchiyu-touge wetland.
If you're headed to Hokkaido, check the Marukoma Hot Spring Resort established in 1915, sitting at the foot of Mount Eniwadake. From Shin-chitose Airport take the bus to Lake Shikotsuko which is an hour away. The hotel is at the last stop on the bus route and there is a 10 minute shuttle to the hotel.
Before going out to the hotel, walk from the bus station to Lake Shikotsuko where the water is the second clearest in Japan and never freezes, not even in winter. Lunch near the lake at the French styled Mémère offering soup curry, a popular dish in Hokkaido eaten with rice and game Hamburg steak Soup.
The Marukoma Hot Spring Resort offers rooms that are both Japanese and Western-styled and wonderful views of the Lake and nearby forest. There are six hot springs including private baths for guests. Meals at the hotel will include local ingredients, seafood such as freshly caught surf clams and its famous hotpot. Activities at the hotel includes a ride around Lake Shikotsuko on the hotel's own special tour boat.
Travel from Tokyo to Sendai, and catch a local train for a 30-minute ride to Sakunami. Take a 5-minute shuttle ride, to Sakunami hot spring, founded in the Nara Period,some 1300 years ago. There, check in to the luxurious Iwamatsu Hotel built 200 years ago. There is a special offer during Autumn at the hotel which has majestic views and the Taki-no-yu hot spring bath built along the river. There hotel has three other outdoor hot springs baths such as Fuji-no-yu - the men’s hot spring, and the ladies hot spring - Kouge-no-yu. Each is as historic and pleasant as the next with outdoor settings. Meals at the hotel includes freshly local produce such as rockfish, Sendai beef shabu-shabu, autumn mushrooms which make up the 11 course set dinner and a 15-dish deluxe breakfast that is served in the room.
The hotel which is part of the Sakunami Hot Spring Resort offers a shuttle to town, with Jougi Buddha Saihouji, a 700-year-old temple. Nearby is a beautiful 5-level tower called Gojuu-no-tou. Not too far away, join the daily restaurant queue at Jougi tofu shop where for 120 yen (S$1.70) per piece, you can enjoy huge triangular fried bean curd.
Near the hotel is a kokeshi doll centre with a wonderful display of the wooden dolls, a traditional handicraft that traces back to the late Edo Era. There used to be many craftsmen in the area and some still remain inherting the skills from their fathers and passing it on their sons. You can make your own kokeshi for 500 yen (S$7), and it should take just 15 minutes.
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