This week, we continue travelling by non-stop buses to inns. These round trip bus journeys are economical and profitable as the price of the bus plans includes the bus fare, a night’s stay at a hotel and meals. Plus, these buses drop you right at the doorstep of the inns. You will also enjoy delicious delicacies at these inns and get to try out various spas.
Our next journey starts at Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal in Tokyo, from where you take a non-stop bus to an inn in Kamogawa on the Boso Peninsula. It is a convenient and cheap alternative for those who do not want the hassle of making several transfers to reach their destination. This bus plan, which includes a night’s accommodation at Kamogawa Grand Hotel and meals, costs 18,790 yen (S$293). The bus departs at 10am, and even has passengers who are on their way to Kominato Onsen. The round trip bus ride to Kominato Onsen costs only 1,000 yen (S$15). The bus makes its first stop at Umihotaru on Tokyo Bay, which offers a panoramic view of the ocean. Next, the bus travels back up onto the Aqua Line and across the Boso Peninsula to Sotobo. It takes two hours to reach Kamogawa, which faces the Pacific Ocean. The bus drops you at Kamogawa Grand Hotel, before resuming its journey to Kominato Onsen. The check-in time at Kamogawa Grand Hotel is 2pm but during certain months of winter, guests who arrive by the bus can check-in right away and proceed to their room.
After relaxing in your comfortable room, take a local bus to a neighbouring fish town. Board a Tainoura cruiser and enjoy the view of Sotobo and the sea breeze. You will see loads of sea bream swimming up to the surface. After this, head to “Nature”, an Italian restaurant, for lunch. The owner is very particular about ingredients and goes to the fish market every morning to pick up fresh seafood. Savour a meal of Kamogawa fish, pacific bluefin tuna and avocado tartare, and delicious pasta with rapeseed. Return to the hotel and indulge in a warm and cosy outdoor bath, while listening to the sound of the waves. For dinner, you will be served a seafood feast prepared by the chef, who has 35 years of experience. Tuck into a sumptuous meal of crab tofu, red sea bream sakuramushi, horse mackerel, yellowtail, braised golden eye bream, abalone odoriyaki and mozuku rice porridge.
The next morning, breakfast is served in the observation restaurant which offers splendid sea views. Feast on some more seafood items such as raw squid and dried horse mackerel. The return bus leaves at 3pm so in the meantime, you may want to visit a special spot in Kamogawa - Kamogawa Sea World. It is five minutes away from the hotel and you can walk there. Kamogawa Sea World houses a collection of marine life from all around the world. Popular attractions include a sea lion show and a killer whale show. You can even kiss a killer whale and take a nice commemorative picture with the sea lion. Board the return shuttle bus right outside Sea World. It will stop at your hotel, where your luggage will be loaded, before making its way back to Tokyo.
For the next economical trip, take a bus from Tokyo Station to Manza Onsen in Gunma. If you travel by express train and bus, it usually costs 12,500 yen (S$194). However, if you take the non-stop bus, it costs 9,800 yen (S$152) and includes the bus fare and hotel stay with two meals. Board the Hotel Nisshinkan bus which departs at 8.30am from the Kajibashi Parking Lot. Admire the view of the mountains and the snow as the bus leaves the Kan-Etsu Expressway and climbs up mountainous roads. Manza Onsen sits at an altitude of 1,800m and it is famous for its abundant spring water. It is also a popular spot among skiers. The bus will drop you at Hotel Nisshinkan, located near the summit. The well-known hotel dates back to the early Showa era. The check-in time is 2pm and the rooms come with a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains and the snow. The hotel’s spa is one of its main attractions and often draws locals and visitors from all over Japan. There are various types of baths, including an open-air one, Gokuraku Yu, and a public bath, Choju no Yu. The public bath lets you enjoy snowy views while soaking in the therapeutic milky spring water. The popular open-air is truly blissful as it is surrounded by nature and also offers an amazing snowy view.
After the spa treat, enjoy a buffet of Japanese, Western and Chinese cuisine for dinner. There is a huge variety of healthy dishes and seasonings such as sesame, wakame, vegetables, fish, mushroom, prawns and yam. Try the local speciality, hanamame (white Dutch runner beans), which have been stewed for 24 hours. After dinner, a live show is held in the lobby to liven up the evening. You will be entertained by the hotel’s owner who sings, and also be treated to a saxophone performance by the hotel staff. That is not all. At 9pm, a lottery – the show’s highlight – is held, with a free stay coupon as the prize. End your evening by indulging in yet another public bath of the hotel. It is a different experience altogether to soak in the refreshing open-air bath at night.
The next day, you can have a buffet breakfast while admiring the snowy view. The check-out time is 10.30am while the return bus departs at 3pm. Make use of the time to join a snow trekking course. You can rent some snowshoes first. A guide will take you around and you will get to fully enjoy Manza's nature. If you have some extra time after this, you can go to Manten no Yu and indulge in a warm bath until you catch the return bus.
The next bus journey takes us to Shima Onsen during winter. Start by boarding a non-stop bus from Tokyo Station. Under this economical bus plan, it costs 16,700 yen (S$259), and includes the bus fare, accommodation and meals. The usual bus ticket is 11,240 yen (S$174). After leaving the highway, the bus travels along the mountainous roads. After about 3.5 hours, you will reach Shima Onsen. Some claim the spa here can cure 40,000 diseases! So it often attracts hordes of people. Under the bus plan, you can stay the night at Shojukan at Shima Onsen. It has 20 guest rooms. Check-in starts from 2pm. Get hold of the Yottenbei Passport, which provides spa privileges and other perks. So before checking in, head to the town with this Yottenbei and explore the area. Drop by a restaurant called Fukuda, which serves delicious kirikomi udon. Best eaten during winter, this speciality dish of Shima Onsen is made with miso and vegetables. And with the Yottenbei, you can get either kakiage or pickled vegetables for free. After your meal, continue to roam around the town and visit the "Hinatami Yakushido", a thatched roof house built 400 years ago. Next, go to the Yoshidaya Amusement Centre, which has a nostalgic atmosphere. You can try some games such as “Smart Ball” or even go to the shooting gallery. With the Yottenbei, with every five bullets purchased, you get two free.
Return to the hotel to check-in. Guests are served sweet sake as a welcome treat. It is perfect to warm you up during winter. The rooms come with a kotatsu and heater and offer scenic views of the snow. The hotel has a total of nine baths, including an open-air bath and a popular chartered bath called Yamasato no Yu. The cosy spa uses fresh spring water and will help relax your tired muscles. Dinner is served in a private room. The luxurious meal includes sashimi with vegetables, shimonita konjac, steamed turnip with yuzu and stock, Joshu pork sukiyaki, and kamameshi with local mushrooms.
The next day, indulge in a refreshing morning bath and an exquisite breakfast. As the return bus departs at 1pm, use the extra time to continue exploring the town. One of the shops here sells freshly-made piping hot boar meat croquette, which also includes potatoes and other local ingredients. You can also pick up some local foodstuff and homemade yams as souvenirs here. Plus, with the Yottenbei, you will get a boar hair charm for free. After shopping, head back to the hotel to take the return bus to Tokyo.
