Finally Our Turn: Taiwan - Japan Day 5: Shinkasen to Iiyama

We have an easy day. The only itinerary is to travel to Iiyama and get to our accommodation in Madarao for our snowboarding trip. 

We had to check out of the Airbnb by 10am. We woke up, do final pickup up, had bfast and a slow coffee. How nice! Finally a day of no rush.

Checkout time was 10am and we left slightly earlier. Bye to the small Airbnb and hard beds. 

The other nice thing about traveling with teenagers is that we can wear each other's clothes. Nana had my down jacket for 2 days, I was in her jacket and Zaky's sweatpants yday. Today, Nana is wearing Zaky's hoodie today. 

On our way to the station. We are all about traveling light (and wearing each other's clothes). These are our only luggages for our 14 day trip. Yes, plenty of laundry.

We got our Shinkansen tickets via Klook. Klook sent us some QR code, which we are supposed to exchange for the actual tickets before the scheduled trip. I have asked Daddy Lim to search up the night before. He shared the to-do and it sounded easy enough. 

However, it took us a while. The automated ticketing machine looked different from the screenshot. We had to ask for help 2x. Finally, after much struggle. 

We were early and had over an hour before the train ride. We decided to roam the train station and find lunch. Lunch was at an expensive Japanese place. It wasn't super expensive but it was pricier than usual for small portion. 

We under-ordered bcos we wanted to eat in the Shinkansen for the experience. Then we spent the remaining time chilling in the waiting area. 

We went to the platform early and found the train. 

It was being cleaned and Q was formed. We joined the Q, which started moving orderly. While trying to still find our seats and decide what to do with the luggages, the train had started to move off. Yes, the trains are that punctual. 

On certain trains (the popular route ones), travellers with big luggages (non-cabin size) need to reserve space/ seats for their luggages. Our train to Iiyama doesn't and we managed to fit our luagges in the overhead compartments. Hoping they don't drop on our heads. 

Time for Shinkasen eating!

We couldn't find the bento that appealed enough and were too full for full bento anyway. 

The ride to Iiyama was about 1ish hour long and we arrived right on the dot. The kids were well-entertained with the Netflix movie downloaded and also with the chair that can be flipped around. 

We hurriedly disembarked the train, knowing how punctual it is in leaving the station. 

The guide was there to meet us when we arrived. Before we left the station, we changed our return Shinkansen pass. It was a similar automated machine. I didn't quite know what to do but anyhow press the buttons and luckily got the tickets. 

Our 1st stop was the supermarket bcos where our lodge is, there is no grocery shops. 

The gifts are all presented so nicely in Japan  even in supermarkets.

The lodge, in Madarao, is about 20 mins drive from the Iiyama town. We bad booked ourselves for 3 nights with Japan Snowsports. I found them while researching online. They basically take care of everyday, from food, accommodation, shuttle, and snowboarding lessons. Why them? Bcos the guide responded promptly and their price is more reasonable than another ski/ snowboarding house that also responded.

The choices are very limited actually and information in English even more sarce. I thought it is better already compared to our Osaka trip several years back, when information in English was even more difficult to find. 

Japan Snowsports is operated by Annie and Dutchie from Netherlands. In fact, we were told that more foreigners are running the various lodges and restaurants than locals. The story goes, plenty of $$ was poured into the ski industry in the 80s and 90s and we see plenty of ski resorts and lodges popping up. Then the economy took a hit in the 2000s and many of the businesses went down. The industry is picking up but with global warming, limiting the amount of snowfall, it is not helping the industry.  Only big resorts are able to afford the expensive snow machines to generate artificial snow and the small resorts are still unable to survive. 

We see several abandoned lodges along the way. Daddy Lim and I joked about buying one and start our 2nd career. Hahahaha. 

Back to the lodge, this is the walkway into the lodge. 

To our room. 

We have a double room. 

Finally proper beds!

The stairways down to the common areas and dinning room. 

The whole place has a very cosy cottage feel and it is very nicely upkept. Overall, thumbs up.

We left shortly to get our rentals. 

Daddy Lim has funny feet and needed different size boots. 

We headed back, unloaded and went to one of the dinner places that was opened for dinner. This is considered the low season for Madarao. The restaurants are either not opened yet for business or may need a reservation. 

Mister Daruma is more of a pub place than proper sit down dinner place.

It has cool decor. 

Daddy Lim ordered sake and we got a cool mocktail for the kids. 

They only served finger food. The gyozas and karaage were really good. 

As you can tell, these weren't able to fill hungry tummies. We took a walk back to the lodge that was about 10 mins away. Then, we had instant noodles and snacks. Lol. 

The lodge serves dinner too. They do a 6-course Mediterranean dinner at JPY7.5k per pax. I don't think our family will enjoy the food or the mingle with the rest of the guests on our 1st night. With that $$, we probably would be able to get ourselves some very decent food. 

There was barely any snow on the ground. The guide who drove us said that it snowed yday morning and thus the little bit left on the ground. There is forecast of big snow coming and we are all hoping that it is true. 

The room was chilly. We turned up the heater that is embedded in the ground and takes time to heat up. The proper beds were so good. 

Good night!

Mummy Lim