Life between trips

1505-3 Higashitanaka, Gotemba, Shizuoka 412-0026, Japan After spending an entire day at Gotemba Premium Outlets, Dormy Inn Gotemba was the perfect place to crash for the night. The hotel's proximity to the outlets meant we could literally shop till we dropped without worrying about a long drive back. the hotel is modern, fuss-free and packed with little perks that make the stay enjoyable. Easy Parking for Self-Drive Travellers One thing we immediately appreciated was the huge parking lot . Plenty of space, easy access and absolutely no stress finding a spot after returning from a shopping marathon. For anyone doing a self-drive trip around the Fuji area, that's a big plus. The Room The biggest highlight of the room? A king-size bed. This was actually the first hotel during our trip where we got to enjoy a proper king-size bed, and after days of travelling and walking, it felt amazing to spread out and sleep comfortably. The room was spacious, clean, functional and had everythin...

10 Azagawa, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0303, Japan Checking into Ubuya felt like a small achievement in itself. The ryokan is notoriously difficult to book due to its the   picture stunning views of Mount Fuji rising above Lake Kawaguchi.  After all, the ryokan is designed so that every room faces the mountain and lake. , so I was really looking forward to this stay. Unfortunately, we arrived during a period when the property was undergoing renovations (we are pre-notified during booking). As a result, many of the facilities were unavailable. During our stay, the main facilities we could access were the onsen and massage chairs. The good thing was that despite the ongoing works, we could hardly hear any renovation noise at night, so it didn't affect our sleep or overall comfort. One thing that stood out during check-in was the service. After parking our car at the designated car park, staff personally drove us to the hotel. The service remained excell...

2533-1 Oishi, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0305, Japan When planning our trip to Kawaguchiko, I knew I wanted to experience glamping at least once. Traditional camping sounded a little too adventurous for me, and since neither of us had any camping experience, glamping felt like the ideal way to enjoy the outdoors while still having a proper bed, heating and modern facilities. TOCORO. Mt.Fuji CAMP & GLAMPING seemed like the perfect compromise. Nestled in a forest near Lake Kawaguchiko, the property offers a camping experience with many tents enjoying views of Mount Fuji, all while providing comforts that regular camping simply doesn't. Arrival Day: Rain, Rain and More Rain Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans for us. It was a wet and rainy day when we arrived. Even so, TOCORO still felt like stepping into a peaceful nature retreat. The white tents scattered throughout the forest looked charming against the misty backdrop, creating an almost fairy...

  If you're planning a visit to Jigokudani Yaen Koen (Snow Monkey Park), ENZA Café is arguably the best place to stop before or after the monkey walk. Conveniently located right at the entrance of the forest trail leading to the park, it's hard to miss and makes for a perfect rest stop.  We dropped by after visiting the snow monkeys and only then realised that the café actually has indoor seating. Since we hadn't noticed that earlier, we ended up ordering from the outdoor terrace section, which operates more like a takeaway counter. The terrace was still a pleasant place to sit and enjoy a snack while soaking in the fresh mountain air. F ood & Drinks The star of the show was undoubtedly the Nagano Apple Pie . Made with local apples, it had a flaky crust and a generous apple filling that wasn't overly sweet. It's easy to see why so many visitors recommend it. Of course, we couldn't resist ordering the famous Monkey Latte , which comes topped with an adorable ...

The Scenic Drive to Kusatsu One of the unexpected highlights of the day was actually the drive to Kusatsu. We drove along National Route 292 , and the scenery was absolutely stunning. The winding mountain roads offered beautiful views at every turn, and we found ourselves making multiple stops just to admire the landscape and take photos. It was one of those drives where the journey felt just as enjoyable as the destination. From the scenery and surroundings, I believe we were passing through one of the ski resort areas. Although there wasn't any snow during our visit, it was easy to imagine how lively and picturesque the region would be in winter. Unfortunately, we couldn't complete the entire route as planned. Due to volcanic activity, part of the highway has been closed, and our navigation rerouted us downhill midway through the journey. While it was a little disappointing not to experience the full route, the detour still provided plenty of spectacular mountain views. Watch...

  Dinner at Matsumoto 萬来  Banrai, Matsumoto For dinner in Matsumoto, we visited Banrai , a very popular local restaurant known for its extensive menu and unique Japanese delicacies. One of the signature dishes we tried was the Zuku Karaage (fried chicken) . The meat was quite thick and on the drier side, with a flavour profile that reminded me of lemon chicken. It had a peppery, slightly tangy taste that was enjoyable, although the texture wasn't my favourite. The skin, however, was excellent, crispy and savoury, with a flavour that oddly reminded me of agedashi tofu. Speaking of tofu, the agedashi tofu was one of the highlights of the meal. Lightly crisp on the outside and silky inside, it was comforting and well-executed. We also ordered the egg with whitebait . The egg was soft, fluffy, and slightly runny, giving it a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The seasoning was delicate, allowing the natural flavours of the whitebait to come through. For sashimi, both the maguro ...