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A Spring Guide to Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

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UPDATE: Due to the 2020 coronavirus, some of the festivities and events for Japan’s cherry blossom season have been cancelled. 

See Tokyo’s World-Famous Cherry Blossoms

e’re finally at winter’s end here in Japan and it’s time for another annual event – the season of cherry blossoms!

Each year Japan celebrates the calling of spring with the anticipation of its cherry blossoms blooming. Everywhere you look there’s a fresh lineup of local events to attend, and of course, a variety of limited edition food items and goods for sale to really get you into the spirit of the season. 

As the symbol of spring, Japan’s cherry blossoms have always amassed fascination and admiration from locals and travelers making it the must-see event of the season. 

But don’t just see it through the lens of a tourist passing by simply because you’re traveling. Why not make it a little more special by enjoying a little R&R and treat yourself to a day of picnics, sunshine and festival hopping just like the locals do!

Here, we’ll introduce you to the seasonal event of cherry blossom viewing in Japan and how to get the best out of the experience!

When does Cherry Blossom Season Begin

ust like checking the weather forecast before heading out, Japan’s meteorological corporation has a national cherry blossom blooming forecast based on the standard pale pink cherry blossom with five small petals.

Although the meteorological corporation’s starting dates are a great help to plan your plane flight, it’s also important to know their predictions can be, at times, misleading. If you arrive too early, you’ll see more closed buds than flowers but wait too late and you’ll see more green leaves than flowers. For me, more importantly, 

their date predictions on when trees will be in full bloom will guarantee you an unforgettable sight of the cherry blossoms and take out the guessing work.

Also, take note that the first month of spring still brings strong winds and the rare typhoon which can spoil the blooming season’s longevity. But don’t fret! There are other kinds of cherry blossoms with varying shapes and intensities in colour which bloom later to enjoy should you miss the early blooming time.  See this article for more details.

Image Credit: Japan Wireless

Arriving too early

takemaru-hirai-572223-unsplash

Photo by Takemaru Hirai on Unsplash

Arriving too late

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Photo by Lizzie on Unsplash

5 MUST-SEE CHERRY BLOSSOM SPOTS IN TOKYO

1. Ueno

eno Park during cherry blossoms season brings big crowds of people setting up their picnic spot but don’t let that discourage you!

Ueno offers a nice glimpse into Tokyo living and also a peek at the gorgeous spreads salarymen companies prepare for their workers. During the evening, the park lights

up their trees with lanterns to continue the festivities into the night.

You can also take advantage of the nearby attractions such as Ueno Zoo, Ameyoko, and other shopping streets, the local temples for some sightseeing and it’s also an easy stroll to Akihabara.

Access: Next to Ueno Station.

2. Nakameguro

little bit of Kyoto in Tokyo, Nakameguro is beautiful during cherry blossom season as you can see rows of overflowing cherry blossoms growing along the riverside. Nakameguro is not only pretty during the day but the night as well when the trees are lit up and the local nightlife begins.

Take advantage of what’s in Nakameguro and enjoy the boutique shopping, international food scene, and great bars.

Access: Ikejiri-Ohashi, Meguro, or Naka-Meguro Station.

3. SHINJUKU GYOEN

he “Manhattan Central Park” of Shinjuku you could say, this spacious and peaceful oasis in the middle of Tokyo’s liveliest business district has around 1,100 cherry blossom trees.

Entrance to Shinjuku Gyoen is ¥200 and offers a unique opportunity to get up close and personal as their cherry blossom varieties “Weeping Cherry” and “Tokyo Cherry”

are so large, their branches span wide and touch the ground. It’s a great photo spot and you can move freely around the branches making it feel like you’re intertwined in its flowers.

Access: A short walk from Shinjukugyoenmae Station, Sendagaya Station or Shinjuku-sanchōme Station

Photo by Banter Snaps on Unsplash

Photo by Blake Cheek on Unsplash

4. INOKASHIRA PARK

oving a little further from Central Tokyo’s CBD, Inokashira Park is located in the ever cool neighbourhood of Kichijoji. The park is quite big and large enough to fit a pond, a petting zoo, and an aquarium within the grounds!

The crowds, especially young couples, during cherry blossom particularly enjoy the swan boat and boat rides but be warned. Local legend has it that the jealous goddess 

Benzaiten curses couples who ride the boats to break up soon after.

Regardless of the tale, Inokashira Park is a great location for a cozy weekend. Enjoy the live street performances, artist market and it’s also a short walk to the Ghibli Museum.

Access: A short walk from Kichijoji Station.

 

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5. NAKANO

lthough not an overly touristy location, Nakano has many cherry blossoms which line the main street which leads conveniently to the ward’s locally run sakura festival at Arai Yakushi Temple.

The sakura festival is a must visit since it’s a great way to experience a typical Japanese matsuri-style festival that mainly occurs in the summer. You’ll see lots of people dressed in yukata and the food and entertainment are great for those casual

evenings out.

The area is also a nice mixture of laid back old school charm mixed with an Akihabara otaku vibe since Nakano is home to Nakano Broadway, a hobby enthusiast’s paradise.

Access: A short walk from Nakano Station.

What to do During the Season

1. Sakura Festival

robably my favourite thing to do during cherry blossom season, there’s nothing like the sound and energy of a festival to get you into the spirit of things and sakura festivals offer great entertainment both traditional and modern.

During sakura festivals, and depending on where you visit, there are many types of performances to see other than the usual live music and dance acts. Venturing to

more local neighbourhood areas like Nakano, you can enjoy local fanfare like carnival games and see local talent shows while more international areas like Nakameguro have a more western vibe and offers foreign treats like mulled wine, sangria, German beers, and sausages to enjoy mixed with traditional performances such as buyō (a traditional performing art similar to kabuki theatre).

Playing traditional matsuri games at Nakano Sakura Festival

Tasty treats at Nakameguro Sakura Festival

 

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2. Hanami Party

pend a unique day enjoying the local scene by setting up your blue tarp mat having a picnic under the shadow of a billowing flower tree. Hanami or “flower viewing” is a popular picnic event where people enjoy eating and drinking while viewing flowers. Although there are no “rules” to doing hanami right, there are a few staples to the activity which every local seems to follow:

The Essentials for Hanami

  • THE FOOD: Lunch Boxes, Side Dishes, Snacks, and Yes, Alcohol

Wondering what a typical hanami spread looks like?

Although homemade obento boxes are popular, hanami food is generally store-bought for convenience. The food (even obento boxes) are shared amongst everyone and include extra sweet or savoury snacks as some hanami parties can last until the evening if planned.

Some popular food ideas include karaage, lunch boxes, sandwiches, onigiri (rice balls), takoyaki, yakisoba, hanami dango, sakura mochi, and fruit. 

Another fun thing to do is to cheers the arrival of spring with a drink in hand. During the festivities, it is legal to drink alcohol openly in public areas and you can also find drink stands that sell chilled cans of beer should you forget yours. So grab your chuhai, beer or wine and kanpai!

Where to Purchase: convenience stores and local supermarkets like Maruetsu, Peacock or Seiyu.

  • FOR SITTING: Picnic sheets and sitting cushions

With the chaos of multiple hanami parties happening around you, space will get very tight fast.

Forget about setting up the tables and chairs and do as many other people do and simply spread out a tarpaulin mat on the ground to enjoy your picnic party.

Unfortunately, the ground may be hard and uneven, so I recommend buying inexpensive sitting cushions from the 100 yen store to help feel more comfortable.

Also, don’t forget to take your shoes off before sitting down! The no-dirty-shoes-allowed rule also applies here too.

Where to Purchase: convenience stores, local supermarkets, and 100 yen stores. 

  • FOR EATING: Paper Plates, Disposable Cutlery, and Tissues

Just like with any other party having extra plates and cutlery will come in handy especially with bigger groups. Another pro tip is to bring some wet wipes or “oshibori” for when it’s hard to locate a convenient way to wash your hands or clean up spills.

Where to Purchase: convenience stores, local supermarkets, and 100 yen stores. 

  • FOR FUN: GAMES

Looking at flowers all day is nice and all but you can really liven up a party with some games to play as well.

Simple party card games can be found at the 100 yen stores and offer an interesting insight to the childhood of Japanese locals or, something more familiar like Cards Against Humanity or Uno and you’ll ensure everyone has a riot for hours on end. 

Where to Purchase: 100 yen stores, Bic Camera, Yellow Submarine and Don Quixote.

  • THE CLEAN UP: Garbage Bags

Just as pretty as the cherry blossoms are on the tree, keeping the environment clean and tidy is also expected of everyone as much as possible.

Do the right thing and trash your garbage responsibly by saving time and effort and separate bottles, burnable garbage, and non-burnable garbage in bags before taking them to the designated garbage area.

A stylish homemade picnic obento

 

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A special cherry blossom beer

 

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3. Enjoy Spring with Cherry Blossom Flavoured Treats

id you know that cherry blossoms are also edible?

Although I am not the greatest fan of the taste as I think it’s too similar to a soap fragrance many cherry blossom foodstuffs mixes fruit flavours like strawberry, peach or cherry to sweeten its flavour.

The most popular limited edition item to get would be the Starbucks sakura edition frappuccino or latte that’s only available in Japan but do venture around to taste all the shops have to offer.

You can also buy cherry blossom tea, chocolates, and alcohol that’ll make great souvenirs.

4. Night Illuminations (Yozakura)

eeing flowers during the day is not the only time the locals go to see these pretty flowers. Yozakura or “night cherry blossom” is a common nighttime event for locals to enjoy the sight of these flowers lit up like glowing clouds.

The best places to head for yozakura are Chidorigafuchi Park, Rikugien Garden, Nakameguro and Ueno for their impressive displays.

Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Night

Ueno Park at Night

Nakameguro at Night

Photo by Sora Sagano on Unsplash

Chidorigafuchi Park During the Day

 

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Chidorigafuchi Park Day at Night

 

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Bucket List Experiences, H2H - Heart to Heart's, Italy

A Spring Day Trip to Alpe di Siusi in the Dolomites, Italy

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A Spring Day Trip to Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)

ike wildflowers you’ve been to places others never heard of and you’ve bloomed in places no one speaks of…
– f a s c i n i t y

When I think about the fact that I only spent 2 days in the Dolomites, I instantly regret it.  And to think, I was about to cut this segment out of my trip entirely thinking I didn’t have enough time.  What a gigantic mistake THAT would have been!

There is so much to explore in the Dolomites region alone, that you would need at least two weeks to see and experience a significant portion of it.  In my short stay, I only had the opportunity to visit two places.

In my last post about this region, I brought you Lago di Braies, but I have to honestly say that Alpe di Siusi was the highlight of my entire trip to Europe.  I have never seen a natural landscape look so beautiful, so perfect and idyllic.   It’s sheer majesty, expanse and beauty almost seems otherworldly, powerful and transcendent.  You can’t help but stop, find a place amongst the wildflowers and just soak up the surroundings and sounds.  Having the place all to myself was also an added bonus – how did I get so lucky?

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Langkofel Group on a cloudy day in Spring

Geology – How Was Seiser Alm Created?

find geology particularly fascinating – especially when it comes to unique landmarks. So, if I asked you how the Dolomites were formed, what would you guess?

A volcano explosion? Maybe an earthquake?  If you guessed either of those, you’d be

wrong! The area was in fact a giant coral reef that began forming around 250 million years ago in the Thetys Ocean.  The rocks, originally limestone, accumulated so much pressure they transformed into Dolomite. When the sea retreated, the rock was open to the elements and sandstone sedimentation.   Over time, the sandstone eroded more easily than the dolomite, creating the jagged rock formations we see today.

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Langkofel / Sassolungo Group Panorama

The Legends of Alpe di Suisi / Seiser Alm

f you’ve read my Lago di Braies post, you’ll know this area is extremely rich in it’s folklore – folklore that is the kind found in fairytales. There are the Gannes – spirits of the springs, whose water abilities help to cure all kinds of ailments, salvans – wild dwarves who are followers of King Laurin, giants and of course, witches & warlocks.  It’s really not hard to feel the otherworldly magic when you’re here.

While this area is home to thousands of legends, I’ll go into detail on the legends behind the two main peaks in the area: the Sassolungo/Langkofel Group and the Sciliar Massif.

As it was known, Sassolungo, a local thief in the area, had a particular penchant for stealing chickens from his neighbouring farmers.  Whenever they complained, Sassolungo was always prepared with an excuse, blaming it on the local foxes or eagles.  Unable to get him to confess, the farmers decided the only way to make this problem stop was to catch Sassolungo in the act.  The next time Sassolungo tried to steal a chicken he was caught and called up to testify before the giant’s high court.  Sassolungo’s pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears and as soon as the giants delivered their sentence, the ground beneath Sassolungo broke apart and he began to sink into the ground.  In attempts to break freak, Sassolungo reached up with his hand

into the sky, but it was too late.  Today the only existence of Sassolungo on Earth are his 5 fingers, reaching toward the sky, forming the Sassolungo peaks.

While not everyone knows the legend of the Sassolungo peaks, one legend everyone is familiar with is that of the Sciliar Witches.  That’s right, witches from near and far would come flying on their broomsticks to meet on the ridge of the Sciliar.  How else would you explain the mysterious thunder storms that only seem to hover around the Sciliar Massif?  It must be the work of witches.

Historically, the ‘witches’ were local women who used herbs to cure illnesses and carried out rituals promoting a good harvest.  However with the growth of Christianity during the middle ages, witchcraft became seen as satanic worship. As a result, it is said that 9 women were sentenced to death for being witches and weather makers in the area.

Only one witch named Martha was a good witch, especially with children and nature.  She is even known to be able to turn herself into a squirrel and is the most famous witch in the area.  It is important to know, that these myths and legends are still alive today and you can even go on tours with a Witch named Martha…who knows, maybe she’s the same one from the legends!

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Langkofel / Sassolungo Peaks

Langkofel / Sassolungo Peaks

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Sciliar Massif / Schlern

Sciliar Massif. Picture credit: www.suedtirol.info

Things to See & Do

ith so many things to do in Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi, and a great deal more in the Dolomites, a day trip really isn’t enough.  So if you’re reading this and wondering how long to spend here, yes add in as many extra days as your itinerary will allow!  Regardless of how many days you can spend here, making the most of your time is important.  So here is a list of things you can do in the area – pick and chose the sights and activities that suit you best.

How to Use This Map: The map below is an interactive map you can use to find the locations mentioned in this blog post.  To use the map, click the icon in the top left-hand corner to pop open the navigation bar.  Here you can click on each location to navigate to it.

Take Amazing Photos

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Langkofel Group

eing a lover of photography, I spent my time here doing just that.  It seems that everywhere you look is another stunning photograph and I found myself completely lost in the moment.  I know you’re probably thinking two things 1. How is there nobody around in the photos? 2. Where is this location?

To answer your questions, I absolutely do not know how I got so lucky with not having anyone in the area when I arrived.  I did take these photos after 5PM and it was a cloudy day that suggested rain was coming.  I also visited in early June which is technically still the shoulder season.  Over my time capturing photos I saw one other photographer, who set up further up on the hill behind me and a group of hikers.  Other than that, there was no one. And it was perfect!

Finding the location was more of a challenge.  I had seen this exact view online prior to visiting, but I couldn’t find anyone that had mentioned an exact geo-location. So I basically took a giant stab in the dark and was so stocked when I actually found it.

While you can hike to this location, I actually drove here – but be careful, I shared my location with another photographer I met on my journey and he ended up getting a parking ticket :S  Either I got lucky, or he got incredibly unlucky.

Without knowing the rules too precisely, the main town of Seiser Alm, Compaccio/Compatsch is closed to traffic between 9AM – 5PM.  I arrived after this time, so this might also be why I didn’t have any problems with parking tickets.  You can read more about the traffic regulation rules here.

Find this photography location at Location 1 on the interactive map.

Hike To The Mysterious Witches Benches

t’s no guessing that this beautiful area is home to some amazing hikes.  In fact, there are a total of 43 hikes in the area, all with varying difficulties and durations.  For a list of all hikes and details, please see here.

However the most famous hike is to the summit of the Puflatsch / Bullaccia where you’ll find odd-shaped rock formations that look like armchairs.  These are known as the Witches Benches and it is here that the witches would sit of an evening to dance and enjoy the view of the Val Gardena and villages below.

This trail is suitable for families (no strollers) and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views of the villages Castelrotto and Laion.  There’s also a place to eat on the hiking trail if any little ones start getting restless.

Find this location at Location 2 on the interactive map.

This map has very clear labelling of all the peaks in the surroudning area and hiking trails
Credit to: ritterhof.com

Climb The Dolomite Peaks

Climbing fans, there’s something special for you too.  The area hosts 4 fixed rope routes, suitable for beginners and expert climbers.   For more details on the routes, please see here.

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Langkofel Group on a cloudy day in Spring

Explore The Nearby Villages

he Seiser Alm / Alpe di Siusi holiday area is home to 4 historic villages which you can explore: Castelrotto, Fie allo Sciliar, Siusi allo Sciliar and Tiers al Catinaccio.  These villages are known for their historic traditions still practiced today and their amazing cuisine. Read below for a little info on each village:

Castelrotto / Kastelruth:

Being the largest of the villages near Seiser Alm, Castelrotto/Kastelruth is a picturesque village with a historic town centre.   Castelrotto is know for it’s beautiful architecture showcased through the village’s Baroque Church Tower and Classical Parish Church.  The most wonderful experience of this village are its historic traditions which have been passed down from generation to generation and are still practiced today.

Find this location at Location 3 on the interactive map.

 

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Siusi allo Sciliar / Seis am Schlern / Seis

This village lies at the foot of the legendary Sciliar/Schlern Massif and is known as the door to the Dolomites.  Out of the four surrounding villages, this one is very close to Seiser Alm/ Alpe di Siusi and is the only village with a direct cable car to the plateau.

Siusi allo Sciliar is home to numerous themed trails such as the Geologist’s trail, where you can explore 270 million years of the Earth’s history through the rock layers of the Rio Freddo /Frötschbach.  Or travel in the footsteps of poet and Knight Oswald von Wolkenstein and discover the ruins of Castelvecchio (Oswald’s home) and Castel Salego.  Or if food is more your thing, the mushroom trail will take you through the Laranza forest, home to various mushrooms such as the boletus, chanterelle, fly agaric and more.  Information boards along the way, will have a mushroom connoisseur of you by the end of the trail!

Find Seis at Location 6 on the interactive map, Castelvecchio at Location 7 and Castel Salego at Location 8.

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Town of Siusi Allo Sciliar

Picture credit: www.seiseralm.it

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Castelvecchio Ruins

Ruins of Castelvecchio. Picture credit: www.sentres.com
Fiè allo Sciliar / Völs am Schlern

For travellers looking for a health retreat try Fiè allo Sciliar.  Known as the home of the hay bath, this village has become somewhat of a health resort. So what exactly is a hay bath?  A tradition held for over 110 years, a hay bath involves being wrapped in healing herbs cut exclusively from the unfertilised meadows of Seiser Alm / Alpe di Siusi.  These herbs and grasses often include a mix of thyme, anica, cinquefoil and gentian.  The secret is being wrapped in these herbs at temperatures of 40 – 50 degrees where sweating and breathing in the alpine herbs helps to purge to body and creates immuno-stimulating effects.

Now, I know we’re focusing on Spring time, but Fiè allo Sciliar is also known for its food.  If you visit in October, you’ll be invited to participate in the culinary festival of Völser Kuchlkastl, which basically means enjoying a range of South Tyrolean dishes such as “Brennsuppe” (gruel), buckwheat noodles and mutton, alpine herbs, local mushrooms and plenty of other natural ingredients.  Find out more here.

Finally, a visit to Castel Presule / Schloss Prösels will have you discovering the history of the witch trials that took place here 500 years ago.  With a history that dates back to 1279, Castel Presule was opened to the public in 1982 and now offers guided tours. Inside you’ll find a museum with weapons, paintings and drawings.  Until recently, the castle was only open for viewing in spring/summer, but is now available to visit all year round.

Admission Costs: Adults 9 Euros & Children 6+ 5 Euros.  Free entry with Museumcard of Museummobile Card and for children under 6.

How to get there:  Catch bus 176 (Siusi – Fiè allo Sciliar) to the castle complex or enjoy a 2 hour walk from Fiè allo Sciliar via the hamlet Umes to Castel Presule.

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Castel Presule located in Fiè allo Sciliar

Castel Presule. Image Credit: Hannahelia.com

The famous Hay Baths. Image credit: www.thecut.com
Tiers am Rosengarten / Tiers al Catinaccio

The last of the villages is Tiers located at the foot of the famous Rosengarten / Gruppa del Catinaccio. The Rosengarten is a massif known for its pink glow at sunset (alpenglow).  It is famous in the folklore legends of King Laurin and his rose garden, used to explain the phenomenon of Alpenglow.

Because of it’s beautiful location in the Schlern – Rosengarten Nature Park, it is a stunning location for numerous hikes, climbs and mountain biking routes.

Find Tiers at Location 9 on the interactive map

 

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Swim in One Of Italy's Cleanest Lakes

Laghetto di Fiè /Völser Weiher Lake is classed as one of the cleanest lakes in Italy by the Legambiente, Italy’s biggest environmental protection organisation.  Of the eight swimmable lakes in the Dolomites regions, Laghetto di Fiè boats an intact ecosystem, outstanding water quality and a beautiful view of the Sciliar/Schlern, making it a popular destination for swimmers.

Find Lake Fiè at Location 10 on the interactive map

Discover South Tyrol's prettiest Alpine houses

Since you’ve just come from enjoying a dip in the gorgeous Fiè Lake, if you continue your walk along trail #1 you’ll reach South Tyrol’s prettiest Alpine Hut, Malga Tuff.  Continuing further on, you’ll reach Hofer Alpl an alpine restaurant and inn.  From Hofer Alpl’s sun terrace, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding villages and alps: Trentino mountain region, Mount Cevedale, Gruppo di Tessa / Texelgruppe National Park and Ötztal Alps /Alpi Venoste.

Find Malga Tuff and Hofer Alpl at Location 11 & 12 respectively on the interactive map.

Paragliding

If you think the landscape is beautiful from the ground, imagine seeing it from the sky!  Paragliding in the Dolomites is perfect for experienced and new paragliders.  From the Spitzbühl launch site – known for its ideal conditions and thermal currents – fly close to the Sciliar solo or in tandem with an experienced paragliding pilot.  For those flying with an experienced pilot, all flying equipment will be provided.

How To Get There

Alpe di Siuis/Seiser Alm is an alpine plataeu located in the Sciliar-Catinaccio/Schlern-Rosengarten National Park in the South Tyrolean Dolomites in Italy.

GETTING TO THE DOLOMITES REGION – CLOSEST AIRPORTS

There is no direct flight to the Dolomites region, so the closest airports in Italy are Verona, Venice Marco Polo & Treviso and Milan.  In Austria, the closest airport is Innsbruck with Munich being the closest in Germany.  From here you can drive or take public transport to Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi.

Car

As you know, car is my preferred option for getting around when travelling, so I drove from Venice Marco Polo airport to the dolomites region.  It was a really easy drive, despite having to figure our how to pay for the toll roads on the route!  Going direct from Venice Marco Polo Airport is a 3.5 hour drive.

After my time in Seiser Alm, I planned to visit Lago di Braies.  The drive from Seiser Alm to Lago di Braies was approximately 1 hour and 45 mins and GoogleMaps took me through the little mountain roads, which were absolutely beautiful!! A gorgeous drive.

Train

Bolzano, the capital of South Tyrol, is located on one of the main European railway routes and has direct public transport to Seiser Alm/Alpe di Siusi.  This station can be easily reached from Munich (Germany) and Innsbruck (Austria) as well as from Verona, Rome, Venice and Milan in Italy.

Bus

From Bolzano, Bressanone and Chiusa stations you can find direct bus links to Seiser Alm & nearby villages.  Below I’ve included a map of the bus routes and a link to download the timetables for each route.

It is important to note that the transport system in this area is quite unique.  What I love about the Dolomites, is their focus on preserving the natural environment by offering a great public transport system.  While you may choose to take a car to the destination, once you’re in the area, public transport is a smarter and cheaper choice – especially Seiser Alm is car free between 9AM and 5PM.  Depending on when you’re visiting and the activities you plan on doing, Alpe di Siusi offers different types of passes:

Holiday Area Live Card

  • This card is free of charge and is provided by accomodation providers in Castelrotto, Siusi, Fie allo Sciliar and Tiers.
  • Provides various discounts on chairlifts and transportation cards
  • Provides single ticket access to all types of public transport.
  • Read more info here.

Combi Card – 3, 7 or 14 days:

  • Unrestricted use of the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway and the Seiser Alm Express (bus route 10)
  • Unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (bus routes 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 13 and 15) around the Alpe di Siusi, the Almbus (bus route 11) and the Bus Piz (bus route 14).
  • More info here.

Seiser Alm Card Gold (Valid for 7 days)

  • Unrestricted use of the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway and the Alpe di Siusi Express (bus route 10)
  • Unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (bus routes 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 13 and 15) around the Seiser Alm, the Almbus (bus route 11) and the Bus Piz (bus route 14)
  • Unrestricted use of the Bullaccia Aerial Cableway, the Aerial Lifts Spitzbühl, Panorama, Florian (Alpe di Siusi) and Marinzen (Castelrotto)

Mobilcard

  • Unrestricted use of the local public transport.

Dolomiti SuperSummer Card

  • Card with access to lifts across the Dolomites.
  • More info here.

Read more about getting around in summer here.

Winter – Additional Cards

  • Ski pass: Great for those who plan to spend most of their time skiiing or snowboarding.
  • Nordic Pass: Best for those who plan to spend their time cross-country skiing. The Nordic pass allows you to use the cross-country skiing courses as many times as you like for free. Without the pass it costs 6 euro for a day ticket, 30 euro for a weekly ticket and 70 euro for a season. The pass includes unrestricted use of the Shuttle Bus Service (bus routes 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 13 and 15) around the Seiser Alm and the Almbus (bus route 11).
  • You can find more information about these passes/cards here on page 8 & 9.

You can download the timetables for each route here. See page 12 onwards.

Some information on the buss routes:

Shuttle Buses (Routes 1, 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5 and 15)

  • Accepts the following tickets: Combi Card, Seiser Alm Card Gold, Nordic Pass, Mobilcard and all tickets of the Public Transport Services Alto Adige/Südtirol.
  • If you have decided not to purchase one of the above tickets, you can also buy tickets from the Automatic Ticket Distribution Machines.  One day tickets are also available for purchase at your accomodation, information office of Siusi and the Alpin Sports Company in Castelrotto. You can’t buy tickets on the shuttle buses:
    • One day ticket: 1.50 euro
    • 3 day ticket: 3 euro
    • 7 day ticket: 5 euro

Public Transport Buses (Routes 170, 171, 176, 177 and 185)

  • Tickets for the shuttle buses (1-day, 3-day, 7-day, Combi Card, Nordic Pass and Seiser Alm Card Gold) are not valid on these buses.  You will need to purchase these separately.
  • Mobilcard Südtirol/Alto Adige is valid on all public services.
  • Tickets can be purchased on the bus

Seiser Alm Express (Route 10)

  • Combi Card, Seiser Alm Card Gold, and Nordic Pass are valid with this service.  All other tickets and Mobilcard are not.
  • Tickets can be purchased on the bus
  • Round trip tickets cost 17 euro.

Almbus (Route 11)

  • Only valid with Combi Card, Seiser Alm Card Gold and Nordic Pass are valid with this service.  All other tickets and Mobilcard are not.
  • Tickets can be purchsed on the bus for at Automatic Ticket machines at Alpe di Siusi.
  • Tickets cost:
    • One way – 2 euro
    • day ticket – 4 euro

Almbus (Route 12)

  • No passes are valid for this bus, you must purchase a ticket.
  • Tickets can be purchased on the bus for at Automatic Ticket machines in Saltria.
  • Tickets cost:
    • One way – 3.50 euro
    • day ticket – 6 euro

Map

Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm: Map of the area
I found this map very useful in helping to piece together where everything is. In it, you can clearly see where Val Gardena is in relation to Seiser Alm as well as the significant landmarks. Credit to: Mappery.com

Our TOP PlACES TO STAY

As access to Seiser Alm is car-free during the hours of 9am – 5pm, you want to ensure you’re staying somewhere where access to Compatsch (main village on Seiser Alm) is easy.  Ideally, you would want to stay in Seis (Siusi allo Sciliar) Castelrotto or Saltria where the direct cable car or buses to Compatsch / Compaccio are available.  Staying outside of these areas is fine too, but it will mean additional transfers may be required before you’re able to reach Alpe di Siusi.  See below for a list of recommended places they are listed from cheapest to most expensive:

  • Residence Antares – Located in Selva di Val Gardena, it is a 10 min drive to Ortisei, where bus connections are available to Alpe di Siusi.
  • Appartmenthotel Residence Elvis – Located in Ortisei where bus connections to Alpe di Siusi are available.
  • Villa Rier – Located just outside Seis.  To get to town centre and Alpe di Siusi cable car, it is a 4 minute drive or 20 minute walk.
  • Hotel Schmung – Excellent location on Alpe di Siusi, very close to Compatsch (15 minute walk).
  • Schwarzer Adler – Located in Seis, the shuttle bus to Alpe di Siusi stops outside hotel.
  • Hotel Saltria – Located on Alpe di Siusi at Saltria.  There is a direct bus from Saltria to Compatsch.

Find more hotels in Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm here.

Our Recommended Activities

  • The Heart of the Dolomites: Private Full-Day Tour by Car: From Bolzano explore the Isarco Valley – Pusteria Valley – Lago di Braies (I went here and highly recommend!) – Misurina Lake with views of the 3 Peaks of Lavaredo – Cortina d ’Ampezzo, then back to Bolzano via Great Dolomites Road.
  • Great Dolomites Day Tour: From Bolzano explore the Ega Valley – Lake Carezza – Costalunga Pass – Fassa Valley – Vigo di Fassa – Canazei – Sella massif – Pordoi Pass – enjoy a cable car to Sass Pordoi – Gardena Valley – Ortisei, then back to Bolzano
  • Bressanone and Funes Valley Guided Tour: From Bolzano explore Bressanone – Novacella Abbey – Funes Valley, then back to Bolzano
  • Trekking in the Dolomites: From Bolzano explore the Isarco Valley and Pusteria Valley – Misurina Lake with view of the 3 Peaks of Lavaredo – Auronzo Refuge, then enjoy a circular hike around the Three Peaks of Lavaredo and hike the great Dolomites Road back to Bolzano.
  • Dolomites Full Day Excursion: This tour combines parts of the Great Dolomites Day Tour and the Trekking in the Dolomites tour, with stops at local vineyards. Pricing is for a group of 6 people.

Read More about Italy

 

if you only had ONE day to see alpe di siusi, where would you go?

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below!

Japan, Travel

Autumn at the Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field

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Enjoy the autumn view at Sengokuhara

or nature photographers and nature lovers!

From the lovely pink cherry blossoms of spring to the fiery red autumn leaves in fall, every change of the season shows off the beauty of Japan’s local nature. There are a number of flowers, plants, and local scenery that are worth seeking out during full bloom that nationally represent each season – even the locals treat it as if Japan’s four seasons possess some particular quality unique only to their own country.

Autumn in Japan is gorgeous for nature and is my favourite time of the year here. I would even argue it’s prettier than springtime (I know, gasp!).

A popular scenic sight in autumn located near Tokyo in Kanagawa’s Hakone is the pampas grass fields of Sengokuhara. It’s a breathtaking hillside landscape filled with overflowing tall gold-toned grass and looks stunning through the camera lens where you will be moved by the overwhelming wonder of the scenery mixed with the warm autumn sun. It was also voted the “Best 50 scenic spots in Kanagawa” and the “Best 100 spots to view flowers in Kanagawa.”

How can you step into this waking daydream?

Follow me to know the ins and outs of this heavenly field of wonder.

The Best Time to Visit

SEASON

There are four different stages that Sengokuhara’s pampas grass fields go through to get to full bloom:

As a no-brainer, it is best to avoid visiting in March as the field will be charred to promote good growth and protect the landscape from other intrusive trees and weeds. If you do visit during summer, you can enjoy the fresh green fields but I highly recommend to visit in November when the grass has turned fully into its signature gold.

TIME

Unfortunately, though the best viewing period is when the field is completely coloured gold it is also the time many people visit the fields.  They can get quite crowded particularly on a good day after 12PM.

However, being a public site it is open at all hours so you can get there as early in the

morning as possible to have the place to yourself.

Alternatively, you can go in the late afternoon to catch the sunset. During either time, the light will filter through the grass which will increase its radiance.

Although the weather was raining and overcast when I went, I was still able to enjoy the scenery and take some nice photos!

The fields are not only great for nature photography but also fashion portraits too!

Other Photography Inspiration Shots

 

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Helpful Travel tips

TERRAIN

Although the field area itself is very large and wide there is unfortunately only a single walk path that people can walk through. There are plans to extend it in the future but for now, you can only walk up and down along the rocky pathway. The good thing though is that you can still get up close and touch the grass but not damage it, of course.

The main path has a lot of potholes and is not paved so wearing closed toe shoes are

best when visiting.  Alternatively, there is a paved trail portion on the side should the main path journey be too difficult to walk or becomes muddy due to rain.

Once you make it to the end at the top you can get a great view of how the grass look like rolling waves and see how vast and far the grass can grow on the hill.

STAY DURATION

After taking some snaps and wondering around a bit, I would say the whole experience took around 30 minutes to 1 hour. Sengokuhara’s Pampas Grass Field is a good pit stop to walk around and do some scenic exploring but a good point to note

is that it isn’t the best place to plan an entire day around and traveling to the area can be a pain in the neck to get to if you are relying on the public transport’s hourly time schedule.

The view going up.

The view going down.

GENERAL INFORMATION

PRICE
OPENING HOURS

How to Get There

Hire a Car

As rural areas in Japan have slower public transport timetables than urban areas, going by car is the best way to get from place to place.

Google Maps and Apple Maps in Japan both work well in English and Japanese and makes driving a breeze if you are not familiar with the local language. Additionally, most rent-a-cars in Japan are equipped with an inbuilt navigation system should you not have access to the internet while traveling.

Arriving by Bus

There are two main ways to take the bus to get to the Sengokuhara area (from japan-guide.com):

  1. From Hakone-Yumoto Station, take the Hakone Tozan Bus, Togendai Line (Route T) (30 minutes) → to Sengoku Kogen; the field is near the bus stop
  2. From Shinjuku Station, take the Odakyu Hakone Expressway Bus (roughly 2 hours and 11 minutes) → to Sengoku Kogen; the field is near the bus stop

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

Owakudani Valley

Owakudani Valley or as the locals call it “Jigokudani” (the Valley of Hell) is a 3000-year-old volcanic valley with active sulfur vents that spew out volcanic gases and steam. As a hot springs area, it is famous for their black coloured eggs believed to extend

one’s life by 7 years! Don’t miss the upward trail by taking the Hakone Ropeway to see how they boil the eggs and appreciate the views of Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji from the top.

 

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Hiking around Chisuji Falls

Chisuji Falls is a small but pretty forest waterfall with hiking trails to enjoy. It’s called “the waterfall of a thousand threads” because the water spills between the rocks like many thin “threads.”

It’s surrounded by maple trees and would no doubt look amazing during autumn time but summer time has another special surprise. In July during the evening, hundreds of fireflies gather and glow creating a mystical sight for the eyes.

 

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Lake Ashi

Lake Ashi is a great place to enjoy a lot of tourist-friendly attractions like traveling on one of the famous Lake Ashi pirate ships that cruise around the lake, the Hakone-en

Aquarium, Hakone Tokaido Checkpoint as well as visit the many local shops and nature walks that are accessible via here.

Temple-hop along Hakone Shrine

If you do head to Lake Ashi you can also visit the famous Hakone Shrine. It is famous for its tori gate situated as if it is “floating” in the water and is a popular photo spot

for visitors. There are also two other shrines nearby that are worth the visit – the nearby Kuzuryu Shrine as well as Hakone-Mototsumiya Shrine to see the best view of Mt Fuji (see my guide here).

Italy, Travel

The Ultimate Lago di Braies Travel Guide

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Italy - Lago Di Braies

 

As she plunged into the water
Crystal clear and deep
She realised that all her secrets
The fish would surely keep
Below the water’s surface
Her eyes open wide

In this underwater world
Her thoughts she wouldn’t have to hide
As she danced under the water
Her precious heart released its sheathe
In this palace below a sheet of glass
She could finally breathe…

By H.C.

 

Welcome to the Kingdom of the Fanes

 

For a place that looks like a fairytale with its crystal clear, blue-green waters and a stunning backdrop of the Croda del Becco, it’s only fitting that it comes with its own mythological legend right?  In fact the whole of the Dolomites is home to hundreds of stories and legends, but Lago Di Braies or Pragser Wildsee, is home to one of the most well known legends in the area: The Kingdom of the Fanes.

Lago Di Braies is one of the largest lakes in the Dolomites region and a UNESCO Heritage Site.  Considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, it’s not hard to imagine elves, faes, dwarves or an ancient kingdom once residing here.

Read on for your ultimate guide and find out why you should add the ‘Pearl of the Dolomite Lakes’ to your Italian travel itinerary! 

Italy - Lago Di Braies

The Legend of Lago Di Braies

 

Long ago, the area that is now the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature park, was home to a peaceful Kingdom in which its people were allied with marmots (a large native squirrel-type animal).  The Queen of the Fanes decided to marry a foreign king, who, craving power, took control of the kingdom.

Eager to expand his kingdom, the king turned his daughter, Dolasilla, into a powerful warrior.  In return for helping the dwarves, Dolasilla was gifted with invincible armour and unfailing arrows.  They warn her however, that the armour’s powers would disappear if she were to ever marry. After many conquests and expanding her kingdom, Dolasilla meets Ey de Net, an enemy warrior and the two fall in love. They decide to marry.

Fearing the end of his kingdom, the king opposes the marriage and betrays Dolasilla by selling her and his people to the enemy kingdom, in return for the entrance to the legendary land of plenty “Aurona”.  The king flees, but Dolasilla fights to save her people and is killed in battle.  The traitorous king is turned into stone and the surviving Fanes find shelter with the marmots living inside the mountains surrounding Lago Di Braies.  They continue to wait there until the silver trumpets sound, marking the rebirth of their Kingdom.

 

Italy - Lago Di Braies - Summer

 

Things to do

PLEASE NOTE: Lago di Braies is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, please do not litter or destroy nature.  Take all waste with you!

How to Use This Map: The map below is an interactive map you can use to find your preferred location.  To use the map, click the icon in the top left hand corner to slide open the navigation bar.  Here you can click on each location to navigate to it.

 

1. Go Hiking

If you’re an early riser like me and found yourself at Lago di Braies around 6am, then a morning hike might be just the idea for you – especially since a lot of the main activities don’t open until 10am.  The area is pretty much empty at this time so it’s the best time to skip the crowds and enjoy the scenic beauty in peace and quiet and…all to yourself!  The best kind of experience right?

The most easiest and well known hike is the route around the lake, which is suitable for adults and children over 7.  It is recommended to walk the route clockwise, finishing at the chapel for a slightly easier experience. The route takes you beneath a mountain, up and down a large amount of stairs and it does get quite high at times.  There is a wooden railing along some parts of the track as well.

Time to complete: 1.5 – 2 hours

Along the way, you will see paths diverging off – that’s because there are actually several hikes you can do from Lago Di Braies and a total of 34 hikes in the Braies valley all of varying difficulty. See below for a list of hikes and routes taken from the travel brochures I accumulated on my trip.

Italy - Lago Di Braies - Hiking Trails
Route Difficulty: Easy | Medium | Hard

Italy - Lago Di Braies - Hiking Trails

Italy - Lago Di Braies
During my walk around the lake!

 

2. Go Climbing

Another activity open at all hours is rock climbing.  Around Lago Di Braies, there are two main climbs, one is a fixed rope route and the other one is a climbing crag.

Fixed Rope Route (Via Ferrata) (8)
  • Difficulty: ★★
  • Walking Time: 6 hours
  • Level End Point: 2542m
  • Starting Point: Lago Di Braies
  • Descent Details:  Hike tail 61 to the Forcella di Braies/ Pragser Furkel gap and then continue onwards back to Lago Di Braies.
  • Description: This is a short, non difficult fixed rope route.  The route is in an isolated area with long rising and falling sections.  Good orientation skills required.
Climbing Crag (h)
  • Orientation: SW
  • Starting Point: Lago Di Braies Car Park
  • Approach time to the Climbing Crags: 30min walk
  • Family friendly
Italy - Lago Di Braies - Climbing Trails
Climbing tails near Lago Di Braies. (8) Via Ferratta trail and (H) Climbing Crag

 

3. Have a Picnic

With limited restaurants in the area and such a gorgeous setting, a day out in Lago Di Braies is the perfect excuse for a picnic!!  As you walk around the lake, you’ll notice a few picnic tables and sandbanks perfect for setting up a picnic and enjoying the sunshine!

 

4. Rent a boat and row in the lake

According to legend, the only way to reach the Fanes underground realm was to sail across Lago Di Braies by boat to the base of the Croda del Becco.

In fact, up until 100 years ago, the only way to reach the lake’s Southern shores was by boat.  Today, you can hire a traditional wooden row boat and relive the magical legends of the lake yourself.  If hiking isn’t your thing, then this is a fantastic way to experience the beauty of the area.

Boats are available to hire from June to September from 10am – 5pm every day.  They cost €15.00 for 1/2 an hour and €25.00 for 1 hour.

Italy - Lago Di Braies

 

5. Swimming & Fishing

These are two activities I did not know you could do at Lago Di Braies, but according to the official site you can!  Chill out in the sunshine and take your chances with a bit of fishing or, if you’re game enough, take a dive in the icy cold alpine water…I’d rather stick to the hiking and photography please.

 

6. Take Instagram worthy photos

This place is picture perfect for Instagram photos.  No matter which angle, sunshine or clouds, your photos will look stunning.  In fact I can only think of one thing that is likely to ruin your photos. People. A lot of them.  That’s right, Lago Di Braies gets extremely crowded and is a popular destination for numerous tour buses, tourists and locals.

The crowds are said to start from 9:30am, and knowing this I set out to arrive early.  I got to Lago Di Braies just after 6am which was made easy because I was literally staying in a hotel that was around 5 mins drive down the road (details below).  Arriving before 7am also meant cheap parking at only 2 euro!

Surprisingly, there were still a few people in the area at this time, mostly photographers, but also those looking to enjoy an early morning walk.  It was by no means crowded and I had the opportunity to take my time with photos and really enjoy it.

The only downside with arriving so early was that the Boat House was closed, so I missed out on taking some iconic photos of the boat house steps that lead down into the water and some shots from inside a boat.  However if you’re able to spend a day here, arriving early leaves enough time to capture photos, hike around the lake without the crowds and be back in time to catch a boat ride when they open at 10am!

Italy - Lago Di BraiesItaly - Lago Di Braies

5. Visit Lago Di Braies Chapel

There’s something so beautiful about Swiss style churches – and yes I know that we are in Italy, but the churches here are of the same style as in Switzerland.  This chapel was built in the first years of the 20th century and consecrated in 1904 to Our Lady of Sorrows.  It now belongs to Hotel Lago Di Braies and has important ties to World War II, but I’ll let you discover those for yourself ;)

Please note that the church is only able to be visited in Summer.

Italy - Lago Di Braies Chapel

 

When to Visit

 

Lago Di Braies is stunning all year round, but some seasons have a few more perks than others.  Visiting in summer gives you access to the traditional row boats and the chapel, both you cannot experience outside of the summer months.

I visited on June 12th and was happy to see some snow still left on the Croda del Becco.  I definitely think a touch of snow adds to the magic of the place!

 

Winter

 

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FYI – In the middle of winter, the lake is often frozen over and covered in snow.  Therefore you won’t be able to see the lake, the area will look completely white.

Summer

 

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Autumn

 

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Spring/Early Summer

 

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How to get there

 

Lago Di Braies is located in the Braies valley in the South Tyrolean Dolomites in Italy.

Getting to the Dolomites Region – Closest Airports

There is no direct flight to the Dolomites region, so the closest airports in Italy are Verona, Venice Marco Polo and Venice Treviso.  In Austria, the closest airports are Innsbruck, Salzburg and Klaenfurt with Munich being the closest in Germany.  From here you can easily drive, catch public transport or take a guided tour to Lago Di Braies.

Closest Airports to the Dolomites/Lago Di Braies
Closest Airports to the Dolomites/Lago Di Braies

 

Hire a Car

My preferred option when travelling not only because it’s comfortable, but it gives you a whole heap of freedom, it’s reliable and most importantly, it saves time.  Having a car also means you can beat the crowds! If you’re travelling in peak season, you could get away without having a car because public transport is frequent and reliable, but if you’re visiting outside of peak season, I definitely recommend hiring a car.

Driving in this beautiful region was an absolutely wonderful experience. It is so stunning.  I hired a car from Venice Marco Polo Airport and the drive was simple.  There are tolls on this route and working out how to pay for them on the fly was slightly difficult, but I was able to figure it out in the end.

I used GoogleMaps to navigate and simply typed in “Lago Di Braies” as the destination, or you could use the map I’ve created earlier in this post and navigate to one of the parking areas instead.

Here’s how long the drive takes from various destinations:

  • From Venice: Just under a 3 hour drive taking the A27 and SS51
  • From Verona: 3 hour drive
  • From Innsbruck: 2 hours drive
  • From Brunico: 35 minutes drive taking the SS49

 

Public Transport

From Venice Airport, there is a direct “FlixBus” to Dobbiaco, where the central bus station in the Dolomites is located.  Here you can catch a local bus 442 (purple line on map below) directly to Lago Di Braies. The total journey will take around 4.5 hours.

The 442 also passes Dobbiaco and Villabassa Stations, so if you’re coming by train, you can transfer from either to get to Lago Di Braies.  Villabassa Station may be a quicker alternative if travelling by train from the Brunico direction (Verona, Innsbruck or Munich airports).

Bus 442 roughly comes every 30mins in peak season and costs 3 euro per person.  Children under 6 ride free and furry friends are welcome. This site in general is great for finding your way around the Dolomites region by bus: http://www.sii.bz.it/en and also has some phone numbers you can contact if you have any problems.

Download 442 Timetable

If you have downloaded the timetable, here’s what the following symbols mean:

(1) Services running from 24.6 to 16.9 only

(7) Service not running on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays from 3.4

(S) Service running on school days only

(X) Service running on weekends only

(C) Services running from 24.12 to 2.4 only

(Half coloured square) Services run on weekdays except Saturday.

 

Shuttle Service

If you prefer, there is also a shuttle service from Monguelfo train station directly to the lake. This costs 3 euro pp, children under 6 ride free and furry friends are welcome.

Dolomites Bus Network Map
Dolomites Bus Network Map. You can see bus 442 to Lago Di Braies is coloured in purple.
Dolomite Train Timetable
Dolomite Train Timetable

 

LAGO DI BRAIES ACCOMODATION

 

I stayed at Albergo Steinerhof which I enjoyed.  The inn also has it’s own restaurant where you can buy lunch or dinner. Best of all, Albergo Steinerhof is located only 5 mins drive from Lago Di Braies.  My stay included free breakfast which I thought was impressive (image below).  There was a selection of colds meats, cheese, bread, croissants, jams and other spreads, cereals and fruits. There was also free wifi.

The lady who runs the hotel is lovely.  Although she doesn’t speak English, she tries her best to understand and communicate with you.

Italy - Lago Di Braies - Hotel Albergo Steinerhof
Photo from booking.com

Italy - Lago Di Braies - Hotel Albergo Steinerhof

 

GENERAL INFO

PRICE

  • Free entry to the Lago Di Braies
  • Paid carpark –  Before 7am 2 euros, 7-5pm 6-8 euro, after 5pm 4 euro.  Parking is located very close to the lake, refer to image below for a visual reference.  The map earlier in this post provides a location reference to the parking.

OPENING HOURS

  • Open all year round

FACILITIES

  • Dogs and pets are allowed, but you must pick up after them.
  • Toilet facilities are available at the southern most part of the lake and inside Hotel Lago Di Braies.
  • Food at the site is limited, with the closest being available from Hotel Lago Di Braies.  It is recommended to bring your own food, or you can find a restaurant in a nearby town.
  • Lago Di Braies is stroller and disabled friendly when accessed via the carpark.  Hiking around the lake is not possible with strollers or people with limited walking ability as there are many steps and steep areas.
Hotel Lago Di Braies and Parking
Hotel Lago Di Braies, shot from one of the parking areas. You can see a parking sign to the right of this photo.
What’s the most beautiful lake you’ve visited?

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below!

 

Japan, Travel

Day Guide to the Oshino Hakkai Springs

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THE SPRING OF THE GODS

Getting to travel around the Mount Fuji area is a real treat! The area’s history reads just like a fairytale and the origins of Oshino, a village famed for their eight clear blue springs, is so rich in folklore and natural beauty I just had to share. 

Oshino and its famous springs are collectively known as “Oshino Hakkai” and are listed as a World Heritage Site. Though it is a very popular tourist site and teaming with visitors especially during the weekends, you can still feel relaxed walking in the open air and seeing the springs during any season will make you stop and appreciate the scenic nature that surrounds it. 

It is a place regarded to have traditional holy ties to the gods that many in the past used it as a site for pilgrimage and after reading this day guide, you’ll want to add ‘The Spring of the Gods’ to your Japan itinerary too!

 

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ABOUT THE EIGHT PONDS

WAKU-IKE POND AND NAKA-IKE POND

The most volume of spring water and the best scenery

Waku-Ike is the pond that greets you at the center of the village and reflects the ever-changing scenery on its surface as you walk by. With its quality of water and central location, its a great representation of Oshino Hakkai’s best.  Mixed with the clarity of the water and the perfect position of the background, it also has one of the best scenic shots with Mount Fuji in the background. Alternatively, for those who missed seeing Mount Fuji in the background, the pond’s mirror effect also creates the illusion of the pond’s ‘nijimasu’ fish swimming in the sky.

Legend tells long ago when Mt. Fuji erupted, people suffered greatly from a burning fever. As their homes and fields burnt their thirst grew and the people’s cry for water spread throughout the earth to the heavens. The female deity of life granted the people’s wish for water and created the pond.

Naka-Ike pond, on the other hand, is actually artificially made and accessible through the souvenir shop funnily enough. Despite this, it is still beautiful to pass and peer into its depths. 

Photo Credit: https://kinarino.jp (website)

Sokonashi-ike Pond

The bottomless pond

It is said long ago that carelessly washing anything in this pond will be taken straight out of your hands by the pond’s whirlpool and lost forever. However, it is also said 

that it can reappear a short time later rising to the surface in another spring called Okama-Ike pond. There is a belief handed down within the villages’ people that washing things in this pond is to buy God’s wrath. You can find this spring behind the Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan Museum.

Deguchi-ike pond

Pond of miraculous water and the biggest in Hakkai

The water from this pond is sacred. Nicknamed ‘miracle clean water,’ it was used to purify the pilgrims and their wounds before their pilgrimage. It is still strongly

believed that carrying this spring’s water up Mount Fuji will ensure a safe journey. It is the furthest away from the village (‘deguchi’ means ‘exit’) and features an Inari Shinto shrine in the forest that overlooks the pond.

Okama-Ike pond

Small but abundant in clear water

The smallest pond in Oshino Hakkai it is named ‘okama’ meaning ‘pot’ in English because of how the water bubbles up to the surface just like boiling water in a pot.

The pond also has another name ‘Giant Frog Pond’ because of an old folklore of a girl who was dragged into this pond by a giant frog living at the bottom. It is said that things which are lost float to the surface.

CHOSHI-IKE POND

The pond of love knots

Easy to miss, this pond is hidden on an off-path along the riverside behind the Hannoki Museum’s grass meadow and is a great example of how the springs work in action. It takes a few tries to find and spot it but, if you look down at the bottom of the pond you will see a pocket of sand which ‘boils.’ This is how the 

underground water filters into the ponds! 

The legend behind the name is a funny yet sad tale of a newly wedded bride who farted so bad in the middle of her wedding (yes, I kid you not) she threw herself into the pond out of embarrassment embracing her love knot. The only thing remaining of her was her sandals reflecting from the bottom.

Kagami-ike Pond

Reflections of Mount Fuji

Legend says this lake has the spiritual power to distinguish between the good and

evil in all things. The stillness of the water in this pond also creates a mirror effect which reflects an inverted Mount Fuji on its surface.

Photo Credit: www.yamanashi-kankou.jp (website)

Shobu-ike Pond

Where tradition remains and the sweet flags grow

Located near Kagami-Ike pond, Shobu-Ike is named after the beds of sweet flags

(flowering water plants that bloom purple, white or yellow iris petals) that surrounds it. The local legend is that illness can be cured if you rub the iris onto your body.

8. Nigori-ike Pond

The murky water that turns crystal clear in a glass

Although all the ponds appear to be flowing clear water, Nigori-Ike pond ironically is called ‘unclean’ or ‘impure’ for a reason.

The story is that in the beginning this pond was very clear and was used as drinking water by the townspeople when one day a beggar looking pilgrim who was passing

by asked the landlord for a glass of water to drink. The landlord refused and as soon as she did, the pond turned forever muddy and would only turn clear when scooped into a glass.

The more err, I guess, ‘scientific’ reason is the spring at the bottom of the pond gushes only a small volume of spring water continuously. So while it appears muddy at first glance, it turns beautiful and clear in small quantities when scooped out.

How to Use This Map: The map below is an interactive map you can use to find your preferred location.  To use the map, click the icon in the top left-hand corner to pop open the navigation bar.  Here you can click on each location to navigate to it.

WHAT TO DO

Test the cold waters

Close to the centre of Oshino Hakkai’s shopping area, there is a water feature that reads “Water Melted from Mount Fuji’s Snow” where you can feel how icy cold the

spring water really is. Try to see if you can stick your hand in for 30 seconds because it is seriously cold AF!

DRINK FROM THE SOURCE

With all this talk about clear beautiful water, it’s only natural you would want to try it out for yourself! Head into the souvenir shop and on the way to the Naka-Ike pond you will see a waterfall fountain on your right with natural spring water flowing

water flowing for you to drink or take home. The water thanks to the natural filtration of the lava underground is safe to drink as it is and the shop also sells empty water bottles on hand.

 

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MAKING FISH FRIENDS

At certain spots within the main area of Oshino Hakkai you can find boxes selling fish food to feed the many nijimasu trout which swim in the ponds. By far the most interesting ones are the yellow and blue coloured nijimasu which are super vibrant even in the water. 

You can also try to “touch” the passing fish at the Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan Museum which is more challenging than it seems but an interesting past-time game to play if you are up for a challenge.

At the Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan Museum, try your hand at touching the nijimasu that swim by. It’s not as easy as it sounds!

Spot the fish with the human face

Near the Naka-Ike pond area, you’ll see a sign that mentions a gold coloured nijimasu whose pattern resembles a human face on well, it’s own face!

See if you can spot it out.

EXPLORE HANNOKI BAYASHI SHIRYOKAN MUSEUM

For a small fee, you can enter the Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan Museum, an opened museum featuring a traditional thatched roof farmhouse displaying various artifacts such as farming tools, household items, and even weapons.

Don’t forget to check out the staircase that leads onto the rooftop of the museum’s entrance to get a panoramic view of the main area of Oshino Hakkai or if you’re lucky enough, it’s a great vantage point to see Mount Fuji in the background – usually, fog gets in the way!

Mount Fuji in the background when the sky is clear! Photo Credit: www.fun-japan.jp (website)

What to eat

Oshino has some great produce thanks to its incredibly clean water and fertile soil and is famous for their corn, soba, and tofu. 

Here’s my breakdown of the best regional foods to try while you’re visiting:

Soba and Houtou

Oshino produces some great soba noodles but visiting the Yamanashi area is not complete without eating their famous houtou noodles. More similar to udon noodles, it’s a special flat wheat noodle cooked with vegetables in hot miso broth.

We ate at 御食事処 いろり (Oshokujidoro Irori) located very close to Oshino Hakkai (see the location on the interactive map).

Yomogi and Kushi Dango

When I’m in the mountain areas of Japan it has become an unspoken tradition of mine to eat dango or mochi. In Oshino there are two types to try: yomogi or Japanese mugwort mochi has a nice ‘grass’ aroma and is filled with sweet red bean

paste while kushi dango is grilled rice balls flavoured with sweet soy sauce. It sounds like a strange combination but if you like the distinctive sticky flavour of Marmite you’ll definitely enjoy this treat!

Satsuma-age

Although it’s a specialty of Kyushu’s Kagoshima, there is a great satsuma-age food store in Oshino Hakkai near the souvenir shop. Satsuma-age is a fried fishcake made from fish paste and flour. There are many different varieties offered at the main

souvenir shop leading to Naka-Iku pond including chili squid, scallop mayo and prawn with pumpkin and veggies.

Pickles, miso, and Tofu

Fresh tofu is incredibly smooth and creamy but in Oshino they put an extra twist to the classic staple and served it with a pickled spicy miso paste which tastes amazing! If you are a pickle addict like I am there are more than 50 kinds of pickles to be found 

at the souvenir shop for you to taste-test and devour happily like the Mayor in the Powerpuff Girl.

HOW TO GET THERE

HIRE A CAR

With so much to see and do within the surrounding the area the best way to experience it all conventionally is to get a car. Google Maps and Apple Maps in Japan both work well in English and Japanese and makes driving a breeze if you are not familiar with the local language. Additionally, most rent-a-cars in Japan are equipped with an inbuilt navigation system should you not have access to the internet while traveling.

Another tip, since you will be traveling towards the Mount Fuji area which is a popular day trip spot during the weekends try to beat the traffic by arriving at around 10 AM if possible. From the car park (see interactive map for details), it’s only a 5-minute walk to Oshino Hakkai by foot.

Interested in renting a car? Toyota Rent a Car has services in English (as well as Chinese, Thai, and Korean) and you can book online here.

ARRIVING BY BUS

There are two main ways to take the bus to get to Oshino Hakkai (from Fast Japan):

1. From Shinjuku Station, take the Chuo Expressway bus (100 minutes) → at FujiQ Highland change buses. Take the Chuo Expressway bus (40 minutes) → Oshino Hakkai.

2. From Tokyo Station, take the Express Bus (120 minutes) → Mount Fuji Station, change buses → Fuji Kyuko Route Bus (15 minutes) → Oshino Hakkai

GENERAL INFORMATION

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Japan, Travel

The Best View of Mount Fuji

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See a Cotton Candy Mount Fuji at Hakone-Mototsumiya Shrine

or anyone travelling to Japan, Mount Fuji is a must-see. With its iconic blue slopes and white peaks, it is the symbol of Japan’s heart, and its cultural and artistic significance is perfectly captured in numerous scenic photos. The question is, what is the best photogenic place to see Mount Fuji?

For anyone travelling to Japan, Mount Fuji is a must-see. With its iconic blue slopes and white peaks, it is the symbol of Japan’s heart, and its cultural and artistic significance is perfectly captured in numerous scenic photos.

The question is, where is the best place to see Mount Fuji?

I often thought about this myself. However, I’m not after not any average-looking iPhone photo. I wanted a one-of-a-kind experience with this giant mountain. And I found it, a beautiful moment with Mount Fuji floating amongst the clouds in a changing blue and purple sunset near a traditional mountain shrine.

Want to know where? Come with me on a quest to reconnect with nature and spiritual wonder as I reveal where I took my cotton candy-coloured photo of Japan’s most iconic mountain.

With skies so clear you can “touch” the top of Mount Fuji.

When to go for the best view

elieve it or not, a view of Mount Fuji isn’t as easy as you might think.

To ensure your trip is worth it, there are a few things to consider

about seeing Mount Fuji before heading off to the Hakone region:

SEASON

Depending on when you visit the different seasons will also affect what Mount Fuji will look like in the distance. For me, Mount Fuji looks the best with its snow cap so winter, autumn, and early spring are the best time as summertime is way too hot for the snow to form.

I took these photos in late December and the winter climate had the perfect conditions for the perfect view. The skies in Japan are much clearer during the wintertime and the sunset’s glow also casts beautiful pastel colours onto the mountain.

WEATHER

Another factor to consider is the weather. Mount Fuji tends to hide in any cloud cover or haze probably caused by the city during the day. Going on a clear day that has

measured cloud cover under 10% is ideal for optimal visibility. Check the hourly weather forecast of the Hakone area to help prepare when to go.

TIME

Mount Fuji also can only be seen during the early morning and late afternoons. The sweet spot to go to Hakone-Mototsumiya Shrine to see the sunset is between around

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM in winter. Try to get there a little earlier as the cable car to go to the top can be crowded.

Summer View

 

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Spring View

 

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Winter View

 

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Autumn View

 

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Other Places of Interest

lthough Hakone-Mototsumiya Shrine is the original shrine, it is, in fact, one of three shrines that collectively make “Hakone Shrine.”

The two other spiritual places located at the base of Mount Komagatake are Kuzuryu Shrine and the “newer” Hakone Shrine.

The newer Hakone Shrine is instantly recognizable because of its popular waterfront

tori gate built in Lake Ashi. It is said to worship a 9-headed dragon god that lives at the bottom of the lake where the tori gate stands. The water that surrounds Mount Hakone is also said to have cleansing properties and the shrine sells bottles of the clean water to take home called 龍神水 or Dragon God Water.

The other shrine, Kuzuryu Shrine, is a good luck shrine for money and business but it is also popular for women as a shrine for marriage success.

How to Get To Hakone Mototsumiya Shrine

Use the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway 
箱根駒ヶ岳ロープウェー

Adult: Round-trip 1080 yen One-way 640 yen
Child: Round-trip 540 yen One-way 330 yen

Starts at 9:10AM (both directions). Ends at 4:30PM (ascent) and 4:50PM (descent).
The ropeway operates every 20 minutes (during busy times every 10 minutes).

If you want to know how to get to the other shrines mentioned, you can use our handy interactive map below.

Hike to the Top

If you are feeling adventurous and want to hike up Mount Komagatake, here is a map of the walking trail from nearby Owakudani Valley and the scenic spots you can see on the way.

How to Use This Map: The map above is an interactive map you can use to find your preferred location.  To use the map, click the icon in the top left-hand corner to pop open the navigation bar.  Here you can click on each location to navigate to it.