Driving Trip in Japan

Pris · 2006-01-12 14:44

Here comes the budget (in HK dollars = RM:

Accomodation: $4000 ( including most breakfast and dinner, adjusted accomodation as above update schedule)

Transportation: $2000 (Car rental/Highway/Petrol + Tokyo city + Airport etc. and calculate base on 3 persons shared cost)

Meals: $1000 (Lunch x 9 + Breakfast x 1 + Dinner x 1 + Snack)

Main portion already HK$7000 so expect total around HK$10000 for the whole trip, $3000 for extra meals, unexpected expenses, etc.)

Pris · 2006-08-08 12:49

Sorry for belated photo sharing! It was indeed a very very enjoyable trip, something you can't experience by joining tours and that's how we're so crazy for independent travelling! For first 7 days we went snowboarding in Hakuba area...............

Snowboarding is very popular for young ppl, of course including me,

Ski Resort

Church bells under the old trees

Winter Sonata

Pris · 2006-08-08 13:43

This is an exciting yet relaxing week coz in day time we snowboard around the different mountains and at night we relax in Hotel and "Onsen"......

Outside of hotel

Lobby, very warm home feelings

Hallway / Corridor

Onsen

Dinner

Bar area, where we can have a chat/party after dinner

Pris · 2006-08-08 13:57

At night everyone just gather and have party, sure beer and snack is a must!

Who needs refrigerator? Just put the beer outside!

Various kinds of fruit beer

No need to make ice, just grap the snow outside at balcony

Pris · 2006-08-08 14:05

After seperating with the group of 30 snowboarders three of us started our planned driving trip!

Pris · 2006-08-08 14:09

First stop is Mastumoto

to be cont'...........

Pris · 2006-08-09 12:20

2nd stop is Omachi, we visit there coz during that period they have candle lights / fireworks / fire-prayer / Taiko drum festivals.....villagers lights up candles on the streets at night, fireworks over the river & they fire some straw status to pray for good fortune in comming year. Ppl from other villages will come to celebrate with whole families and they are very nice to visitors too, after the festivals they greet us with rice-cakes and hot sake.

Kamakura, fun for the kids, at night they light candles inside

Candle lights everywhere at night, it's so so so romantic!

Straw status farmers build to pray for good harvest At night they start the fire, after it's totally burn down then they'll play drum and fireworks, and then everyone share the rice-cakes and sake! The atmosphere is full of joy and laughters.

Hotel room

Typical Japanese dinner

Pris · 2006-08-09 12:33

3rd stop is Suwa lake area, there're many kinds of museums along the lakes and the scenery is awesome.

Lakes after sunset

fozen lakes

local streets, cars have to use "snow tires"

Pris · 2006-08-09 12:46

4th stop is Kiso area which is the most memorable area to us coz all the villages "well reserved" from EDO periods. Hope we could learn to treasure our historical achitectures and well reserved our treasure villages in China too .

Clear direction signs on the streets

Old historical bridges

Cafe run by local ppl, it's amazing that eventhough the house is over 300 years old but still kept in good condition

Local streets, locals live in houses over 300 years old but you're amazed they're so CLEAN and WARM!

Pris · 2006-08-09 12:59

The other areas we visited are Shirakabako, Karuizawa, Kobuchisawa, etc......

In between different stops we have to drive 2 to 4 hours. The highway system is good and many nice scenery on the road.

Between stops we always can stop-over and recharge at these local farmer shops.

Highway pay gate