After checking out of the wonderful Yumoto Chouza, we had the day at our leisure to explore the Okuhida area before heading to our next ryokan which was conveniently only around 5 minutes away anyway.
First up we headed to Hirayu Waterfall, I am used to seeing waterfalls by driving down dirt tracks and walking on muddy pathways with a small platform at the end. Visiting waterfalls in Japan though, seems to be a completely different experience altogether. First of all, we reach the carpark and... the carpark has a vending machine... then we walk towards the waterfall but first have to pass through an information centre and some food stalls. Not only are there more vending machines in this out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-nature-reserve, but there are speakers pumping out disney-like background music! Its like they have a little waterfall theme park. In this area there is also a large hot spring food bath - I decided to dip my feet in while bf chomped on skewers and stank like rotten eggs for the rest of the day. But hey - my stinky feet were oh so smooth & relaxed.
now thats convenient!
hot springs foot bath
A short walk up we reached the waterfall. It was not huge and spectacular compared to other waterfalls out there, but it was the prettiest waterfall I have ever seen!
random tour group shot
After Hirayu Waterfall we drove past the sad 'Bear Park' sign, trying to ignore that the bear park existed and that some countries have not reached the same level of animal care as others. We headed to Shinhotaka Ropeway, which has a double decker gondola and takes you up to a station of 2,200m altitude. Bf was actually quite scared about the idea of going up a ropeway, claiming it was 'unsafe' and 'too cold'. This is apparently the male way of saying 'I am shit scared of heights but am too embarrassed to admit it.' There were a few other attractions in the area; national parks, rivers, hot springs, caves - but I really wanted to go up the ropeway. We came up with a compromise. The ropeway was not far from our next Ryokan so how about we just go and check it out and if we dont want to go up, we can just check in to our room. Reluctantly, bf drove towards the Northern Alps of Japan.
Obviously... I got my way :)
lunch at the Hirayu bus terminal before take off
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