Gujo

Originally, I thought it would be a day trip on a large tour bus, but it turned out to be a small group tour with 9 seats. The driver, Kobayashi, was very attentive and contacted me the day before. Remember to leave your contact information so he can reach you easily. If you want a relaxed trip without a large group, you can consider this option. You'll need to do some research on local food and drinks, as there isn't much information about the attractions. We were lucky enough to have snow in the Gassho-zukuri village in March. I highly recommend this trip; you don't need to worry too much about transportation.

The bus booking includes a one-day cable car ticket. It's recommended to add a combined ticket to the Takashiro Ski Resort package for only 500 yen. Otherwise, skiing to the other side and needing to return is a hassle. You can take a free shuttle bus, but the wait is long, and the cable car back there also costs 500 yen. So, just add it to your booking.

It's rare to find a tour that includes a visit to the old street. There's a shop inside that makes food samples—they have so many realistic food magnets, ornaments, and decorations! Be careful with your wallet! 3.5 hours is more than enough time to explore the pastoral village. At the end of February, there wasn't much snow left, just skateboards and donuts, so we ended up just looking for places to kill time. If there's more snow, 3.5 hours would be just right. The animals, including the cows, sheep, and horses, seemed very well cared for. You can buy feed to feed them. Milk and pudding are must-try items; many people buy pudding ice cream. Since I didn't bring snow gloves, I bought them there. I suggest not buying five-finger gloves as they're not very comfortable! This time, it was a small, charming tour led by Xiao Lu, who also served as the guide and driver. I'm grateful he got everyone safely to their destination; the whole bus slept on the return trip! 😆 ⭕ Oh, and no eating on the bus!! This was my first time experiencing a hot spring. Since the entrance fee to Morigago no Sato included the hot spring, I went anyway, albeit hesitantly. Although there were signs in both Chinese and English, I was still afraid of making a mistake, so I secretly observed how the Japanese people stored their belongings. Towels and bath towels could be rented at the counter and returned next to the shoe lockers. The lockers for taking off shoes didn't require coins, but the lockers for clothes and other personal items cost 100 yen. I was shocked to find myself completely naked in front of the lockers! Then I went into the bathing area to shower before soaking. Towels could be tied around your head (because hair shouldn't be in the water). A very enjoyable and rewarding trip! ❄️

We joined a day trip on February 16th. Our tour guide, Ms. Sun, arranged the itinerary very well, giving us ample time for each stop. Our fellow travelers were also very punctual (thumbs up!). The kids had a blast at the Pastoral Village, and the snow banana boats were great (only once!). The donut-shaped snow tubs and skis were endless fun. The Gassho-zukuri village was beautiful. We had a 2.5-hour stop, but unfortunately, I spent some time at the Pudding House and the yakiniku (grilled meat skewers). If I hadn't spent that time, we could have explored more leisurely. The return trip was smooth with no traffic, and we were back at the station before 5:30 PM. This day trip is highly recommended for families with children who want to enjoy snow activities and beautiful scenery!