Nagano

I won a hot spring trip in a contest, and my destination is Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. On the way, I visited Matsumoto Castle and enjoyed Shinshu soba noodles at "Yamato" for lunch. At Togura Kamiyamada Onsen Yamafuso, I relaxed in the hot springs and washed away the day's sweat. Tomorrow, I'll go grape picking in Shiojiri, have lunch along the way, and then head home.

For those who don't drive but still want to explore the classic hidden gems of Itoshima, I chose the KK Day tour, which eliminates the hassle of transportation between points on the island. Our guide for the day was Helen Tan, who introduced each attraction and led us through them (such as the Totoro Forest). She also kindly helped us take photos, creating wonderful memories. Thank you, Helen Tan, with her sweet smile!

It was a rainy weekend in the Tokyo metropolitan area, so I headed to the Komagatake Ropeway in search of blue skies 🚡 The flower season is over, but I enjoyed the refreshing blue sky and the dynamic view of the sea of clouds and mountains 🤩 After descending the mountain, I enjoyed a variety of local beers and the famous katsudon with sauce at the Minami Shinshu Beer direct-operated restaurant near Komagane Station 😋 I also washed away the sweat at Komakusa no Yu hot spring and bought some fruit at the Komagane Farms direct sales store, making it a truly fulfilling day 🍎 I'll have to come back soon to see the autumn leaves at their peak!

The driver will add you on Line beforehand and provide contact information. On the day of the trip, the driver arrived at the agreed hotel on time. The car was very comfortable and clean.

This trip was made possible by choosing a chartered car service; the entire experience exceeded expectations! The chartered car tour was fantastic! The driver was punctual, reliable, friendly, and a first-rate driver, so there was absolutely no worry about getting lost or getting stuck in traffic. The car was clean and the seats were comfortable. The itinerary was flexible, allowing us to rest whenever we got tired, truly enjoying a vacation! The car was clean and spacious, with powerful air conditioning, so even on long journeys, we weren't fatigued. The itinerary was well-planned and followed our pace perfectly, so we didn't have to rush and had a very relaxing time. It was excellent value for money!

Karuizawa is quite a long drive, taking almost 6 hours round trip. I recommend staying overnight in Karuizawa so your trip won't be too rushed. Unfortunately, we encountered a wedding at the Kogen Chapel and Stone Chapel and couldn't go inside, which was a real shame. I suggest avoiding weekdays as the chapels are less active!

Every time I go to Tokyo, I use the airport transfer service. It's a point-to-point service, so I don't have to drag my large luggage around and take public transportation to the airport. The car is always very clean and new, the driver is polite and will help me load my luggage into the vehicle. The ride is stable and reassuring. It's a trustworthy service, and I highly recommend using the airport transfer service.