Category: 旅のしおり / COLO’s Traveler Guide

Article of this trip can be found here.

Times and other information are based on the timetable at the time of the visit.

Day 1

Tokyo 1340 (Toki 323) > Jomo Kogen 1443
Jomo Kogen Station 1450 (bus) > Yubiso Onsen Town 1523

Overnight stay: Yubinoso Onsen Nakaya

Tips for Day 1
– It takes about 1 hour from Tokyo to Jomo Kogen by Shinkansen. The time required is not much different from taking the Chuo Line to Mt. Takao, but there are reserved seats on Shinkansen and it is comfortable. The double-decker Shinkansen, which I used to hate because of my claustrophobia, has been eliminated, and current train even has GranClass option if you want. Mt. Tanigawa has a strong image of accidents related to rock climbing in the past, but there is also a ropeway, so it actually has an easy access.
– The buses between Jomo Kogen Station and Tanigawadake Ropeway are easy to use, which is surprising considering the numbers of trains available on the Joetsu Line especially north of Minakami.
– As I wrote in my previous blog, the Western-style food at “Nakaya” is excellent. For an extra charge, you can order carrot soup for dinner, which was also excellent. It would be best if they had a half bottle of wine on the liquor menu.

Day 2

Yubiso Onsen Town 0909 (bus) > Tanigawa-dake Ropeway 0920

– Ropeway to Tenjin Pass for trekking

Tanigawadake Ropeway 1120 (bus) > Minakami Station 1143

Lunch: Soba Restaurant Kubota

Minakami Station 1248 (bus) > Jomo Kogen Station 1313
Jomo Kogen 1325 (Toki 320) > Omiya 1403
Omiya > Yokohama

Tips for Day 2
– I was able to take an earlier bus than expected from Mt. Tanigawa ropeway, so I tried to change my return Shinkansen one train ahead, but it was fully booked due to the summer vacation period. To kill time, I got off the bus halfway and went to a soba (buckwheat noodle) restaurant in front of Minakami Station. The lady in the hall was wonderful.
– I was back home when I noticed that there was a cafe at Doai Station, where is famous for its tunnel.

Day 1

Tokyo 0632 (Shinkansen Hayabusa 1) >> Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 1053
Shin-Hakodate Hokuto (JR Hakodate Liner) 1104 >> Hakodate 1120

Lunch: Gotoken

Gotoken 1330 (Shuttle bus) >> Hotel Keifu 1430

Overnight stay: Hotel Keifu

Tips for Day 1
– When I stayed at Hotel Keifu, I was told that I could choose any pick-up and drop-off point within Hakodate City, so I took advantage and asked to pick-up from Gotoken. Gotoken is famous for its curry.
– Hotel Keifu is located in what where was once Todohokke Village before it was merged with Hakodate City. The fishing port of Todohokke is about a 20-minute walk from the hotel. It is a nice place to stay.

Day 2

Hotel Keifu (shuttle bus) >> Hotel Hakodate Hirome-so

Overnight stay: Hotel Hakodate Hirome-so

Day 3

Hotel Hakodate Hirome-so 0830 (Shuttle bus) >> Onuma Park 0915

– Onuma Park Boat

Onuma Park 1208 (Express Hokuto) >> Hakodate 1234

– Mt. Hakodate
– Goryokaku Tower

Dinner: Sushi Restaurant Kihara

Hakodate 1930 (Japan Airlines JAL588) >> Haneda 2100

Tips for Day 3
– Since the Hotel Hakodate Hirome-so included Nanae Town in its shuttle drop-off area, I asked the hotel take us to Onuma Park. I was grateful for that.
– We took the JR Hokkaido train from Onuma Park to Hakodate. The number of local trains are very few, but the limited express stops there, so it is rather convenient.
– Thanks to the limited express, I was able to get back to Hakodate City earlier, so headed for both Mount Hakodate and Goryokaku Tower. From Hakodate JR Station to Hakodate Ropeway Station was about 1,000 yen by a cab. The last time I visited Hakodate, I had walked during the winter season. At the time, I thought it would be difficult to climb the hill with snow, but I realized that snow was not the only reason for the difficulty. The uphill was too hard in a dry season, and it was an extremely economic to pay 1,000 yen (and save time too).

Times listed are the timetables at the time of the visit.

Day 1

Tokyo Haneda 0125 (Japan Airlines JAL079) >> Ho Chi Minh City 0515
Ho Chi Minh City 0745 (VetJet VJ302) >> Hue 0910

– Tomb of Khải Định
– Tomb of Minh Mang
– Thien Mu Temple

Dinner: Madam Thu Restaurant

Overnight stay: Saigon Morin Hotel

Tips for the 1st day
– I was able to use Grab at Hue airport. The app indicated that the pick-up point was at the arrival exit, but it seemed that Grab pick-up in the airport was officially not allowed. I had to go to the parking lot. There was what looked like a cab counter at the baggage claim, so I guess I should have used that.

Day 2

– Dong Ba Market
– Hue Royal Palace

Dinner: Ancient Hue Garden Houses

Tips for Day 2
– I had a dinner at a restaurant in a luxury hotel. If you order a set menu, you can borrow a traditional court costumes for dinner. It was a bit embarrassing, so I gave up wearing of it in 10 minutes.

Day 3

– An Cuu Market
– An Dinh Palace

Hue 1310 (VetJet VJ305) >> Ho Chi Minh City 1435

Overnight stay: Hotel Majestic Saigon

Dinner: ANAN SAIGON

Tips for Day 3
– This might be an old info but I heard that there were three Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam. Two of them are in Hanoi and only one in Ho Chi Minh City. I was able to get a reservation. The testing menu is a modern version on local traditional dishes from all over Vietnam. It was innovative and delicious.

Day 4

– Ho Thi Ky Flower Market
– Thai Binh Market
– Ton That Dang Market
– Thanh Dinh Church
– Central Post Office

– Bar W

Ho Chi Minh City 2320 (Japan Airlines JAL070) >> Haneda 0650+

Tips for the 4th day
– I wanted to go to a water temple in the afternoon, but I was exhausted by the summer heat after visiting the markets in the morning, so I decided not to. I left luggage at the hotel and went sightseeing in the city, using a bench at the air-conditioned Takashimaya Department Store as base. Probably of all the shopping centers in all of Vietnam, the air conditioning in this Takashimaya is the best. Even for staying longer hours from time to time, I hope to be forgiven because I bought a long-sleeved shirt and some souvenirs.
– The Takashimaya has a UNIQLO store. I bought domestically made shirts; I have never thought to buy domestically made product at UNIQLO. I was impressed by a small exhibit on the working environment of factory employees.
– The person who used to own a bar at Yanaka in Tokyo has now moved to Ho Chi Minh City. I had been the bar only once when I lived nearby, but some bartenders introduced the new place to me. Just one step from a Vietnamese hustle and bustle alley, I found myself in an authentic Japanese bar. I heard interesting stories about the difficulty of making cocktails with local fruits.