Kaikake Onsen — Hotel in Yuzawa

Adding Kaikake Onsen to my itinerary was a great decision, although my plan to Ishiuchi Maruyama snowpark was canceled because there was no any free shuttle bus at the afternoon. The scenery of this onsen is nowhere else to find. I took two hours soaking myself, just because I like the feeling of the cold and warm while watching the snow falls. I was also having lunch break in the restaurant before going back to the onsen for another hour. Basically Kaikake Onsen is a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).||The journey take quite a while, but my time was worth it all (from Tokyo to Echigo Yuzawa station by shinkansen is 90 minutes, from Echigo Yuzawa bus stop to Kaikake Onsen bus stop is 20 minutes, then another ride from the bus stop to Kaikake Onsen is 5 minutes). Since I'm using JR Pass, it is much easier taking or making sear reservation for shinkansen. I alight from Ueno Station to Echigo Yuzawa Station. The shinkansen was a double-decker, I picked the top level so I can have a better view. By the time I arrive Echigo Yuzawa station, I asked the lady from the tourist center how to go to Kaikake Onsen. She handed me a bus information that explain which bus to take and which stop to alight, she even made a phone call to Kaikake Onsen that I will reach there by 11am so that I can be picked up by them. Then I go to the bus stop outside Echigo Yuzawa station. I have to pay ¥400 to make a stop at Kaikake Onsen bus stop. When arriving at Kaikake Onsen bus stop, there was a minibus carrying passenger from Kaikake Onsen also waiting for the bus. After then, I greeted and asked by the driver to go in the minibus for a short journey to Kaikake Onsen.||On my arrival, I believe that I was greeted by the owner, and I also smell a strong scent room aromatherapy. I also have asked to take off my shoes and exchange to their wooden shoes. I paid ¥1,000 for the onsen and ¥300 for big towel. After that, the owner showed me the way how to go to the onsen. There was no one in the onsen when I came, as I was the first guest. And the snow isn't falling yet. There is indoor onsen too, if you feel that the outdoor one isn't warm enough. But there are two different type of warm at the outdoor onsen. Photography is allowed by consideration (e.g. when there is no guest). I took my first hour in the onsen to experience the less warmer one. Then I took a break for another hour having tempura as my lunch at the restaurant. After my lunch break, I prepare myself to go back to the onsen. On my last hour, the snow starts falling. This is the real outdoor snow onsen experience began. During my last hour, I also having talk to local with English, but he keeps answering in Japanese. I can understand a bit what he said. As the conversation goes on, I knew that it's already my time to go. When I knew that the bus will soon make a stop, I hurried to prepare myself. Then the owner also hurried to bring me back to the bus stop. Not so long, the bus came to pick me up.||I reached back to the Echigo Yuzawa station, I planned to go for night skiing in Ishiuchi Maruyama snowpark, but I didn't know at first that the shuttle bus is not available at the afternoon. So I skipped this, and went to look around inside the station. What I found is free flow sake with various kind of taste, but I don't give this a try. Instead I tried a huge onigiri with some people queuing in line.||I will definitely come back to Kaikake Onsen when I have a chance going back to Japan in...

Adding Kaikake Onsen to my itinerary was a great decision, although my plan to Ishiuchi Maruyama snowpark was canceled because there was no any free shuttle bus at the afternoon. The scenery of this onsen is nowhere else to find. I took two hours soaking myself, just because I like the feeling of the cold and warm while watching the snow falls. I was also having lunch break in the restaurant before going back to the onsen for another hour. Basically Kaikake Onsen is a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).||The journey take quite a while, but my time was worth it all (from Tokyo to Echigo Yuzawa station by shinkansen is 90 minutes, from Echigo Yuzawa bus stop to Kaikake Onsen bus stop is 20 minutes, then another ride from the bus stop to Kaikake Onsen is 5 minutes). Since I'm using JR Pass, it is much easier taking or making sear reservation for shinkansen. I alight from Ueno Station to Echigo Yuzawa Station. The shinkansen was a double-decker, I picked the top level so I can have a better view. By the time I arrive Echigo Yuzawa station, I asked the lady from the tourist center how to go to Kaikake Onsen. She handed me a bus information that explain which bus to take and which stop to alight, she even made a phone call to Kaikake Onsen that I will reach there by 11am so that I can be picked up by them. Then I go to the bus stop outside Echigo Yuzawa station. I have to pay ¥400 to make a stop at Kaikake Onsen bus stop. When arriving at Kaikake Onsen bus stop, there was a minibus carrying passenger from Kaikake Onsen also waiting for the bus. After then, I greeted and asked by the driver to go in the minibus for a short journey to Kaikake Onsen.||On my arrival, I believe that I was greeted by the owner, and I also smell a strong scent room aromatherapy. I also have asked to take off my shoes and exchange to their wooden shoes. I paid ¥1,000 for the onsen and ¥300 for big towel. After that, the owner showed me the way how to go to the onsen. There was no one in the onsen when I came, as I was the first guest. And the snow isn't falling yet. There is indoor onsen too, if you feel that the outdoor one isn't warm enough. But there are two different type of warm at the outdoor onsen. Photography is allowed by consideration (e.g. when there is no guest). I took my first hour in the onsen to experience the less warmer one. Then I took a break for another hour having tempura as my lunch at the restaurant. After my lunch break, I prepare myself to go back to the onsen. On my last hour, the snow starts falling. This is the real outdoor snow onsen experience began. During my last hour, I also having talk to local with English, but he keeps answering in Japanese. I can understand a bit what he said. As the conversation goes on, I knew that it's already my time to go. When I knew that the bus will soon make a stop, I hurried to prepare myself. Then the owner also hurried to bring me back to the bus stop. Not so long, the bus came to pick me up.||I reached back to the Echigo Yuzawa station, I planned to go for night skiing in Ishiuchi Maruyama snowpark, but I didn't know at first that the shuttle bus is not available at the afternoon. So I skipped this, and went to look around inside the station. What I found is free flow sake with various kind of taste, but I don't give this a try. Instead I tried a huge onigiri with some people queuing in line.||I will definitely come back to Kaikake Onsen when I have a chance going back to Japan in...

Kaikake Onsen on 5-6 February. It's my first time to stay in a Ryokan, and also my first time to experience snow. It's a dream come true to experience both at the same time. It was really beautiful and fun. It was breathtaking. The Ryokan and the onsen exceed my expectations. All the staff made my stay really special. Hands down to Rina for touring me around, and making me feel at home. Their hospitality is on point. Love that they have a service (transportation) for the guests, free of charge, from the bus stop to Kaikake Onsen, and going back. They also have snow boots for guests (at no extra cost) just in case you need them. The onsen location is superb. The Ryokan is very neat, clean, and historical. The food is super impressive! Utilities are on point (wifi was down though during my stay). They gave me complimentary shots of Japanese sake at dinner when the manager learned that I was alone (but booked a room for 2). Super grateful for the management's and the staff's kindness. There are more good things to say about Kaikake Onsen, but I guess you need to experience it for yourself. Looking forward to coming back and staying at Kaikake...