Japan Nov 2009 Day 7 (part 2)

Back on the streets of Central Nikko

Altitude marking outside Tobu Nikko Station

Koyo along the streets near Tobu Nikko Station.

Tobu Nikko Station

We took a bus to Chuzenji-ko (中禅寺湖) which is a 40-min ride from Tobu Nikko Station. Along the way, we stopped by Akechidaira Ropeway (明智平）which, according to some guidebooks, boasts of a panoramic view of Chuzenji-ko and Kegon-taki.

This was taken outside the ropeway station with a view of Mount Nantai shrouded in fog and mist in a distant.

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Tickets for the ropeway are not included in the All Nikko Pass though there’s some discount when we produced the pass to the sales counter. Still its a whooping 700 Yen before discount.

There were less than 5 visitors up the ropeway, including us and one doesn’t have to wonder much to know why. The weather is freaking cold and the relentless wind lashes against your face like a cold blade. An unbeaten track which we were too reluctant to try. Battling hard to press the shutter…

The “promised” panoramic view of Chuzenji-ko and Kegon Falls.

Kegon Falls at almost maximum zoom from the ropeway observatory.

Another panoramic shot before the view disappears behind the shroud of mist and fog again.

Altitude check… we’d just escalated appro. 800 m from Tobu Nikko Station.

A freaking temperature at 2 degrees celcius up on the observatory!!!

While waiting for the cablecar to bring us back down to Akechidaira station.

Taken on the return cable car from the observatory back to Akechidaira station.

The last segment of the bus ride to Chuzenji-ko involves manoveuring a series of hairpin turns. The one in the photograph is the other route back from the lake to Central Nikko. which involves another series of hairpins. Before a separate route was put in use some years back, there used to be only one way, both back and forth.

Beautiful rock strata along the flanks of Kegon Falls. These stone walls bear witness to countless suicides in the yesteryears but they remain cold and silent, not willing to let away any woes or sorrow.

Inside the elevator which brings you to the observatory level to view lower Kegon Falls

Fresh white radish aka daikon from a nearby farm. Daikon is used widely in japanese dishes from pickling to garnishing.

By the shores of Chuzenji Lake

Dusk @ Lake Chuzenji in blue filter

Dusk @ Lake Chuzenji in true colour

中禅寺湖桥 “Chuzenji-ko bashi” which literally means “Bridge over Lake Chuzenji”

A grand torii leading to the 2nd of the 3 Futarasan Jinja 二荒山神社 in the Nikko area. The first we visited in passing near Toshogu, while the 3rd is at the top of Mt Nantai, which is literally inaccessible for us. We decide to give this 2nd Jinja a miss as it’s running late and we need to catch a 40-min bus ride back to Tobu Nikko Station to catch the last Section Rapid train back to Tokyo.

We hopped on the last section rapid train from Tobu Nikko Station back to Tokyo, and it stopped at every freaking stop along the way. The whole journey from Nikko to Tokyo took some 3 hours to complete!!! And we weren’t the only ones, there was a group of 4 french tourists and another group of american tourists who went through the whole ordeal like us. All of us took the opportunity for some shuteye during the process. Here’s one of them in a photo moment. 🙂

Just another shot to reminisce the magical moment at Chuzenji-ko

And yet another…

Udon for Supper!

Oden for supper! A cheap a packet from 7-eleven just across the road from our hotel!

An interesting pastry we got from a confectionary on the first level of Yodobashi Akiba. It’s essentially a swiss vanilla roll encrusted with puff pastry! Not quite as fluffy and light as the Yamazaki rolls we had but very nice nonetheless!

topped with almond flakes and dusted with icing!