Obanazawa Päiväretket

My first visit to Ginzan Onsen two years ago was met with a breathtaking blizzard. I was stunned by the beauty but also frozen by the temperature. Although I enjoyed the purest essence of Taisho Romance, the heavy snowfall prevented me from taking many photos, leaving me with only one picture and a lingering regret. This time, I decided to revisit with my camera to recapture those memories. Without the overwhelming snow and bustling crowds, I could better appreciate the retro charm of the place. I finally got to see the waterfall I missed last time, explore the mine I hadn't visited, and browse the small shops I couldn't properly explore before. Ginzan without the snow offered a different kind of serene elegance. This dream-fulfilling trip finally allowed me to make up for that beautiful regret from years ago. A special shout-out to the incredibly generous and delicious set lunch; I even thought it was extravagant. The plating was truly a work of art, and I thank the travel agency for their thoughtfulness.

Kuljettaja, joka toimi myös oppaanamme, oli erittäin huomaavainen. Hän otti meihin yhteyttä edellisenä iltana vahvistaakseen noutopaikan. Yhdeksänpaikkainen ajoneuvo oli mukava eikä ahdas. Olimme onnekkaita nähdessämme Ginzan paksun lumipeitteen alla – todella kaunis ja vaivan arvoinen kokemus.

Matkaoppaamme näinä kahtena päivänä oli Tony, ja hän huolehti meistä erittäin huolellisesti, antaen meille jopa pieniä lahjoja. Kun menimme Ginzan onseniin, oli erittäin kylmä, ja hän antoi meille lämpöpusseja. Toisena päivänä saimme myös lämpöpusseja ja suklaata. Vaikka emme päässeet sisään Kettukylään, hän keksi meille tavan mennä muualle, ja päädyimme Shiroishin linnaan, joka oli erittäin kaunis ja kävelyn sekä valokuvien arvoinen. Kuljettaja oli myös erittäin mukava, ajoi vakaasti ja tervehti meitä ystävällisesti aina noustessamme ja poistuessamme autosta. Tällä kertaa Ginzan onsenissa satoi lunta, mikä teki paikasta erittäin kauniin. Toisena päivänä menimme Zao Juhyoon, ja onnemme oli uskomaton, sillä sää oli erittäin aurinkoinen. Vaikka emme päässeet ylimmälle köysiradalle, koska yksittäisiä matkailijoita oli liikaa, paikka oli silti erittäin kaunis ja ehdottomasti näkemisen arvoinen! Kuulimme, että edellisenä päivänä Zaossa oli ollut lumimyrsky ja näkyvyys oli ollut erittäin huono, mutta meidän käyntipäivänämme taivas oli kirkas! Olimme erittäin onnekkaita. Majoituimme Kameya-hotellissa, joka näytti historialliselta, mutta oli silti melko puhdas. Huone oli myös suuri, ja aamiainen oli runsas ja herkullinen, tarjolla oli sekä perinteistä japanilaista että länsimaista aamiaista. Kiitos paljon oppaalle ja kuljettajalle näistä kahdesta päivästä! 👍

Today, I booked this tour program with Andy Shi as our guide. I felt very happy and had a great time. The guide was very kind, helpful, and attentive throughout the trip. Everything was really nice. Thank you so much for this wonderful experience!

Excellent and competent! The tour guide/driver led a very good and experienced small group, and reminded the group members the day before departure. At each location, there were clear instructions and introductions to the attractions, as well as maps and walking guides. This time we went to Yamadera Temple and there was snow, the scenery was very beautiful. The tour guide/driver also suggested that we go to Ginzan early to see the snow scene and specially adjusted the itinerary, and finally we went to Tendo to buy souvenirs and local products. The journey was very pleasant!

The one-day shared tour was very convenient, and with a small group, we moved quickly. The driver was very kind and polite, and simple English communication was sufficient. The timing and pace of travel between attractions and free time were managed perfectly!

Today, I had a wonderful time on a day trip to Zao Fox Village in Sendai and Ginzan Onsen. The weather was beautiful and sunny, which made the entire journey even more enjoyable. At the fox village, I got to observe many adorable foxes up close; they roamed freely, truly allowing me to experience the charm of nature. Furthermore, the scenery at Ginzan Onsen was picturesque, with babbling brooks and magnificent surrounding mountains that uplifted my spirits. Soaking my ankles in the outdoor hot spring and enjoying the comfortable warmth helped me forget the stresses of daily life. Overall, this trip not only allowed me to get up close with foxes but also immersed me in the beautiful natural scenery, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

We arrived early to the bus stop and had already received a helpful message from our tour guide Yoshi on Whatsapp. We boarded the bus and had Yoshi guide us to the Zao Fox Village and Ginzan Onsen. There were some last minute changes but he explained everything and we had a great day visiting the local prefecture and neighbouring areas. The food was great, the stories Yoshi provided and English translation was great. We visited what we wanted and had a great day. Thank you to Yoshi and our professional driver for making this a great day! Arigato Gozaimasu!

The tour guide was very thoughtful! We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel, and the nine-seater van was full. The timing was perfectly managed, and the guide even gave us a brief introduction to the sights. It's a shame it rained the whole time we were there, which made it a bit more challenging! Even so, we still felt that overall, it was a great one-day trip! Not tiring at all! Highly recommend it to everyone.