Obanazawa Passeios

Two years ago, my first visit to Ginzan Onsen was met with a breathtaking blizzard. I was stunned by the beauty and frozen by the temperature. Although I enjoyed the purest sentiments 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 those memories with my camera. Without the overwhelming white snow and bustling crowds, I could better appreciate the retro charm of the place. I made up for everything I missed last time: the waterfall, the mine I hadn't explored, and the small shops I couldn't browse thoroughly. Ginzan without snow offered a quiet elegance, and this dream-fulfilling trip finally completed the beautiful regret from years ago. A special commendation goes to the incredibly rich and delicious set lunch; I even thought it was extravagant. It was truly a beautiful plating art, and I thank the travel agency for their thoughtfulness.

The driver, who also served as our guide, was very attentive. He contacted us the night before to reconfirm the pick-up location. The nine-seater vehicle was comfortable and not crowded. We were fortunate to see Ginzan covered in heavy snowfall — truly a beautiful and worthwhile experience.

Our tour guide for these two days was Tony, who took great care of us and even gave us small gifts. It was very cold at Ginzan Onsen, and he gave us hand warmers. On the second day, we also received hand warmers and chocolates. When we couldn't enter the Fox Village, he found an alternative for us, and we went to Shiroishi Castle, which was beautiful and worth a stroll and some photos. The driver was also excellent, driving very smoothly and always greeting everyone kindly when getting on and off the bus. This trip to Ginzan Onsen coincided with heavy snowfall, which was incredibly beautiful. On the second day, we visited Zao Juhyo (snow monsters), and we were incredibly lucky with the weather, which was perfectly clear. Although we couldn't take the cable car to the very top due to too many individual tourists, it was still very beautiful and worthwhile! We heard that the day before we went, Zao had a blizzard with very poor visibility, but on the day we visited, the sky was clear and sunny! We were very fortunate. We stayed at Kameya Hotel, which looked historic but was well-maintained and quite clean. The room was also very spacious, and the breakfast was abundant and delicious, offering both traditional Japanese and Western options. A big thank you to our guide and driver for their hard work these two days! 👍

今天，我预订了安迪·施（Andy Shi）作为导游的这个旅行项目。我感到非常开心，玩得很愉快。导游在整个旅程中都非常友善、乐于助人且细心周到。一切都非常棒。非常感谢这次美妙的体验！

Excellent and competent! The small group tour led by the guide/driver was outstanding and experienced. They even reminded us the day before departure. At each location, there were clear instructions and introductions to the attractions, along with maps and walking guides. This time, we visited Yamadera with falling snow, and the scenery was incredibly beautiful. The guide/driver also suggested we arrive early at Ginzan to see the snowscape and specially adjusted the itinerary. Finally, we went to Tendo for souvenir shopping and local products. The entire trip was very enjoyable!

I personally think the overall experience was great, however, the part I think needs to be looked into is the time allowed for the lunch break; the highway stop is a little short. Other than that, good job to the guide for the arrangement and hospitality.

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, making the entire journey even more enjoyable. At the Fox Village, I observed many adorable foxes up close, freely roaming around, which truly made me feel the charm of nature. Furthermore, the picturesque scenery of Ginzan Onsen, with its babbling brooks and magnificent surrounding mountains, was breathtaking. 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 close to the foxes but also immersed me in the beautiful natural scenery, making it an unforgettable experience.

This itinerary is highly recommended, especially the moment the bus emerged from the tunnel into a sudden world of ice and snow – it was truly magical. You can see plenty of snow at both Ginzan Onsen and Zao Snow Monsters.