< Matsumoto | Japan (Spring 2003) | Takayama >
Hirayu-Onsen
2003.May.27 - 2003.May.29
I had not yet done much hiking and with the Alps so close, it was an easy decision to stop 
over in Hirayu-Onsen and spend two nights there on the way to Takayama. The day I left Matsumoto and went to Kamikochi and on to Hirayu-Onsen it was rainy throughout. Hoping to escape the clouds a little, I took the bus along the Norikura Skyline to Tatamidaira, up to 2702 meters above sea level. However, there were still a couple of meters missing in order to get to the blue sky. And also along the way you could see nothing but white, mostly fog, occasionally snow.
The day still took a very bright turn when having dinner at the onsen-ryokan I was staying at. Food was so plentiful I had a very hard time to eat all of it (I was the only one who did finish everything), but it was sooooooo delicious.
The next day was very fine, clear and sunny already in the morning around 5 o'clock, when I woke up. Great! That meant I could follow my plan to go over to Shin-Hotaka Onsen and take the ropeway 
from there to Nishi Hotaka-guchi. My intention was to hike from there over and down to Kamikochi. Surely a very beautiful hike, should take only about three hours according to the guide book. However, I didn't go much further than about half a kilometer because 
there was still too much snow. Maybe three to four weeks later it would have been ok, but now it simply was too early unless equipped very well and knowing the way exactly. So I went down with the ropeway to the middle station again and walked back to Shin-Hotaka Onsen from there. The guy at the ticket gate of the ropeway had told me it would be very far and take at least an hour, or no, probably two, possibly even three. Well, it was easy to follow (everything along the street), not so far and took exactly one hour, including time for taking pictures and almost frightening a snake to death because I didn't see it and almost stepped on it for several times. Several times? Yes, it was badly trying to escape my footsteps but as I didn't see it I walked on and with every step I took I was dangerously close again. Poor snake.
Even though I had planned to leave Hirayu-Onsen the next morning, arriving at Takayama before noon, the weather was so fine that I spontaneously decided to take the bus along the Norikura Skyline again. A good decision, as it turned out. In good weather, this bus ride offers spectacular views. And also the area around Tatamidaira is not bad at all. Due to too much snow (again, about one month too early) it was a little too dangerous hiking over to Kengamine without special equipment, but at least I could climb Fujimidake and Fudoudake.
< Matsumoto | Japan (Spring 2003) | Takayama >