How I spent my winter vacation

Tuesday - In a mad rush of fury I find cheap tickets to return home.  I go to work and rush through 1/2 the day so that I can go and get a re-entry visa (30 bucks).  After 3hours and exiting at 3 wrong stations, I finally get to the immigration office, JUST as they're closing their window!! AH!  Rushing to the window, I try to explain the situation as the next day is a public holiday and the tickets are for Thursday.  Kindly enough she rushes the paperwork, I run across the street get my "stamp" to verify payment, and return with her having already stamped and processed my passport! Wow, talk about efficient.  10 minutes later I'm on my way back home. Success!!  Arizona, here I come.

Wednesday - Call ANA, reserve the tickets.  Call to make sure I can pay in cash at the airport.  Sure, okay.  Ready to go.

Thursday - Going to check my ticket information I notice that my ticket had been canceled because I didn't pay.  I go to rebook and there's no more flights left.  Well, what now????   What else!!!! Plan my own vacation to here:  http://www.asaya-hotel.co.jp/

Friday - Monday:

Train Ride - 1.5 hours

Check-in -







Head to room -










Watch crazy English television...seriously?  This guy wouldn't be allowed NEAR children in America, and here in Japan they give him his own tv show!  He has to be one of the skeeziest looking gaijin in Japan.

So what are they teaching kids today?  Oh, yeah common phrases like, "HURRY UP!"  In a culture that has multiple levels of politeness built into their language, they sure as heck teach the rudest English.  Who purposely teaches children to say, "Hurry Up!"  Not just teaching, but it's a whole song and dance routine. 

Explore- 1st on my list, the beautiful foot bath.  Free. About 5 minutes from the hotel overlooking the river that runs through the middle of town.

View from the foot bath.

 View from the cable car up the mountain.

 30 minute hike through the woods...granted everything was dead, but the small bit of snow left was a nice touch.  Unfortunately, I forgot the high heels and miniskirt.  Which seemed to be the required hiking attire for women.  Nothing more enjoyable than watching a woman inch her way down icy stairs in 3 inch heels.

Eat - 4 rows of food. 1) All you can eat sashimi 2)All you can eat pasta, rice, noodles, pizza, and various fried foods 3) Chinese 4) Fruit and salad.  A row of chefs cooking meat to your order. 

Your own personal sukiyaki pot and...

did I mention the all you can eat desert bar (rows of jellies, pies, cakes, and about 12 flavors of ice cream). 

Onsen - Absolutely gorgeous.  Night time, fog rising off the water, being danced about by the cool wind.  The stars visible and the moon directly overhead it is nearly surreal.


Massage -
80 minutes of pure aromatherapy bliss....

Sleep and repeat....While I definitely miss home...well, I can't deny that this was one of the best vacations ever. The only down side was they were running a Christmas couples special...nothing like being the sole single person in a 10 story hotel.  Okay, well the only single person under 70 in the hotel.  But heck, all you can eat breakfast and dinner, delicious baths, massages, and 15 hours of sleep a day...I can't complain. 

Great way to start winter vacation in Japan.