Model course
MODELCOUSE 01A relaxing stay for elderly couples to enjoy nature to the fullest
| Duration | 3 days, 2 nights |
|---|---|
| Seasons | Spring, Summer, and Autumn |
| Transportation | Public transportation or car |
Day 1
There are many attractions around Tateshina Shinyu Onsen that can be reached on foot with a bit of effort.
You can take a short walk for health, and once you’ve fully enjoyed the natural environment, you can relax at the hotel and read.
We board the shuttle bus at Chino Station sent to pick us up at 2:40 p.m.
We arrive at Tateshina Shinyu Onsen at 3:10 p.m.
After a complimentary drink nestled within the rich natural environment and surrounded by 30,000 books, we check in.
We take our luggage to our room, open the window, and breathe in the clear air.
All we can hear is the chirping of birds and the sounds of the mighty river.
First, we take a walk in the garden, which has many stories to tell.
We see the hot spring where legends say that Takeda Shingen bathed, and a shrine dedicated to a man who prayed for rain and brought blessings to the village. Then, we go a short way up a path from the garden to see a stone monument engraved with a poem by Sachio Ito. (20 min on foot)
The slight exhaustion from walking up the mountain path, which is a bit of exercise, is actually quite pleasant.
Next, we relieve our fatigue in a hot bath.
The open-air hot springs at the hotel boast overwhelming beauty in each of the four seasons.
We pass the time until dinner by indulging in a bit of reading, with a nostalgic book in one hand and an aperitif in the other.
The wonderful lobby lounge is a great place to lose track of time and relax.
As the sun begins to set, it is time for our long-awaited meal.
Oh, Japanese-French cuisine and sake, how stylish!
Now that we are full, we take the books we were reading with us up to our room to continue reading.
Day 2
We don’t want to go too far away today. We would rather relax at the hotel, so we decide to enjoy the natural environment within walking distance.
We start off our highland morning in a great mood at Tateshina Sunny Salad Bar, where we can eat our fill of highland vegetables.
The Japanese-style breakfast is also quite nice.
After breakfast, we have a cup of coffee in the lobby. We also check the times for our itinerary for the day, which we had researched beforehand, with a hotel staff member.
We go bird-watching at Tateshina Lake, a 30-min walk away.
The lake is only around 1 km in circumference, so it is easy to walk around, and the area offers a panoramic view of Mt. Yatsugatake.
There are stores and restaurants by the lake, and we had no trouble finding a restroom.
After a leisurely stroll, we have grilled meat for lunch at Ittou,
which serves local Tateshina Beef. It is said that elderly people should have plenty of protein in their diet to stay energetic and healthy.
We are also told that new lodge facilities, such as TINY GARDEN,
had been built on the lakeside, along with some restaurants and cafes.
Tateshina Beef Ittou
4035-205 Kitayama Tateshina, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture 391-0301
TEL: +81-266-75-1296
On the way back, we stop by Mugeisou, used by Yasujiro Ozu as a villa in Tateshina from around 1955.
It is said that he wrote several scenarios here.
A little closer to the hotel, we also stop by the Tateshina Great Falls, where Takeda Shingen is said to have formulated his battle strategies.
Not only is the waterfall beautiful and shrouded in greenery, the surrounding waving trees and moss are also spectacular.
We can immerse ourselves in an ethereal world for a bit. There is also a pavilion where we can take a break.
We are able to refresh ourselves in body and soul, all within a 30-min walk!
I decided that, today, I’m going to visit the other open-air hot spring, which is now exclusively for women.
After that, I think we’ll go back to the bar and have cocktails until dinner, while looking for more nostalgic books.
Dinner on the second night of our stay is Japanese cuisine.
Tonight, we have Nagano wine recommended by the sommelier, which goes well with Japanese cuisine.
Ah, this is happiness.
We decide to enjoy touring around special spots that are not very well known, where we can experience the natural environment of Tateshina on foot, not a typical driving course.
・9:00 a.m. Depart from the hotel
・9:25 a.m. Arrive at Mishaka Pond
We go to Mishaka Pond, which is famous for being depicted in Midori Hibiku by Kaii Higashiyama, a master of Japanese-style painting, and for featuring Sayuri Yoshinaga in a commercial for SHARP’s AQUOS brand of television sets.
It is also introduced in the Japan edition of Breathtaking Sights I Want to See Before I Die.
It is a truly heart-cleansing and picturesque sight.
[Time on site] 35 min
・10:00 a.m. Depart Mishaka Pond
・10:35 a.m. Arrive near Shirakoma Pond
In addition to the Kita-Yatsugatake area’s beautiful lake, the surroundings also feature wonderful virgin forests.
While the area is not very well known, it is one of Japan’s most mysterious-looking moss environments.
The walking paths are well maintained, but sneakers are a must.
[Time on site] 1 hour and 25 min
・12:00 p.m. Depart from the Shirakoma Pond area
・12:25 p.m. Arrive at the restaurant “switchback TATESHiNA farm and trails”
This restaurant serves oven-baked dishes containing beef, pork, and game fowl raised in Tateshina and Azumino. It features many unique Shinshu characteristics, including vegetables grown by the restaurant itself using no pesticides.
[Time on site] 1 hour
・1:30 p.m. Depart the restaurant
・1:45 p.m. Arrive at the Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway
If we come all the way to Tateshina, we want to climb to the top of Mt. Kita-Yatsugatake to see all three major alps.
Upon arriving at the summit station, we find a small garden with as many as 50 types of alpine plants growing year-round.
Another highlight is the 40-min walking tour that is available for us to enjoy the alpine flora in a leisurely manner.
[Time on site] 1 hour
・2:45 p.m. Depart the Kita-Yatsugatake Ropeway
・3:05 p.m. Arrive at Tateshina Great Falls
A little closer to the hotel, we also stop by the Tateshina Great Falls, where Takeda Shingen is said to have formulated his battle strategies.
Not only is the waterfall beautiful and shrouded in greenery, the surrounding waving trees and moss are also spectacular.
We can immerse ourselves in an ethereal world for a bit. There is also a pavilion where we can take a break.
・3:40 p.m. Arrive at the hotel
I’m surprised and delighted that such a rich natural environment is so easily accessible in the Tateshina area. I decide that, today, I will soak in the ladies-only open-air hot spring with a view of the valley to relax and stretch out!
And after that? Naturally, we’ll head straight to the bar, and find a good book.
Dinner tonight, the second night of our stay, is Japanese cuisine.
Tonight, we have Nagano wine recommended by the sommelier, which goes well with Japanese cuisine.
*If you do not come in your own car, you can hire a taxi for this course, which will take roughly 7 hours and cost around 48,000 yen. Or, you can rent a car at Chino Station.
Day 3
I am completely entranced by the library lounge, which felt like a museum, with books from my youth, books published in the early Showa period, and other nostalgic features. I tell my husband that, next time, we should visit in winter when the stove is lit and just read books the whole time! He agrees, and we make a reservation right away.
The view from the window of our Seiryutei room is wonderful.
Next time, we will definitely stay in a Tateshina Club room, which were designed to be reminiscent of artists who have visited the hotel.