- Up early and had a pretty serviceable breakfast at the hotel.
- Morning trip out to Ainiku Gassho-zukiri village, which was snowy and beautiful and amazing.
- We stopped at a little café to have a hot drink and some local snacks, and really enjoyed it.
- Had found a place that was offering washi-making classes, but when we got there, it was entirely snowed in. So, scratch that plan!
- After exploring, bus back to the hotel to check out and grab bags, then back on the bus to the next base – Shirakawa-go.
- After arriving and checking in, time for some lunch. We found a delightful looking place nearby named Grandma which seemed to offer take-away options, and MBW was pretty wiped from the morning’s travels. I popped out to go grab some Grandma, but they were also closed and snowed in.
- Luckily, next door was another option that seemed pretty popular, as there was a dozen construction workers eating lunch and laughing. Ordering was via a touch kiosk, it was easy to select items for takeaway, very painless and easy to do.
- I had another hot chashuu ramen and a grilled onigiri, and brought back a range of tasty options for MBW to enjoy.
- Recovered in the room, re-packed bags, and so on until it was time for dinner, which was again included with our hotel room.
- Dinner was very, very good – multiple courses, everything very fresh and a lot of variety, and the restaurant section itself was made with beautiful wood, with huge windows giving views out into the falling snow.
- Satisfied but worn out from all the consecutive travel days, we headed up for bed.
