Kamikochi: Little Switzerland in Japan

"Pernah ada turis dari Swiss yang mengirimkan foto di sini kepada temannya dan langsung dibalas 'kamu sudah kembali ke Swiss?' haha," ujar Teddy Yamaishi yang menemani kami selama di Matsumoto, Jepang.

“A tourist from Switzerland once sent a photo of this place to his friend and immediately got reply, ‘are you back to Switzerland?’ haha,” Teddy Yamaishi, our guide in Matsumoto, Japan, said.

Memang pemandangan gunung es, danau biru dan cuaca dingin membuat pikiran saya kembali melayang ke Switzerland, negara yang populer dengan pemandangan serupa dengan yang sedang saya saksikan.

Combination of snow-mountain, blue lake, and the cold weather, again, got me think about Switzerland, a famous country with the similar view like I had right now.

Danau Taisho adalah perhentian pertama kami di Kamikochi, area pegunungan tinggi di Chubu Sangaku National Park. Danau Taisho atau Taisho pond terbentuk dari aliran Sungai Azusa yang dikelilingi pegunungan tinggi yang tertutup salju bahkan di musim panas. Sangat menyenangkan melihat perahu kecil, kehijauan hutan dan tentunya Gunung Nishi-Hotakadake dan puncak Nishiho Doppyo yang tertutup salju.

Taisho Pond was our first stop in Kamikochi, a high mountains area in Chubu Sangaku National Park. It was formed from the streams of Azusa River, surrounded by high mountains that covered with snow even on summer. It’s really exciting seeing a small boat, green forest, and of course Nishi-Hotakadake Mountain with the snowy peak of Nishiho Doppyo.

Kamikochi adalah area yang sangat cocok bagi pecinta alam, saya hanya melakukan trekking pendek dari jalur Teikoku hingga Kappa Bridge, namun trek panjang tersedia melewati hutan pinus dan sisi Sungai Azusa yang indah. Beberapa penginapan yang ada tampak sangat menyenangkan, Hotel Imperial yang berwarna merah ini tampak kontras dengan kehijauan hutan di sekelilingnya. It's gonna be nice to spend a day on place like this, pikir saya saat melewati hotel yang berada di salah satu sisi jalur trekking ini.

Kamikochi was a perfect place for nature lovers. I only did short trek from Teikoku track to Kappa Bridge, but there was a longer trek through the pine trees and the beautiful Azusa River. Some inns caught my eye, like this red Imperial Hotel that so contrast with the green forest around. As I walked through one hotel alongside the trekking track, I told to myself that it’s gonna be nice to spend a day on place like this.

Kami berhenti di Kappa Bridge dan menikmati suasana menyenangkan di sisi sungai. Air sedang surut sehingga saya bisa bersantai di area berbatu sambil menikmati es krim lembut khas Kamikochi. Tidak terasa kami sudah menghabiskan waktu berjam-jam di Kamikochi, feels like I don't wanna leave Switzerland (in Japan).

We stopped in Kappa Bridge and enjoy the calmness on the river side. When it was low tide I could chill in the rocky area while eating Kamikochi’s soft ice cream. Time flies. Suddenly we realized that we spent hours in Kamikochi but feels like I don’t wanna leave Switzerland (in Japan).

@marischkaprue - ice cream and snow mountain is one of her fav combination

NOTES:

Where:

Kamikochi berada di Chubu Sangaku National Park, Matsumoto, Nagano, Jepang.

Kamikochi is located in Chubu Sangaku National Park, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.

to know: Kamikochi dibuka untuk umum pada akhir April hingga 15 November

Kamikochi is opened for public starts from the end of April to 15 November.

 

How to Get There

Matsumoto Access Map

Kamikochi Bus Terminal

Kamikochi dapat diakses dari Matsumoto atau Takayama

Dari Matsumoto: Naik kereta dari Matsumoto Station (Matsumoto Dentetsu Line, kereta pertama di pukul 6.35 pagi, kereta berikutnya ada dengan interval waktu sekitar 30 menit hingga 1 jam 20 menit). Turun di Shin-Shimashima Station dan dilanjutkan dengan naik bus ke Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Opsi lain naik bus (direct) dari Matsumoto Bus Terminal (bus berangkat pukul 10.15). Tiket Kamikochi Line dapat dibelu di Matsumoto Station (¥2.450 one way/ ¥4.550 PP). Waktu tempuh sekitar 1 jam 50 menit. Lihat jadwal bus di sini

Dari Takayama: Naik bus dari Takayama Bus Center (bus pertama pukul 7 pagi), transfer di Hirayu Onsen menuju Kamikochi Bus Terminal (¥2.730 one way/ ¥5.190 PP). Waktu tempuh sekitar 1 jam 40 menit.

ps: Japan Rail Pass tidak berlaku untuk rute Kamikochi Line

Kamikochi can be accessed from Matsumoto or Takayama

From Matsumoto: Take a train from Matsumoto Station (Matsumoto Denetsu Line, first train at 6:35 a.m., next train will arrive within 30mins to 1hr 20mins). Get off at Shin-Shimashima Station and continued by bus to Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Other option is by taking direct bus from Matsumoto Bus Terminal (departure at 10:15 a.m.). You can buy Kamikochi Line’s ticket at Matsumoto Station (¥2.450 one way / ¥4.550 return) for about 1hr 50mins. Check the bus schedule here!

From Takayama: Take a bus from Takayama Bus Center (first bus arrives at 7 a.m.), transfer at Hirayu Onsen to Kamikochi Bus Terminal (¥2.730 one way/¥5.190 return) for about 1 hr 40mins.

PS: Japan Rail Pass is not valid for Kamikochi Line route

 

Weather

Suhu di Kamikochi berkisar dari -5°C hingga sekitar 20°C. Namun Kamikochi hanya dibuka pada akhir April hingga November dengan suhu rata-rata: April 5°C, Mei 9°C, Juni 13°C, Juli 16°C, Agustus 18°C, September 14°C, Oktober 6°C, November 1°C.

Temperature range in Kamikochi is at -5°C to 20°C but Kamikochi only opened at the end of April to November with the average temperature: April 5°C, May 9°C, June 13°C, July 16°C, August 18°C, September 14°C, October 6°C, November 1°C.

Akomodasi

Terdapat 15 penginapan yang tersebar di Kamikochi dengan rate per malam mulai dari ¥8.000 hingga ¥116.400

15 inns available in Kamikochi with rate per night starts from ¥8.000 to ¥116.400

Kamonji Goya Lodge: ¥8.000/night. T: +81 263 952418

Tokusawa Lodge: ¥8.000 - ¥10.500/night. T: +81 263 95 2526

Taisyoike Hotel: ¥14.580 - ¥22.680/night. T: +81 263 952301

Kamikochi Imperial Hotel: ¥32.076 - ¥116.424/ night. T: +81 263 952001

More info about Kamikochi on their website here

More info about Matsumoto on their website here

Need information about Matsumoto?

contact: Teddy Yamaishi via yamaishi@matsumoto-tca.or.jp

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Find Your Treasure at: Triwindu Market, Solo

“Somebody else’s trash could be someone else’s treasure”

Kalimat tadi sangat tepat menjelaskan pasar barang antik yang ada di Jalan Diponegoro, Surakarta ini. Pecinta barang antik pasti sulit untuk hanya singgah sebentar di Pasar Triwindu. Sejak awal masuk, berbagai kios yang berjajar sejak dari depan bangunan dipenuhi dengan berbagai barang-barang antik dan menarik mulai dari pajangan-pajangan dari besi dan kuningan, patung, telepon tua hingga berbagai lampu.

That’s such a right statement to describe this antiques market on Jalan Diponegoro, Surakarta. It must be hard for antiquarians to stop by Triwindu Market for a sec. Since my first step entering this place, there were many antique and catchy shops selling home stuff made of iron and brass, statues, old phone to various lamps.

Namun ternyata tidak semua barang yang ada di Pasar Triwindu ini merupakan barang antik, memang sebagian besar barang adalah barang-barang tua yang sudah tidak berfungsi atau tidak dipergunakan lagi oleh empunya dulu, namun menarik secara visual dan dapat menjadi ornamen yang mempercantik ruangan. Namun, sebagian barang di pasar ini justru merupakan barang baru yang dibuat dengan gaya klasik dan antik seperti beberapa pajangan, gembok “tua”, hingga piring-piring yang dicat dengan gambar dan warna-warna klasik.

Although most items in Triwindu Market are the old ones that can’t work or no longer used by the owner but not all of them are just an antique stuff, because they are still attractive visually for an ornament to beautify a room. Some stuff in this market are new ones that specially made in classic and antique style like the furniture, “old” padlock, until the painted plates with classic drawing and colors.

Menelusuri Pasar Triwindu bagaikan melalui lorong waktu. Saya melihat berbagai barang yang dahulu jadi barang umum yang digunakan oleh orang tua atau nenek-kakek kita seperti telepon tua, mesin ketik tradisional hingga dompet atau tas tua yang sangat klasik.

Exploring Triwindu Market was like entering the time machine. I saw many things that commonly used by our parents or grandparents like an old phone, traditional typewriter, and even the classic wallet or bag.

Di sebagian area, barang-barang antik ini benar-benar ditumpuk begitu saja seperti sampah, namun area ini bagi saya terasa sangat artistik terutama di saat sore hari dan matahari senja yang kuning menyinari barang-barang antik yang sebagian terbuat dari bahan besi ini.

In another side of the market, those antique stuffs were stacked just like trash, but I saw it so artistic especially at noon, when the twilight met the iron antique stuffs.

Tanpa sadar saya dan Ferry sudah menghabiskan waktu berjam-jam di Pasar Triwindu. Just window shopping karena sebagian besar barang yang kami inginkan berukuran besar, and we haven’t got any place to put those antique stuffs, hopefuly someday and we’ll come hunting someone else’s trash to adopt and make it our treasure.

It’s so fun that Ferry and I didn’t realized already spent hours in Triwindu Market. We only did window shopping because mostly we were interested in big stuffs and haven’t got any place to put them. Hopefully someday we’ll come hunting someone else’s trash to adopt and make it our treasure.

@marischkaprue – her biggest treasure is finding out those beautiful underwater sceneries in Indonesia

Photo by Ferry Rusli

NOTES

Where

Pasar Triwindu

Jalan Diponegoro

Surakarta, Jawa Tengah

*ps: Pasar Triwindu hanya sekitar 10 menit naik becak dari Red Planet Hotel Solo

*ps: Triwindu Market is only about 10 mins by pedicab from Red Planet Hotel Solo

 

Price

Harga barang-barang di Pasar Triwindu bervariasi, mulai dari puluhan ribu hingga jutaan rupiah. Jika memiliki teman di Solo akan lebih baik jika dibantu oleh mereka untuk membeli karena turis biasanya diberi harga jauh lebih mahal.

The price range in Triwindu Market starts from tens of thousands to millions rupiahs. If you have any friend in Solo, it would be better to ask them to accompany because usually they give a higher price for tourist.

 

***

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Photostory: Diving in Banda Naira, Karnopol

Sangat sulit untuk berhenti berbagi tentang keindahan alam bawah laut Kepulauan Banda di Maluku. Berulang kali saya menunjukkan berbagai foto dari titik penyelaman yang berbeda di Kepulauan Banda ini.

It’s almost impossible to stop myself sharing the beautiful underwater scenery of Banda Islands in Maluku. I can keep showing photos from different diving point in Banda Islands for many times.

Titik penyelaman yang satu ini sangat menyenangkan untuk menjadi penyelaman kedua usai makan siang karena letaknya yang persis berada di pesisir dan untuk entry pun kita hanya perlu turun dari area pesisir ini dengan shore entry.

It was really fun to have a second diving session in this point after the lunch time because it’s located right in the coast and for making an entry we just needed to do a shore entry.

Area masuk karnopol bagaikan hall panjang beralaskan pasir. Dari segi kepadatan koral, memang Karnopol tidak seindah titik penyelaman lain seperti Pulau Kecil, namun Karnopol punya berbagai view lain yang akan menarik perhatian kita.

Entrance area of Karnopol was like a long hall covered with sand. In terms of the coral density, Karnopol was not as beautiful as another diving spot like Small Island, but it had many points that surely would catch our eye.

Salah satu yang menarik perhatian saya adalah rombongan pyramid butterflyfish yang berkumpul di hydrozoa yang berbentuk seperti pohon. Mereka tampaknya berlindung di sela-sela hydrozoa namun membuat pemandangan yang unik di bawah laut.

One that attracted me was a group of pyramid butterflyfish in hydrozoa that formed like a tree. They seemed protecting themselves in any space of hydrozoa but instead I saw them presenting a unique underwater view.

Sponge yang dikelilingi soft coral dan berbagai jenis ikan juga membuat taman laut yang cantik. Di satu sisi kita dapat menemukan area yang tertutup gugusan karang keras yang luas sehingga tampak seperti perbukitan.

Sponge that surrounded by soft coral and various kinds of fish also made a beautiful sea park. On one side, we could find an area covered with a large coral clusters that looked like hills.

There's always something interesting in every dive spot and here in Banda Islands, we will find more than one :)

There’s always something interesting in every dive spot and here in Banda Islands, we will find more than one :)

@marischkaprue - One dive is not enough for her

NOTES:

•  Banda Naira terletak di Maluku, untuk menuju ke Banda Naira anda dapat mengambil penerbangan ke Ambon (harga tiket Jakarta-Ambon PP sekitar Rp. 2 hingga  Rp. 2,5 juta), dari Ambon dapat dilanjutkan dengan penerbangan ke Banda Naira dengan pesawat twin otter Aviastar berkapasitas 17 orang (harga tiket Ambon - Banda Naira Rp. 280.000,- one way) namun untuk mendapatkan tiket cukup sulit karena jumlah seat yang terbatas. Pesawat Aviastar dengan rute Ambon - Banda Naira hanya beroperasi seminggu 3x yaitu di hari Senin, Kamis dan Minggu.
• Banda Naira is located at Maluku. You must take flight to Ambon (round-trip ticket price Jakarta-Ambon about  Rp 2 until Rp 2,5 millions), then continue taking flight to Banda Naira by twin otter plane Aviastar with 17 seat capacity (ticket price Ambon – Banda Naira is Rp 280.000,- one way). But it’s quite difficult to get ticket because of limited seat. Route Ambon – Banda Naira from Aviastar Airplane only available three times a week (Monday, Thursday, Sunday).  
• Budget untuk trip di Banda Naira 5D/4N sekitar Rp. 4 juta (termasuk tiket pesawat Ambon - Banda Naira), jika berangkat dari Jakarta maka total budget Rp. 6,5 juta per orang, dengan catatan trip bersama (group). Untuk trip serupa hubungi Tukang Jalan di +6281 806898303/ 081315890191 atau email di tuk4ng.jalan@gmail.com
• Budget for Banda Naira 5D/4N trip is about Rp 4 millions (included plane ticket Ambon – Banda Naira). If you depart from Jakarta, the total budget becomes Rp 6,5 millions per 1 person, but please note: only if you join in a group. Further info about this trip, contact Tukang Jalan at +6281 806898303 / 081315890191 or email at tuk4ng.jalan@gmail.com  
• Budget di atas belum termasuk diving. Untuk diving di Banda Naira, ratenya adalah Rp. 400.000,- per dive, lebih baik pergi minimal 2 orang karena jika sendiri akan mahal di extra cost untuk bbm kapal. I dive with Banda Sea Hobbits (dahulu bernama Naira Dive), untuk booking hubungi Sasha di +62821 251 22202 
• Diving cost is excluded from the transport details above. The rate for diving at Banda Naira is Rp 400.000,- per dive, better go with min 2 person to save the extra cost for boat. I dive with Banda Sea Hobbits, for booking please contact Sasha +62821 251 22202    

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Roller Coaster Frenzy at Nagashima Spaland

Mendengar nama "spaland" tidak terbayang sebelumnya bahwa area ini justru dipenuhi dengan berbagai deretan atraksi yang memicu adrenalin. Nagashima Spaland berada di Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. Meski pernah memegang rekor sebagai taman hiburan terbanyak dikunjungi nomor 18 se-dunia, nama Nagashima Spaland justru baru saya dengar saat berkunjung ke Nabana No Sato.

When I heard the word “Spaland”, never thought that it is full with adrenaline-pumping rides. Though Nagashima Spaland which located at Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, ever held the record as the 18th most visited amusement park in the world, but I just known it during my trip to Nabana No Sato.

Not the typical "spa" we imagine

The mighty Steel Dragon

Berbekal rasa penasaran, kami pun mampir ke area yang hanya berjarak satu bus stop dari Nabana No Sato. Ternyata Nagashima Spaland memegang reputasi yang hebat. Ada 17 atraksi yang memompa adrenalin di area ini, termasuk Steel Dragon, roller coaster dengan trek terpanjang di dunia yaitu 2.479 meter! Steel Dragon juga mencatat rekor sebagai roller coaster tercepat ke-2 di Jepang, dan ke-6 di dunia.

For the sake of curiosity, we came in to the area that only one bus stop from Nabana No Sato. Nagashima Spaland apparently has a good name. There were 17 adrenaline-pumping rides available, included Steel Dragon, the world’s longest track roller coaster which is 2.479 meters! Steel Dragon also holds the record as the second fastest roller coaster in Japan the sixth in the world.

Acrobat

Memasuki Nagashima Spaland bagaikan dikelilingi jalur-jalur dan teriakan dari pengunjung yang sedang dipacu adrenalin di berbagai roller coaster yang ada. Roller coaster lainnya, Acrobat cukup unik, posisi duduk terbalik dan dengan posisi itulah kita dibawa melaju kencang sambil memutari trek yang curam, tampak sangat menegangkan!

Entering Nagashima Spaland was like surrounded by tracks and visitors’ scream who got their adrenaline boosted by the roller coaster. Another roller coaster, Acrobat, was quite unique. In inverted seat position, we were speeding through the steep track. Obviously, it’s so thrilling.

Masih banyak atraksi lainnya di Nagashima Spaland, total ada 45 rides yang berbeda-beda, dan dapat dinikmati oleh penyuka ride dengan level yang berbeda pula. Jika benar-benar berani menerima tantangan adrenalin terdapat banyak ride yang cukup extreme, namun jika hanya ingin bersantai juga ada banyak ride lainnya yang tidak akan membuat jantung deg-degan.

Nagashima Spaland still has another 45 rides with different level to please all the visitors. If you are an adrenaline junkie, many extreme rides are waiting for you. But for those who just wanna relax, there are calm rides that won’t make your heart skips a beat.

Karena saya bukanlah penyuka roller coaster (yes, I did bungy but I'm not a roller coaster person), so Ferry did the "honor" of trying Steel Dragon on behalf of my blog (ha!). Ferry yang notabene menurut saya urat takutnya sudah lepas (he always try every adrenaline pumping activities if he can), memberi 'testimonial'

Since I’m not a roller coaster person (yes, I did bungy but I’m not a roller coaster person), so Ferry did the “honor” of trying Steel Dragon on behalf of my blog (ha!). Ferry, who has no fear of anything so far, (he always tries every adrenaline-pumping activities if he can), gave ‘testimonal’.

"Ridenya panjang banget ga abis-abis, serem juga, haha!" well, even him saying that, ok maybe next time for me (or never!).

“Such an endless ride, kinda scary, haha!” well, even he said that, ok maybe next time for me (or never!).

Satu hal yang saya perhatikan dari ride Steel Dragon ini adalah kursi roller coaster yang hanya menyangga area paha dengan seat belt dan penahan pinggang dan paha sehingga tubuh bagian atas tetap "bebas," bayangkan berputar-putar dengan kecepatan hingga 153 km/jam di lintasan sepanjang 2.479 meter! Yes, your adrenaline will be so "excited"

I noticed one thing in Steel Dragon ride, the roller coaster seat that only holds the thigh and waist area with a seatbelt but the upper body remained free. Can you imagine being swirled in a speed up to 153 km/hour along the track 2.479 meters? Yes, your adrenaline will be so “excited’.

You can buy separate tickets for each ride

Selain Steel Dragon, masih banyak atraksi lainnya, namun karena memang tidak menjadwalkan Nagashima Spaland sebelumnya, kami hanya mencoba sedikit atraksi, but it still fun though!

Steel Dragon is just one among the exciting rides, but since Nagashima Spaland was not on our schedule so we just try a few of them. It’s still fun though!

So, to those of you who really love adrenaline pumping, when you're in Japan, put this one also on your list!

@marischkaprue - she use her adrenaline "wisely"

Photo by Ferry Rusli

NOTES

Where

Nagashima Spaland, 333 Urayasu, Nagashima-cho, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture 511-1192. Telp: +81-594-45-1111, website www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp

Admission Fee

4.500 Yen unlimited ride (dewasa) dan 2.100 yen (anak-anak). Jika hanya ingin mencoba satu ride saja bisa membeli tiket terpisah di dalam area Amusement Park, harga per ride berkisar dari 300 yen hingga 1.000 Yen (Steel Dragon & White Cyclone).

¥4.500 for unlimited ride (adult) and ¥2.100 (children).

If you only want to take one ride, separate ticket is available in the area of Amusement park, and the price starts from ¥300 to ¥1.000 (Steel Dragon & White Cyclone).

 

Opening Hours

9.30 am - 5 pm during low season

9.30 am - 7.30 pm during high season

Cek update jadwal operasional di website www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/resort/time.html/

(website berbahasa Jepang namun kita tinggal click di area yang kita ingin ketahui jam operasionalnya)

Check operational schedule on website www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/resort/time.html/

(website is on Japan language but we can simply click the area as we want)

 

How to Get There

Dari Nagoya Station: naik JR Kansai Line Local ke Kuwana Station (berangkat dari Departure track No. 12, jadwal di pukul 7:04 tarif 350 yen), atau JR Kansai Line Rapid (berangkat dari Departure track No.13, jadwal di pukul 9:06, tarif 350 yen). Waktu tempuh 20-30 menit hingga tiba di Kuwana Station.

Di Kuwana Station keluar di East Exit pada area JR, kemudian menuju Kuwana Station Bus Rotary (di depan Sangi Nishi-Kuwana Station), naik Bus Sanko di Bus Stop No.2 menuju Nagashima Onsen (Nagashima Resort & Spaland), harga tiket 240 yen one way.

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