As the bullet train pulled into Sakudaira station, it was hard not to notice the
differences between the mountainous countryside of eastern Nagano Prefecture and the dense metropolis of Tokyo. Having departed just 80 minutes before from Ueno Station, I suddenly found myself free from the madness of crowds and swarming tourists, instead overcome by the rural quiet that accompanies many small towns throughout Japan, fondly known as the
inaka.
This homey train station was where I would be meeting Hideo Goto, the fourth generation innkeeper of Takamine Onsen — a hidden ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) nestled 2,000 meters above the highlands of Takamine. With bags in tow, my travel companion and I quickly spotted our genial host, who greeted us warmly before whisking us off into the mountains.*
Social Plugin