Fish market to Japanese Alps!

Well, we have been in Japan for about 24 hours and already had several unique Japanese experiences - the Tsukiji fish markets, fresh sushi, the bullet train and the Japanese Alps! It doesn't get much better than that! We arrived late last night and managed to negotiate our way to the hotel on the subway, a very easy process helped by colour coding and numbered stations. Although the hotel was budget one, we still had the fanciest toilet I've ever seen - warm seat, flushing sounds in case you want to disguise any noises, front and back shower for when you have finished. Very flash!

Fresh seafood.

An array of fresh shell fish. We were up at 5.30am this morning to visit the Tsukiji fish markets, where all the fresh catches come straight in and then on to the sushi restaurants across Tokyo. We spent a good hour wandering around, checking out the fish and observing the workers go about their business. Afterwards, we enjoyed a beautiful breakfast of the fresh seafood we had been looking at earlier - yum! Definitely the best sushi I have ever eaten, and so beautifully presented.

Bullet train to Hakuba.

Sampling fresh squid at the fish markets.

After a long internet search for accommodation in Hakuba, Gunnar and I bid farewell to Kiki (who was going to meet her boyfriend) and head off to find our way to the Japanese Alps. Again, it was a very easy process and the Japanese people are so eager to help out when needed. We caught the bullet train to Nagano and then a bus to Hakuba where we were greeted by the hotel owners and huge amounts of snow.

Crazy motorised carts at the fish market.

Breakfast - straight from the sea to the market, to us!

Our hotel is in an amazing location, 3 minutes walk to the ski slopes and most importantly to the beginner runs an the ski school! I am feeling quite nervous about the skiing actually, more nervous than I've felt about anything for a long time! Am hoping that I pick it up quite quicklz and don't get too frustrated with myself. Our room has a beautiful view over the mountain and the hotel has 2 onsens (hot springs), one is indoors and the other is outside in an old sake brewery tub. Can't wait to soak my weary limbs in it tomorrow. We went for a wander for some more delicious Japanese cuisine and Asahi beer before hitting the sack, 5.30am starts are not the way to start a holiday! Wish me luck on my ski lessons tomorrow!

Australian sparkling wine in the Japanse alps!