Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Day 4: Kurobe Dam

This is the main reason the tour group was here in Japan. The Kurobe Dam. The mountain is sealed off during winter and only until the snowing is all over, that they reopen the mountain (from april onwards) for a few months only. Going up the mountains is the main reason my luggage was full of winter clothing and not fun stuff from japan. There are a few means of getting up the mountains. The original plan was to start with some sort of cable car, but it broke down for the day, so we went up by bus. We passed an 'ice-wall' which was suppose to be about 13 meters high, but because we were in the bus and it was foggy, i could not take any pictures. After 30 mins on the bus with strangers, we reached the station for yet another bus ride.


This is outside and inside the station, and a picture of everyone before being wrapped up in all the clothes. We got on the next bus and went up to another station. this time it was fun. It was snowing! yeah! All gear on. Well half gear on. It was about 5 degrees outside and i think it is snowing. Was a bit like hale, small ones.

And here are the people, wrapped. And just a quite recap on who is who... unwrapped.
Next bus! We moved on to a higher point to take the cable car. We had to come out of an icy tunnel. Well, that is my mom, trying to reach the ceiling. This is the vew from this side of the mountain.

Next is the cable car to get to the lower other side of the mountain.
Here we are on the other side. We had a quick lunch and went out to take photos. The sun came out for a bit and disappeared again.


then more cars. we took this car all the way down to the dam.



The Dam was really huge. Takes quite a while to walk from one side to the other.
And just in case you dont believe that it is really cold. hehe. the thermometer.
this sort of sums up the exciting day.

So at the end of the day. Another electric bus to get down the dam. This was all we did for the day. and of course the food!


Just some stuff we had at one of the better rest stops. Fried and steamed fish cakes. and my favourite different types of fresh mochi!

3 comments:

DnT Blog Guest said...

mmm mochi. yum.

case-in-point said...

i heart snow.


....

and mochi....

mido said...

hmmm.... i wanna go back already.
Who wants to come?