Kansai Thru Pass Review

 

  Ahh the magic world of Japanese rail passes, sometimes the cost can seem steep up front, but if you've got quick feet and are hungry for sightseeing, they can be a great value and give you peace of mind when calculating  a transportation budget.

  This time I'm going to talk about the Kansai Thru Pass; for a rather steep sounding 5000 yen, the entire Kansai area becomes your own private stomping grounds for 3 days. The network mainly covers Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto and Nara but also extends all the way to Koyasan, Lake Biwa, Wakayama and as far as Himeji.

  If you're planning on staying in only one area, this pass might not be for you, but if you're planning on at least one inter-city round trip a day, plus local transportation, then this might certainly be a good value. 200-300 yen for a subway trip might not seem like much sometimes, but consider a few of these trips and the toll starts to add up. With a rail pass you can just hop on the subway or bus whenever you feel tired and save your energy for sightseeing.

  Take a look at the network and see if it makes sense for you, it includes transportation for the airports in the area and is available for purchase at most large stations and airports in the area. When you buy, you get a handy little map with coupons and a listing of attractions all over Kansai, not hard to find things to do in 3 days.

  On my first day of usage I went from Itami Airport to my hotel in Osaka (about 800 yen), took about 5 trips on the subway (1000 yen) and a round trip to Kobe (800 yen), so that was about 2600 yen for one day of traveling, the 3 day pass comes to around 1600 yen per day so it's good to do the math and see if it makes sense for you.

Airport Spa Series: Yamato no Yu in Narita, Japan 大和の湯

   Technically, this isn't really an airport spa, but if you're in Narita, this is certainly the next best thing and a much needed respite.

  Narita town has 2 bath houses nearby, one is Hana no Yu, and the other is Yamato no Yu, both are about one train station away from Narita but Hana no Yu is in more of an urban setting, and thus, it can get a bit more crowded; Yamato no Yu on the other hand is mostly in a countryside setting and has more of an upscale feel to it.

  If it's not clear by now, my vote goes for Yamato no Yu (although the other is easier to access, so it would be the choice if you're in a hurry or if it's raining). 

  Yamato no Yu's website has a handy access map which should help you make it there without getting lost. From Narita town, access is quite simple, take the JR Narita like one stop towards Shimousa Manzaki station (下総松崎駅), they usually depart from track number 6, but if in doubt as to what train to take, just ask the station attendant and they will gladly point you to the right track, just make sure to write down the station name in case you need help, train fare is less than 200yen. 

  Fortunately there's only one station exit so no way of getting lost, just exit and follow this handy map, the walk itself is only about 15 minutes at a good pace, you will always more or less follow the direction of the train tracks and you shouldn't stray too far from them as a reference.   


  The walk itself is actually quite pleasant, I've always been there at night and it's quite a nice atmosphere, getting a feel of rural Japan while being so close to Tokyo, the only reminder of where you are is the occasional rumble from a big jet taking off or landing out of Narita airport.  It goes without saying that even if it's dark, it's quite safe so not much to worry about except for the cars passing by and not having a sidewalk. If you are so inclined, there are also taxis outside of the train station.

  After a while walking, this shall be the reference for turning right, cross the train tracks again and you're almost there.  The spa itself is a very nice building next to a big forest and rice field, an ideal setting for relaxation.

  There's a couple of interesting restaurants and a relaxation lounge inside. The baths are very nice and varied, with 3 floors to enjoy and 2 of the floors having open air features, you can dip in bubbles, murky water and an outside stone bath, or enjoy some time in the dry and steam saunas. There's enough water to keep you entertained quite a while.


  The times I've visited here was because I was staying in Narita town, however, if only connecting at Narita airport, I don't really recomend going here unless you have 4-5 hours between flights, you can probably squeeze in with slightly less time but you'd be really cutting it close and you'll be in such a hurry that you probably won't be able to enjoy the experience as much as you should.


  Yamato no Yu is open from 10am to 10pm, seven days a week. Click here for current admission prices. Last time I was there it was 700 yen plus 200 yen for the small bath towel which is yours to keep.

Airport Spa Series: 風の湯 at Nagoya's Chubu International Airport

  Second up in my series about airport relaxation, is probably one of my favorite airport experiences ever: Hu no Yu (風の湯) at Nagoya's brand spanking new Chubu Airport.


  When Nagoya found out that expanding Komaki airport wasn't much of an option, they did what every other self respecting Japanese city would do and went all out by building an airport in the bay.


  The airport isn't too big, but it has everything, great shops, great food, one of the best planespotting terraces anywhere, as well as our subject matter for today: the world's only naked plane spotting spa.


  Yes my friends, Hu no Yu is a japanese onsen with a twist, you don't only have your typical tubs, you also have a magnificent view of the runways and airport ramp. Worry not though, the airplanes don't have a good view of you thanks to creative architecture, yeah, that wooden shack you see in the building is part of the Spa's terrace.

  Admission is only 1000yen (credit cards accepted) so you won't really break the bank too much unless the yen goes higher than it is at time of writing, around 76 to the dollar.  But as of now, the unique experience makes the price worth it.


  The hot tub repertoire is quite decent, you have a hot jacuzzi, massage tubs; shallow tubs where you can lie horizontally and enjoy bubble jets massaging every inch, an electric massage tub; where you can enjoy a tingly electrical bath, a bit odd, but interesting nonetheless; and of course, the outdoor terrace,  complete with lounging chairs where you can enjoy the breezy weather and a marvelous view of the runways. A real treat for airplane enthusiasts.

 True to the bath's name, roughly translated as "Wind Bath", weather outside can be quite breezy, but this is good as you need a place to cool down sometimes. There are plenty of quiet onsens all over Japan, so it's nice to have one where you can relax with the sound of airplane engines in the background.

Unfortunately, for obvious reasons you can't have a camera on you, but, that's no problem as you can simply go outside and enjoy the free viewing terrace.

Airport Spa Series: Incheon International Airport's Spa on Air

  Airports and relaxation, two words that seem mutually exclusive, and many times, they are.  But we're not talking about the C/D concourse at Dulles or Terminal 6 at LAX, we're talking about Seoul's Incheon airport, the comfiest hub in Northeast Asia.

  After a long 10+ hour flight and an even longer journey from home, you feel tired, jetlagged, and probably a bit stinky too. Worry not fellow travellers, it's Spa on Air to the rescue.

  Unfortunately for those of you on short transits, this is located outside of immigration, but if you have 3+ hours it's definitely worth it. After exiting customs, go down one level and you'll find Spa on Air on the north/east side of the concourse, worry not, it's open 24 hours, so you shall find respite no matter what time of day you come in.

  The entry fee was about the equivalent of 10usd last time I was there, which is the standard entry fee for daytime, although there is a surcharge if you stay between midnight and 6am, as well as additional charges for private rest rooms or massage services.

  The counter staff take care of your luggage and give you abag with fresh towels and clothes; afterwards you take off your shoes and are sent off to the locker rooms.  Please be aware that the "wet" areas of the spas are segregated and once you're in the dressing rooms, you better be comfortable with nudity ;) . It's easy to get over it though, as there always seem to be someone with more excess flesh in worse spots than you.

  Once you're in your birthday suit, take a quick shower and you're free to dip your bottom in the hot tubs, careful, they're hot ! But oh my, feel those bubbles, kissing the exhaustion away. There really is no better way to relax than a nice tub of hot water. There's even a couple of different temperatures to choose from depending on where you sit. So just find the right spot and relax.

   After you're done dipping, you can head over to the dry sauna or the steam sauna as well to continue with the heat/water therapy. Personally, I love to go for an extended cycle of rinse/wash/repeat until I feel like a mass of pizza dough that's been kneaded thoroughly by an Italian granny.

  Be sure to keep hydrated, but that's easy to do as there's always a watercooler in the dressing room. There's also toothbrushes and all sorts of assorted toiletries to help you make yourself presentable before putting your rags back on and heading to the common areas.

  Once you've had enough nakedness, you can take your Spa provided clothes and head out to the common areas, there's a tv and snack area, as well as plenty of couches and mats where you can crash out for a few (or many minutes).  I've personally spent a few hours here after arriving on red-eye flights so I could head into town at a more check-in friendly hour and it's amazing how time flies down here.

  Once you're done you just go back to the dressing room and put on your street clothes, I guarantee you shall feel completely renovated. There's nothing quite like that fresh out of the spa feeling. And you'll also feel good that you had hours of relaxation for only a pittance.

  Keeping true to my blog name, I have been too cheap to try the extra services but they seem reasonably priced. All in all this place is an excellent value for any traveler and a very important asset for Incheon, I'm only sorry that this sort of place isn't more commonplace in airports worldwide, one can dream no?

Time to get the ball rolling

  Hey folks, after years of procrastination I thought it was time to finally get the ball rolling. I've been lucky enough to get around the block a few times. I'm not a rich man by any means but with some good planning I've been lucky enough to feed the travel addiction without going bankrupt (yet).

  I hope my experiences can help others have as much fun as I have. Plus, it's nice to have a record of things, before old age erases them forever !