BHB 0 Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Hi. Anyone have advice re Iiyama as an excursion from Nozawa? Assuming not skiing and have seen the sights of Nozawa, is it worthwhile going to Iiyama for a look given its description as a "temple town"? I think it is a short bus trip away (actually do the Nagano buses go via Iiyama on the way to Nozawa?). But are the temples worth a trip, and are they easy to walk around? Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Iiyama as an excursion from Nozawa? Hmmm. The pamphlets do have us down as a temple town and there is a little route in an area that has a lot of temples, but they are small and I'm not sure how much I'd recommend it. Easy to walk round yes. But don't expect huge impressive temples, more a bunch of local ones. Whether that is of interest to you or not, I don't know. A visit to the big temple in Nagano might be better if you have not consided that. It's just a 15 minute ride from Nozawa. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 The only part of Iiyama I have seen is the main road on the outskirts of the old town where the big shops are now. Is Madarao part of Iiyama? Link to post Share on other sites
Golf74 0 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I highly recommend the Mcdonalds in Iiyama. The supermarket was also impressive. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Fantastic post golf. Well done. Madarao does indeed have an Iiyama address, SKI. Link to post Share on other sites
BHB 0 Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share Posted October 20, 2009 Looks like I have the local expert/resident here? I am reading quite a lot into your "Hmmmm" i-d, but given that it is only 15 mins and there is a little walk around a lot of (small) temples I will keep it in mind as a possibility. May have to get back to you for some specific directions - not a lot of info on the web, obviously not a big tourism centre! I have been to Nagano and will go again, but probably from Hakuba. Was thinking to explore a little around Nozawa. Many thanks for the advice. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Don't read a lot into my hmmmm... I was simply thinking. I'm not an expert either - I just live here. If you are interested in local temples, like I said, might be interesting for you but like you said it's not a big tourism centre. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 so what's that McD place like? Interested to know. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 They sell burgers. Nice girl on the till too Link to post Share on other sites
Golf74 0 Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 The building design is based on the original mcd's which is a bit different to what you normally see. Two big arches form part of the building. There were a few photos and info etc about how mcd's started. I thought it was interesting. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 thanks. I too find that interesting. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 It's not worth visiting Iiyama for though, honest. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Yes the burgers are indeed the same. I had never noticed temples in Iiyama. I'd spend the time going to see the Snow Monkeys and also checking out some other resorts like Kiji and Madarao perhaps. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Madarao is worth a day IMO. I really enjoyed my day up there, it was totally dead and I had the mountain almost to myself!! How did they get on last season with the U-12's ride free? Did lots of family's take em up on it? Also the hotel there has a nice onsen thats free (I think, no one took money from me!) Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 erm... how can a hotel onsen be free? Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 They probably thought he was a guest and just didn't ask. Lots of hotels are like that, they don't check when you go to the onsen. For a big hotel, they probably don't know and don't notice. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Madarao can be a really good day out when it's not busy. It did get pretty busy weekends last season - that "free for kids" was apparetly very popular. I'm going to make a thread on that, worth a mention. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Made one TB! http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/332545/Madarao_free_for_kids_any_othe.html Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Thurs, I went to the front desk and asked wear the onsen was, the guy pointed me down the stairs to the changing room, I went in expecting some sort of counter where I had to pay, nothing. I got undressed, washed then jumped in the bath and Voila!! Free Onsen! Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts