I was really sad to miss this one -- I've wanted to travel to Yamagata for years. Yamagata prefecture is Colorado's Sister State, and Yamagata city is Boulder's Sister City. Lots of connections between Colorado and Yamagata, and I've come to know some great people from Yamagata. Thanks for the fun look at the onsen area, John and Kanae!
Thank you Gill for that wonderful information. If we had a traditional Salon things like this could be shared. I miss that, sharing of each other's history and knowledge. take care friend.
Wow I’m getting goosebumps when Kanae mentioned about Oshin. I used to watch it with my mum and aunt when I was young! It was really popular in Singapore!
When I was a kid visiting my mother's village near Ginzan Onsen, hardly anyone outside of Yamagata had heard of that place. Then came that TV show (Oshin), and Ginzan was discovered. Still, other than that one nutty modernized 'F' ryokan, they have done a decent job of keeping the area simple and rustic.
btw is that true that Oshin shooting was in this area? and when I was there, it seems like the ryokan guy said that one of the hotel own by Oshin :) not sure of the info because the guy speaks in Japanese and i can't really understand everything...
@@kurniawatyirwan9065 Yes, Ginzan was one of the shooting locations of that show. Oshin's mother worked at one of the onsen inns there as an 'entertainer.' The very first episode shows an old-lady Oshin at Ginzan before the story travels back in time.
@@jacksan1 woww.. an interesting fact, i not really remember the whole story. Oshin tv show is very famous back then. I've watched it till finish. I think I have to watch again. Wish to go back to Ginzan Onsen again one day. One night stay is actually too short to enjoy the ambience, but the ryokan is pretty expensive :(
Hi! I'm watching from Brazil and I love your videos, specially when you walk around the streets and show us the real life, the japanese culture, small cities, temples, the buildings, the ordinary life! Thank you, John! I've been in Japan twice and I love this coutry! I wish to be there in november, 2021! 🙌
We're having a bad heat wave here in Dallas, TX right now. I decided to watch snow videos from your collection to help beat the heat. It's nice to see.
I stayed in Ginzan Onsen last month. Travel by train all the way from Hakodate up to Oishida and we were being picked up by hotel shuttle bus in the Oishida Station. It is a really wonderful experience that have been in my travel list since long time, and finally I made it to Ginzan Onsen!
In case anyone was wondering, "Oshin" is an early 1980s historical drama set in the Meiji to Showa periods, based on a fictional person modelled after the founder of Yaohan, a now defunct department store.
Yes, I watch it in Singapore when I was a little girl. I used to admire the character who overcame so much hardship and became successful but still remain humble.
Thanks John and Kanae for this streaming. Ginzan Onsen is an amazing place to be there. I am definite is visiting this place one day. With the lights on in the evening you're on a romantic date with a beautiful woman.
vote4freedom i was so surprised! Maybe because the population is low - or the older generation doesn’t check their phones 10 times a day 😂 (i’d better put my phone away!)
John Snow is fun since I have never been in a place full of snow *-* Have an amazing day and maybe hike up the mountains when the weather's good? Looking forward to the room tour stream ^ Today's street food share is 70/30 and 70 for Kanae since it's her birthday week u-u
No hiking 🥾 but we will be back in warmer weather :) haha! Yes, Kanae gets to have more this week (and anytime she wants) for her birthday 🎂 now we have to go find a cake!!
I hope to get there someday. But first i hope my illness goes away. It really isn’t really a nice couple of years for me but hopefully this year would go smoother. And will be the first time i’m visit this beautiful country
Just watched this video. Thanks for sharing. Hope we can go there the nxt time we visit Japan. My husband works in Osaka tho, maybe that place is too far from there. - from the Philippines 😊
Nice and thanks for your vlogs. Happy birthday Kanae. We will explore places outside Tokyo next time we visit Japan. We were in Tokyo 2 months ago. Hopefully this year end. Jess from NZ
Beautiful! Kanaguya ryokan in Shibu Onsen outside Nagano is also said to be a major inspiration for the bath house in Spirited Away. I stayed there in 2009. It was magic! Highly recommended! :)
Nice video and scenery. I am glad that you have your wife in the video but I wish there was a way to have both of you in the same frame more often. She has good insights too. I think that you know what I mean. It looks like a nice trip and your food critiques are always neat. As always thanks for sharing Japan with me and the rest of the world.
I don’t have my wide angle lens with me. She speaks when she wants to :) I don’t push her. I try to ask her questions. She doesn’t want to be a youtuber so I’m glad for the effort. Always best to get info from someone who grew up here in Japan!
Unbelievable, right? The compact cars get the luggage to the hotels but the transport bus stops at the big bridge and we walk the 200 meters to the hotel.
On the subject of old school Japanese trust. I visited Tokyo 20+ years ago and when our local bank contacts took us out to lunch or dinner they paid using their business cards! No cash or credit cards just a small square of fancy paper - amazing!
Hi John and Kanae, Watching you from Noboribetsu, Hokkaido., another Onsen town in Japan. John was there a couple of years ago. Have a good one. Dennis
This place is gorgeous! And I’m surprised how warm it is to you both. Kanae, is John saying Yokan, not ryokan...just so those non-Japanese speaking know the difference. It is difficult.🤔🥰
$130 a night with 2 kaiseki is an affordable price. I would totally make plans to stay in Ginzan Onsen on my next Japan trip. I heard you can use all the onsen in town if you stay at one of the ryokans.
Gorgeous scenery. Hope you and Kanae celebrate her birthday dining on fine kaiseki cuisine and enjoying the furo. Did you know that the Fujiya Inn (about three ryokan away from yours) was designed by Kengo Kuma?
You have to plan well, traveling ANYWHERE, you are competing for the more popular places - first come, first served 😉 … with that said, always worth calling to see if someone cancelled.
I happened to reread the book "Kiri no mukou no fushigina machi" today. People say "Spirited Away" is inspired by this book. You know what, the village the main character "Rina" went to is "Ginzan Mura" or 銀山村 . I bet the author of "Kiri no mukou no fushigina machi" was inspired by Ginzan Onsen. Must be!
I really want to go here or anywhere in Japan with an onsen, also I live in the UK and one of the hotels in the village where I grew up charges upwards of 700 usd per night to stay in some of the expensive rooms!
Hello, Just joined a couple of weeks ago. I started watching Anime a few years ago and got interested in Japan. I really Wish you could send me some snacks and sweets. the Waterfall was Beautiful. Happy Belated Birthday!!
Hi Lisa, I do send gift boxes to supporters in Patreon in the DAIMYO level, snacks from locals areas I visit while travel to shoot the videos. I think there may be one open spot but it’s often sold out. patreon.com/onlyinjapan I also send a monthly postcard with nice stamp to all Daimyo. There’s a kITkAT Givaway now for followers on Instagram IG: onlyinjapantv
Gewglesux it’s micro 4/3 so 20mm is a 40mm full frame lens. It’s a sweet spot for a street camera. Good bokeh but also super sharp with landscapes and wide enough to get a lot in.
@@onlyinjapanGO Ahh... M43!! That is indeed the sweet spot!! I just got into Street Stuff.. I like a good sharp lens while street shooting. Thanks for the reply.
I have been in Yamadera last july, i guess it is near Yamagata. what a wonderful place! have you already been in Kurobe Gorge (next Toyama)? what a spetacular and amazing place! Highly recommended!!!
