Blogs from Nagano, Japan, Asia - page 16

Part three of my postings on Matsumoto. I've taken the non castle pics and compiled them in here. Met a number of other travelers here, including a younger couple from Spain at the Ryokan. Their English was passable. Besides the castle I also stopped off in their small museum which I have a few pictures of and other various little stops in the city like Nacamachi Avenue. This is an older merchant district now converted into restaurants and shops, a very picturesque area. Walking around the city was always an adventure, other then the main streets, there really isn't any places to walk on the road other then right on the road. And when the road itself is a two way barely wide enough for a one way... it's exciting. Overall I really enjoyed my time ... read more

FIIIIIIIINALLY could upload this entry... flakey internet up here. Also got a video in this post of one of those whacking Japanese Game shows too.... ====== The minute you step off the train and hear the loud speakers exclaim "welcome to Ma-tsumo-tooooooh" you know your in for something a bit different. The ride up here is through some gorgeous mountainous terrain and takes you through Nagano, where they held the Olympics some years back. The city itself is a good mix of Cosmopolitan city life with even a Starbucks, and traditional Japanese architecture. The city's main attraction is Matsumoto-jo, one of Japan's four top castles. I got a lift to the Ryokan from the owner, which was nice since the Ryokan itself is a fair ways away from the train station. First time in a Japanese ... read more

We arrived in Takayama in the early evening and headed to our accommodation. Jill had mentioned it was a temple and she was correct. In fact due to some confusion on the guy runnings it's part, we slept in the temple, the actual temple, just to the left of the alter. The following night a room was found for us. The place was ryokan in style, we had to take our shoes off and had the rice paper window doors. It was ok but very hard to sleep. So much noise from the doors sliding and people walking on the creaky floors and we were at the front of the building so heard everyones movements which resulted in a restless night, but hey it was an experience!! Takayama has been on the same site since the ... read more

Ok I may not have given the temple in Nagano justice - but I was tired - 13 hours worth of sleep tired!! Which meant I could wake up early and all pumped for the monkeys! Yep we were heading off to see the snow monkeys (except there was no snow this time of year...) - the ones that lie around all day soaking in a hot springs (onsen). So a 50 min bus ride from Nagano is Jigokudani Yaen-Koen. Only place in the world were monkeys soak in hot water apparently and Jill was very keen to see them (not me, I have to say - not a huge monkey fan...). The area has been visited by tourists since 1964, and has around 200 monkeys there. The park is in the Yokoyu Valley and is ... read more

The last I left it it 'twas a grey but dry morning in Mt Fuji area, called Fuji go ko, or lake district. Ks house in Kawaguchiko was a cheap but styley bed for the night, tatami matted dorm rooms, and at this time of year very quiet! It all happens in July and August evidently, and every place is booked out and overrun with weekender holiday makers in the limited Japanese holiday periods! They never seem to break from toiling the fields, the hotel front desks, the cleaning of the ryokans.....indeed a strong work ethic they have! So after getting some glimpses of Fuji at the tourism centre, about 30 mins walk from the hostel (my first mistake for the day in choosing to beat the bus to the Sengen shrine, for an earlier finish....), ... read more