Kusatsu to Tokyo

Dat 46: It's a 52 miles to Nagano. Notice active volcano in the distance.	Mom and daughter-in-law working a fruit stand at the top of today's long climb. Very tasty fruit.	Buddhist Statue at the top of our second long climb.	Hazy view of Nagano in the distance.	It's a long fast downhill run to the city.
Nagano, sight of the 1998 Winter Olympics.	View from the train station. We stop at the visitor center for info on accommodations.	It was dark when we finally found the Shimizuya Ryokan. Gondo Shopping Mall where Geno and I got dinner.	Day 47: Gate to Zenkoji, Nagano's most famous attraction and one of Japan's most popular temples.	Gates are entrances into the temple grounds. Often, there is more than one gate.
Markets and stores line the main walkway to the temple.	Offering to Buddha.	The main temple stores and displays sacred Buddhist objects.	Smoke from a temple incense burner fills the air.	Incense smoke is believed to have healing powers.
Temple bell, it's rung 108 times on New Year's Eve.	Temple grounds.	Temple grounds. Even in this busy area, there are quiet places.	Ommmm. Tomorrow morning, Andrew & Korey take off for the Alps of Japan.	Day 48: Geno and I end our biking. Sent bike back to the Narita Skycourt. Also sent camping equipment home.
Day 49: We're at the JR Train Station to get information and the train schedule.	Sights around the station.	Sights around the station.	Hanging out at the local grocery store. Certainly don't find this at home.	Notice the nice neat display and individually wrapped fruit.
There are a lot of nice stores along the main street leading to Zenkoji Temple.	This Olympic facility is now a parking lot. Medals were once awarded here.	The Shmizuya Ryokan is located on the main street leading to Zenkoji Temple.	Shinano Art Museum; The Chair Exhibition displayed hundreds of different designs, both old and new.	Higashiyama Kaii Gallery: Exhibited various Japanese paintings and art.
The Higashiyama Kaii Gallery	The Higashiyama Kaii Gallery	Mural by famous Japanese painter.	Geno turning the wheels of fortune at the Zenkoji Temple.	Stopping for Miso Ice Cream and Oyaki, a Japanese bun stuffed w/ vege seasoned with miso.
The main street ends at the Zenkoji Temple.	Nighttime at the Nagano Gondo Mall.	JR Train Station at night.	JR Train Station at night. Stopped to listen to a street musician.	Day 50: Goodbye to the Shimizu's. The owners were very helpful and kind. Time to catch the train to Matsumoto.
Geno in Matsumoto at McDonald's studying the city map. Hey, there's free coffee refills.	Commerial street where our Nunoya Ryokan (hotel) is located.	Walking the Matsumoto streets. It's overcasted but not too cold.	Walking the Matsumoto. Shops along the Metoba River.	OK, why not!
Matsumoto Castle, a national treasure built in the late 16th century.	Matsumoto Castle, there's a self-guided tour through the interior.	I'm glad we finally got to see and tour a castle.	View of Matsumoto from the castle. The stairs are extremely steep (55-61 deg) and narrow for security purposes.	View of Matsumoto from the castle. There's also a collection of guns and armor.
View from the castle. It's 6 stories high.	Bonsai's on the castle grounds.	These statues tell a historic tale.	Matusmoto Castle.	The story of Matusmoto Castle.
The castle grounds cover an area of 390,000 sq. meters (96 acres).	Nakamachi Street: We're walking to the Katakura Mall for dinner.	Day 51: Train to the Kiso Valley, a day trip.	We plan to hike the historic Nakasendo trail from Magome and Tsumago.	Magome is lined with shops of every kind attracting many tourist.
There was a light rain when we hiked the Nakadendo trail.	Very few tourist actually hike the Nakasendo trail.	Translated, this is the Man Fall.	Translated, this is the Woman Fall.	It's a 5 mile hike one-way
Bamboo forest along the trail.	Up Close.	The trail passes homes as well as some shops and ryokans.	Hictorically, the Nakasendo trail was the main road connecting Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto.	Cat using an umbrella in rain.
Mountains surround this region.	Town of Tsumago at the trail's end. Again, there are many tourist walking about.	Catching the train back to Matsumoto.	Day 52: Overnight trip to Kamikochi, a mountainous region in the Northern Alps of Japan.	We stayed at the Nishiitovasanso Hotel along the Azusa River.
The views here are breathtaking. On Tashiro Bridge.	What a place. I'd love to hike into the mountains.	This area is closed by mid-November.	Fast moving clouds create an ever changing landscape of light.	Red berries against the autumn gold of Larch trees.
The gold color of the Larch	The snow is recent.	The surrounding mountains are a magnificent sight.	Mountain Light.	Mountain Light.
Mountain Light.	Mountain Light.	We did a short hike down river to Taisho pond	Kamikochi from Taisho pond	Day 53: Another day in Kamikochi, another hike.
We decided to hike up river toward the Tokusawa area.	It's a Landscape of Changing Light.	A Landscape of Changing Light.	The Myojin Bridge along our hike.	A Mysterious View.
I will always remember this place.		The trail follows the Azusa River. After the Tokusawa area, the trail heads up the mountains.	We hike to the Tokusawa Campground and returned on the other side of the river, an 8 mile hike.	On the return hike, we encountered a large troop of traveling Snow Monkeys.
Bus back to Matsumoto; The Hotaka Mountains are showing the reddish colors of autumn.	Day 54: Today we say goodbye to Jay. He is riding to Tokyo alone.	Matsumoto Performing Arts Center	Matsumoto Performing Arts Center	Matsumoto Performing Arts Center
Matsumoto Museum of Arts	Matsumoto Museum of Arts	Matsumoto Museum of Arts	Matsumoto Museum of Arts. We also visited the High School Museum and the Ukiyoe Museum for wood block prints.	Funky old bike museum in Matsumoto.
We wished we could have spoken with the owner, an old cyclist.	Last night. Matsumoto Castle at night.	Matsumoto Castle at night. It was a cold night so I didn't stay out long.	Day 55: On this beautiful morning, we took a 2.5 hour train ride from Matsumoto to Tokyo.	We arrived at the Shinjuku Station (Tokyo) & caught the subway to our YH located on the 18th & 19th floors of a highrise.
Evening walk. Moats surround the Imperial Palace.	Bridge to the Imperial Palace.	Night time around the Imperial Palace.	We walked to Tokyo Station and caught the subway back.	Day 56: Spend the day exploring the areas surrounding Shinjuku Station.
Government and business buildings dominate the westside of Shinjuku Station.	Shinjuku Station, the westside.	Shinjuku Station, the westside.	We had lunch at a nearby cafeteria for workers. Great value and food.	Shinjuku Station, the westside.
Shinjuku Station, the westside.	Shinjuku Station, the Eastside.	Shinjuku Station, the Eastside.	Shinjuku Station, Takashimaya Time Square, a popular area for the young.	Shinjuku Station, Takashimaya Time Square.
Sashimi lunch. Select your dish as they rotate around the counter. Speaking is not required.	Shinjuku Station, the Eastside.	Shinjuku Station, the Eastside.	I double dare you. Can cause death if incorrectly prepared.	Lively Kagurazaka Avenue by our youth hostel is lined with shops and restaurants.
Day 57: The Tokyo National Art Center in Tokyo's Midtown area.	We got free tickets from a Japanese teacher/artist we met at the YH.	Local amateur art of all forms were on display.	The famous Ginza Street, the Rodeo Drive of Japan.	The street was closed to car traffic today.
Ginza Street: There were a lot of highend stores. The Japanese love to shop.	Wow! Too bad there was a long line of people at this bakery.	Crowds around the Sony building.	We toured the Sony Building. Sony exhibited their current and coming products.	The area around Asakusa Station is the old downtown district of Tokyo.
The atmosphere of old Tokyo has been preserved so there are no highrise buildings.	Old Nakamise Street, lined with shops and restaurants, leads to the Sensoji Temple.	The Kaminari Gate at end of Nakamise Street leads into the Sensoji Temple.	Sensoji is Tokyo's most famous and popular temple.	Pagoda within the temple grounds.
Smoke from incense is believed to have healing powers.	Sensoji was built in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.	Japanese woman in kimonos are still seen on the streets, but not often.	Shin-Nakamise Street is a covered shopping arcade lined by shops and restaurants.	This place should look familiar to coffee drinkers (Starbuck's)
Making Rice Crackers.	Bicycles are still the primary mode of transportation for many locals.	Tokyo from the 19th floor of our youth hostel.	Day 58: Shigefumi picks up Jay, Geno and I for a day trip to Sankeien Garden in Yokohama.	Sankeien Garden was built by Hara Sankei and opened in 1904.
The garden houses a number of historic buildings from across Japan.	Inside the Old Yanohara House.	Inside the Old Yanohara House.	Inside the Old Yanohara House.
Flower exhibit.		Main pond of the garden.	This Villa built in 1649 along the Kinokawa River was moved here in 1917.
This old Tenzuiji Juto Oido was originally built in 1591 to celebrate a mother's long life.	Door to the old Tenzuiji Juto Oido.	Another view of the villa.	Inner view.	Inner view.
Shigefumi takes us to a sobe restaurant for lunch. Master sobe noodle maker.	Hand cut noodles. One of the top sobe restaurants in Japan. It was excellent.	Inland bay where Shigefumi often goes kayaking.	Shige has driven us south to Yokohama, second largest city in Japan.	Shige's home.
Geno feels right at home.	First we have something to drink.	Then Shige makes us a sukiyaki dinner followed by more drinks.	Shige plays the shamisen, a traditional Japanese 3-string lute.	Shigefumi and his wife Chieko. Both are talented people.
She is a veterinarian and pianist.	Day 59: Highrise building where our YH is located. Today is Cultural Day, part to a three day weekend.	Day 60: Sayonara, it's nearly time for our flight home. Great tour.