Trekking the Nippon Highway

We arrived in Matsumoto by JR train at around midday. We got off the train and went to the hotel, dropped off our bags and headed out for the day. Fortunately we happened to show up in matsumoto on the day of the Soba noodle festival. We got to watch the noodlemakers do their thing, and had a soba noodle lunch in one of the many stands that were set up around the place. After lunch a few of the other group members and myself went over toward matsumoto castle looking to take a tour.

Surprisingly and quite pleasantly we were greeted by a goodwill guide named Tsune, who spoke english wrather well. He offered to take us on a tour through Matsumoto castle. His tour was efficent and almost too fast for me, however it was informative and it was nice to have someone to tell us about the history and significance of some of the fantastic items on display throughout the castle. Among these items were japanese rifles with some of the most intricuit (sp?) inlay work I have seen on firearms. Absolutely gorgeous. Anyway after the castle I wandered off around the back side of the castle…leaving my map in my pocket to see where the wind would take me. I just happened to stumble across Matsumoto jingo (shrine), and it was a pleasant little area with some very big trees in the backdrop. I didnt take any photos because I didnt feel right doing it for some reason. It wasnt particularly fantastic as shrines go, but it was a nice peaceful place to chill for a bit. I then walked around the shops a while and bought a bottle of sake that I hope will be good.

I ventured back toward the hotel after that, and relaxed for a while before going to sleep. Anyway before leaving the castle grounds I managed to capture this:

Up next, and hopefully within a reasonable space of time: Norikura and some killer fall colors!

Ok as promised: Stories and Photographs

Day 1 of my tour began slightly before dawn in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. We packed our day satchels and hopped the subway to the Tsukiji shoji (fish market) and saw some of the tuna auctions, and had an excellent sushi breakfast. The tuna were huge! After the market we headed for the Tokyo Tocho (Metropolitan Government Building). We arrived about 1/4 till 10 am and awaited Taka’s arrival for a bit, then the rest of the group decided to go on up to the 45th floor while I waited for her. I needed to use the gents room but when I got back I found her waiting to go up the elevator. We greeted eachother and then went on up to the 45th floor where everyone else was milling about. It was sort of cloudy that day so the view wasn’t as spectacular as it could have been, but the company was good.

We went back down the tower and hopped a train from shinjuku station over to Meiji Jingo (Shrine) The emporer Meiji was credited for bringing Japan into the modern age, and making her a power fit to compete with Britain and the United states for power in the early 1900s. We were fortunate enough to witness a wedding ceremony in progress while we were there and what an interesting bit that was. Also we happened to be there on nanagosan, which is the day that 7, 5, and 3 year olds celebrate the coming of those respective ages. So there were little kids everywhere dressed up in kimono and taking photos, and getting blessed.

After Meiji we turned loose in the kind of “young punk” district of Tokyo where all the young urbanites hang out. Taka and I went to find lunch and stopped at a ramen restaurant to eat. She had packed with her a bit of “green tea cake” that she had made from scratch and let me have a peice with lunch. WOW. It was really good! Also she was so kind as to buy me lunch.

We gathered back together at the station and jumped a train bound for a new developement district, and Hamarikyu gardens. This is a large Japanese style landscaping where aristocrats did everything from having tea ceremonies to hunting ducks. It was an interesting contrast to have such a nice peaceful park-like setting combined with a very modern and busy Tokyo skyline. It was like the trees just stopped in the distance and the buildings sprang up out of nowhere.

After wandering through the garden for a while the group settled in on a river taxi and rode it back to Asakusa. Takako and I split off from the group shortly after and got ourselves lost on the way back to the Hotel. After a few calls to Celia and some detailed directions, we found it. I dropped off a few things and then we got a ginza line train bound for the Ueno district. Once we arrived at the station we were greeted by Taka’s friend Bunjero, or Bunchan for short. We decided to go get some Tempura for dinner and had some good conversation and an excellent meal.

I think I am getting hooked on these Chu-hai things…

At any rate I left Taka in Ueno and made my own way back on the train for Asakusa…wasn’t any time for internet or anything else. I had a very long day! Anyway that pretty much sums up day one… more to come!

Ok sorry everyone, after I left Tokyo there was one spot for internet access and I just couldn't get any time in on that computer to check my e-mail let alone update my blog. Since then? I have ... [Continue reading this entry]

Only have a few minutes, I will post more later. I have safely arrived in Asakusa, Tokyo. Transmitting from my hotel!!]Ok Laterz.

In an effort to get myself more familiar with this Blog thing, I am doing some posts before my trip. They will likely be boring, but still...necessary. I spent this weekend shopping for my trip, and trying to ... [Continue reading this entry]

Well this will be the introductory post, I don't think I will give too much of the trip away here before I have done the things I plan to do. However, among the travel destinations are Kyoto, the Japan ... [Continue reading this entry]