17th March, Arrive Tokyo and head to Nagano

So our trip to Norway and Finland to see the Northern Lights has just finished but not our holiday! We flew out of Helsinki and at 10am we land in Tokyo. Lets see what Japan has to offer.

I know it is Japan, look at all the buttons to drive the toilet.

The Reindeer driving licence I got in Finland will not help with this

A little man holds a card with our name on it. He gives us a bundle of train tickets and gives us instructions with a good luck smile. (he knows we don't speak Japanese)

So we are making our way to Yudanaka where the Snow Monkeys can be seen with no other help. Probably should not be doing this being so exhausted.

1st step express train from airport to main Tokyo station. Tick!
Go up 5 floors in train station and find the bullet train to Hakutaka but get of at Nagano. Tick!

Tokyo main station is massive, unbelievable!

No English signs seen but plenty of Info people who gave instructions.

Now to a smaller train to Yudanaka. Tick!

We climb into the mountains through the fruit growing area to the snow fields. We can see people skiing on the hills.

Finally reached our hotel just in time to get dressed for dinner and try a traditional meal.

Who is a pretty boy!

You know me, I ate everything! Carolyn was a little more selective.

Bed time, even if it is on the floor.

18th March, Yudanaka : We see the Snow Monkeys

 After getting off the floor where we spent the night we had breakfast and then headed of to see the snow monkeys.

Unfortunately most of the snow has just gone and we have a temperature of 6 degrees.
So our little Monkey friends may have lost the urge to sit in the hot water.
But there may be a few die hard swimmers, let's see. It is a 5 minute drive from the hotel.

Then a nice little walk.

Back to our hotel and a little walk around it.

The hotel is actually a Rykon, a hotel containing large public baths fed by hot spring waters.

There are 3 or 4 similar hotels here. Having the spa at home means sitting with 10 naked men in a big bath just doesn't do it for me.

But some interesting walking anyway.

We finish with another simple dinner before retiring to the floor.

19th March, Zenkoji Fuchinobo Temple, Nagano

 We have breakfast (western) and catch a train to Obuse where we meet our guide.

Originally this little town thrived as a trading post but these days it has a number of Sake distilleries, Chestnut industry (confectionery) and fruit made into Jam.
Tried a number of Sake and interesting how different they tasted. Obuse is also famous for a painter, Mr Hokusai. We visited a museum displaying his works.
Also lots of little temples.

Sake distillery and storage

And strange art

Back on a train and onto Nagano.

10 minutes out is the Zenkoji temple part of which is our accomodation, drop bags off first.

Then onto the main temple

The steps into the final temple were very big! Carolyn worked out why when she discovered his Budda's footprints.

To our room followed by a vegan meal.