They visit the castle and lakes of Matsumoto Shirakabako Suwako. Matsumoto is a famous castle in the Nagano region and the lakes of Shirakaba and Suwa ice over during winter.

We passed around Shirakaba-ko or Shirakaba lake, which is still frozen and white. It was very beautiful.

Then we went near Suwa-ko or Suwa lake. We could see Suwa lake from higher point of express way. Also we could see ‘Yatsugatake’, 8 mountains in a row.

Then we went to today’s main landmark, Matsumoto castle. Matsumoto castle is one of the three Japanese treasure castle (Other two are Hikone & Himeji castle).

View of Matsumoto castle was magnificent!

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We arrived ‘Madarao Onsen’. It’s near Madarao ski park too.

The outside bath was outstanding! And there was also a sauna along with an indoor pool. Pity we could not take photos there as other few naked people in there. The photos are from their website.

Though that did not stop one Dad, who made his son stand naked with the snow in the background while taking photo’s from his phone.

Normally tattoo’s are not allowed in the Onsen’s because of the affiliation with Japanese gangs such as Yakuza, but Nige spotted one guy with his back covered in tattoos and noted that no one seemed to bothered by this. June’s thoughts were that this guy could possibly be a junior member of a gang.

Finished the day with Ramen dinner with June’s mother and her friends at June’s mother regular restaurant bar.

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They visit the Ganshoin temple first which is also the starting point of the hike. And then start the hike.

Unfortunately June was suffering from nasty cough from her cold and she gave up hiking at the first break area. Instead June enjoyed taking photos of beautiful blossoms and things.

Nige and her father carried on hiking. There were few bells for dispersing bears. Be warned the bells are quite loud so you might want to turn your volume down.

At the top you will have oustanding views of Obuse town and the famous Nagano north 5 mountains called ‘Hokushin Gogaku’. June’s father has climbed them all.

The trek took about 3 hours at a leisurely pace.

Afterwards we went to Onsen to relax. And then finished up with Sushi with June’s Mum at the Kappa sushi chain which offers plates of sushi for 100 Yen.
 
 

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Nagano station had spent a long time refurbishing and recently reopened into a modern sophisticated station. Lots of different kinds of Nagano food and suvenior shops in the station buildings.

There were several big mascots there to promote new national park in Nagano. Nige was so excited that he ran up to dance with them.

We had nice Japanese style lunch with friends too. Try Nagano food if you have chance, it’s delicious

Fish market inside Nagano station buildings, these are carried from Japanese ocean.

Had nice dinner with friends, this is called ‘Kushiage’ or fried skewers.

We had a great Japanese lunch and dinner, met some very nice new friends and finished up with a coffee at Nagano station’s starbucks while waiting for June’s Mum to pick us up.

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We went to a tiny villege in Nagano prefecture, Ogawa village. There is small trecking path near the buildings, so we climbed. You can see beautiful north Alps from there.

Beautiful views.
 

Entrance and there was smoking area and observation.
 

There are ‘Kotatsu’ in dining area. ‘Kotatu’ is the Japanese table which warms your legs.
 

We moved to ‘Oyaki’ baking hut. A man was baking ‘Oyaki’.
 

Free Miso soup and pickles were served there.
 

They have old traditional style of house and stove and they bake ‘Oyaki’ pancake there. It was delicious! You can only eat this type of Oyaki here or their shops in Nagano.
 

Oyaki hut from outside.
 

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Nagano is about 2 hours away from Saitama and 3 hours from Tokyo.
 

Nagano station was completely new after renovation.
 

Lots of delicious Nagano fruit and food.
 

We went to Soba (Japanese buckwheat noodle) restaurant in north of Nagano. Soba is speciality food in the region. Delicious!
 

Then we went to our first Onsen (natural hot springs) for the last one year. There was a lot of snow here yet.　
 

You can see superb view from the Onsen as the bath is located outside. Onsen water makes you keep warm after while you hop out, it has serveral good health effects.

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