Monday - May 5 - Nagano

We had a lovely Western Style breakfast in the Ryokan. Richard is fighting off a cold - darn. We thought this was the trip he wouldn't get one. Take picked us up in the Matsumoto Limo. We have been seeking the illusive Banana Frapuccino from Starbucks. Everywhere we go they are "sold out". Take stopped at three, yes three Starbucks this morning and we finally succeeded. It was quite worth it. Then we headed for Nagano and the snow monkeys. He warned us that we probably would not see the monkeys in the hot spring . . . but we lucked out and sure enough they were there bathing for the crowd. They even carried their babies and we got some good pics. It was another lovely hike, a beautiful stream of water and a geyser (piped) to add to the day. Notice the photographer laying in the bushes . . .

Jigokudani Snow Monkey trail

Enjoying the hot springs

photographer in the bush

Snow Monkey family

Friendly!

Take suggested that we drive to the highest highway in Japan, so we did. There were ski resorts all along the way and many beautiful little lakes. I loved seeing the skiers who would just pull off the side of the road and ski on down the hill. Forget the lifts. We found the marker for the summit and had fun taking pictures of a young group of bicyclists who had made it to the top. We bought some buns filled with pickled something, curry, or cheese and drank our peach juice (which was actually alcoholic) on the way back down the mountain.

highest point in Japan

Driving through the alps of Japan

Then we were off to the Temple where Take once again came through for us. As we approached the gate, there were shoes hanging on the fence including a pair of ballet slippers. If you hang your shoes there, it is supposed to give you strong legs! This should be a pilgrimage for every ballet dancer. He explained many of the customs of the temple: the washing, the incense, the ringing of the bell, clap hands twice, pray for your desire. We stood in line to make our way through a pitch black underground tunnel hoping to find the "key" to enlightenment. Sure enough we did. It was very dark but the key was squeaky - a dead give away. The monk was ringing the bell as we left and there were two little girls dancing on the platform.

Hang your shoes for strong legs!

Heading for the key to enlightenment..

more spring blossoms

I bought a beautiful little ceramic frog made by a local potter. We'll talk more about frogs later.

Take took us to a famous winery where we did a little tasting. The best part was actually the very small garden leading into the winery. Wasn't much impressed with the wine - very vinegary, although the bottles were pretty.

Winery garden

winery

Finally we stopped at a lovely little Japanese Restaurant Take's friend had recommended for soba noodles (buckwheat) and tempura. They eat them cold here with dipping sauce and wasabi, followed by the hot noodle broth which you poor into the leftover dipping sauce and drink - Take's favorite part. Again the pottery and dishes were intriguing. Richard had his soba noodles hot. The tempura is always excellent. How do these people stay so tiny and thin?? They are foodies!

Soba Noodles and tempura!

Let's talk slippers. Many places you go require that you remove your shoes and go sock footed. (Like in the temple and the underground tunnel). In addition, you must remove your shoes in the ryokan and wear slippers to your room where you remove your slippers. When you go to the bathroom, you remove your ryokan slippers and change into your bathroom slippers (only to be worn in the toilet area) and then change back into your ryokan slippers that you wear only to the entrance of your room where once again you remove them. So many slippers, so little dirt!

Tonight I tried out the onsen at the ryokan. Small, but lovely and three of us were not crowded.  I am tucking myself under the puffy comforter on my futon for a very deep sleep. Oyasumi nasai!