Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 7

Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😄

9 November 2018 (Kamikochi-Matsumoto)

A gloomy morning, we set off early back to the Hirayu Onsen Bus Terminal and ended our group itinerary as we saw MX off to Nagoya and us to Matsumoto.
(I don't think I can forget how difficult it was to lug my bil's green luggage through the rain alongside hay/little stone pathways from the lodge to the bus terminal. Everyone was helping me wipe the luggage at the bus station... *touched*)

Arrived in Matsumoto
Map: 1 Chome-3-21 Fukashi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0815, Japan

The bus dropped us off near our hotel for the night, Alpico Plaza Hotel, which was quite convenient.

With less than 24 hours in Matsumoto, we set off immediately to explore the town.
First stop, Nawate Street [Map: Japan, 〒390-0874 Nagano, Matsumoto, Ōte, 3-chōme−4−３ 松本Ｍ―１].

Autumn colours!!!

It was in Matsumoto that I truly felt that it was Autumn... 😍 [it was pretty much winter everywhere else, esp. in Kamikochi]


Lunch @ Soba Club Sasaki
Map: 4 Chome-8-3 Ote, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0874, Japan

GOMA-TOFU. That is one of our takeaway memories from Matsumoto ❣❣ I don't know how to describe the goodness of this awesomely dense sesame tofu-but-not-tofu (if that makes sense). 

And of course, the main dish, SOBA.

They only had cold soba when we visited, I believe this was Mori Soba. 

Autumn colours in Matsumoto ❣

Former Kaichi School Musuem
Map: 2-chōme-4-１２ Kaichi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0876, Japan

[No shoes were allowed into the school museum but they had slippers available for visitors to change into before entering.]

The autumn colours... ♡

Matsumoto Castle
Map: 4-１ Marunouchi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0873, Japan

With the day almost over, we brisk-walked to the last stop for the day, Matsumoto Castle! [brisk-walked and zoomed around the town the whole day 😎]

After a day of gloomy skies, the SUN!

If there's one thing I note about the castles, its definitely the steep stairways between floors. 😅


Streets of Matsumoto

All the colours in one picture 💘

Motte, Kaeru (持って帰る) meaning take-outs... I don't really remember what we had for dinner that night, but I remember, the Carbonara fries & being taught how to eat cup noodles by Chef Jole. 😆

Next post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 8-9
Previous post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 6

Photo credits: S9 Galaxy & my travel pals @Jole @mx

Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 5

Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😄

7 November 2018 (Takayama-Shinhotaka Ropeway-Kamikochi)

Departed from Takayama early to our 1st main activity of the day - Shinhotaka Ropeway!

 ^ Bus combo coupon for Takayama → Shinhotaka Ropeway → Matsumoto
(can be used within 3 days)

To get to Shinhotaka Ropeway, we had to take the bus from Takayama to Hirayu Onsen (which is like a bus terminal station) and wait for another bus to the ropeway. 

At Hirayu Onsen, there are luggage lockers available to store them away so we could travel fuss-free and enjoy without thinking about the baggages. 

A public foot bath available for use while waiting for the bus @ Hirayu Onsen

Just look at the steam emitting from this precious onsen ♥ 

(personally, I felt my legs were cooking in there but its a kind of tormenting bliss, if you get what I mean)

View en route to Shinhotaka Ropeway

Shinhotaka Ropeway
Map: 710-58 Okuhida Onsengō Kansaka, Takayama, Gifu 506-1421, Japan

Let the pictures speak for themselves... ♡

Every angle, every turn... everything was simply picturesque.

 Mandatory shots of my travel buddies...

Lunch @ Shinhotaka Ropeway. 
All that needs to be done: buy a coupon for whatever you want, hand it over to the staff, and wait for food to be ready. (I really love these machines ❣ )

Curry & Rice with Hamburg~! 

Hida Beef Croquette

Kamikochi
Map: Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1520, Japan

Every single second is so precious when faced with beauty like these.... 🎔

Nishi-itoya Mountain Lodge
Map: Kamikochi-4469-1 Azumi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1516, Japan

Upon checking in, we were warmly welcomed by the reception staff who enlightened us on the rules of the lodge, our meal timings (there are specific timings to choose from) and a rough introduction on what we could do around the area.

Japanese-style Room: Futons are kept in the day and are being set up while you're having dinner

We thought... being in the mountains, there was a chance we might get hungry (I mean, you probably cant find food in the mountains right), but, how wrong were we: 

We were too full... TOO FULL, to have any kind of supper.

An early night for a full day of hike the next day~☆

Next post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 6
Previous post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 4

Photo credits: S9 Galaxy & my travel pals @Jole @mx