Japan
Winter 2023
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| DAY 10: No turning back from Mt. Inari hike-trail. (Record: 1:36H>top, 4.5 km., 12,000 steps, 10,000 torii-gates) (Jan-Feb 2023) |
Journal Entry... Cheers! to a post-pandemic travel reboot, this time, out of the country. Slowly, but surely; need I say safely? Traveling along to celebrate the hubby's birthday; it's his treat as usual, lol. He had celebrated his 50th in Brugge, and his 52nd in London, and three pandemic years later, rings up to his "55th." All right then, [mask or no mask,] let's go fly and head over to our destination: Japan - land of the rising sun, even in the coldest of winter, plus a whole lot more of animation!
30-jan: Took flight via #JapanAirlines that least expectedly gave our choice of carrier, ANA Airlines, a run for the money in terms of in-flight service and flight fare, btw. Check-in: #HotelCenturySouthernTower offering the grand, Westside views of Tokyo, high up on the 28th floor; hotel lobby was already up high on the 20th floor to begin with.
1-feb: Happy Birthday, le poupee, and you're "55!" Let's go on a day trip to Kawagoe, and first-try, food trip yakiniku in Shibuya... which would have been complete, grabbing your own "Mission to the Moon" at Ginza. Here's wishing you an overload of cheers!!!
3-feb: A change of location base, today. We hopped on the Shinkansen at Tokyo Station, and headed to our next destination city: Nagano. One-and-a-half hours later, I was in my "fur & boots," to beat the cold, Nagano winter; mind you, it was biting cold! Check-in: #ChisunGrandHotel... walking the 5-minute distance, from Nagano station. It was 3PM, and way past lunch. I made a checklist of Nagano's local foods to eat right away, to find most food shops converging back to Nagano Station. [facepalm to walking]
Next day: A day trip to Matsumoto, which is known for the "Matsumoto-jo," and dubbed by some as the "Black Crow Castle." Seeing it up close is to believe.
5-feb: Good morning, Nagano! Woke up to a snowy morning. Snow is significant for today's snowmobile activity in Hakuba. The Japanese alps is living up to its winter promise. A snow-filled day means, "Snowmobile fun ride for two!" c/o #LionAdventureHakuba So what's the best comfort meal to cap that snowmobile ride and wintry outdoors when in Nagano? Checklist no. 6, local foods to eat-- "Spicy miso ramen"... nom, nom, nom! Just a pedestrian crossing from Nagano station, it's where most locals eat, tourists like us included.
To be continued...)
