Onsen, Sumo, Golf and too much Tokyo

[Noel Mugavin]

Always enjoy getting out and about early and beating the crowds













There are escalators to take you up the hill. This early they weren't operating however.



Overlooking Sagami Bay where the sailing events in the 64 and 21 Olympics took place

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Sunrise over Sagami Bay

Back towards the hotel





Only issue with being up and about before the crowds, not everything's open. No Sea Candle for me today.




Went back down and more of a wander




Walked up to the Enoshima Enoden Station, grabbed myself an all day ticket then on the train and off at Hase Station.
10 minute walk or so and up to the Great Buddha

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back towards the station and to Hase-dera Temple










Coffee stop at the station, then on the train to Kamakura


Up to Komachidori and Giraffa Curry Pan

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Bit of a walk to walk off the calories. Grabbed another curry pan from a different store, simply for comparisons sake. Very good, Giraffa a touch better though.


Back to Kamakura Station, on to the JR line for the short ride to Ofuna Station




Grabbed some heat patches for my back from a pharmac_ across the road from the station. Then back in and on to the Shonan Monorail.




Gets some pace up, and ends at Enoshima, across from the Enoden Station. Nice views from the monorail station.


This guy makes many appearances


On to the Enoden and back to the hotel for a bit of a rest. Driving range on the same property as the hotel, unfortunately the pain in my back didn't allow me to have a swing.

Walk down to the station and interesting architecture. San Francisco weatherboard?


Couple of train transfers and found myself in Yokohama

 

[Noel Mugavin]

I went to Yokohama with a rough plan of strolling Minato Mirai and heading to Chinatown. Probably should have researched a bit more, as quite a walk from Yokohama Station to the waterfront area.


Was fading a bit, step count in the high 30 000's, back not happy. Thought I'd head in here for a sit down and a rest.


Has a nice rooftop area, very cold and very windy at this stage though.


Needed something to eat, really wanted a Gogo's curry. Was a shop near the station, and I was just about done by ow, so off I went.







So good




Back to the station, trip back to the hotel end of a big walking day

 

[craven morehead]

Recently returned for 2 weeks in Japan. Trip was booked and most planning done around May/June. Than a hiccup when due to new and unsociable neighbours moving in, sold up and moved after about 23 years in my humble abode. Fairly stressful time, even more so with very few housing options around, however all worked out in the end. Needless to say, very much looking forward to getting away.
Departure was just after midnight Sunday morning, Cathay Pacific, up the front.
Saturday was the dog's birthday, turned 10. She got pretty spoiled, couple of runs/walks, new toys, sausages from Bunnings and a visit to my old man.
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Not so happy a little later on in the night
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Flight took off on time, I slept a god 4 or 5 hours before arriving in Hong Kong.
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Breakfast prior to arrival,
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After arrival a visit to the Bridge for a shower and a coffee, then a wander.
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Time to board and unfortunately was a regional configuration.
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Lunch and the starter was amazing. Eel, octopus, fish cake and Japanese jellies. I'm not a big seafood eater, but would happily eat this any time.
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Mains was a beef that was cooked medium rare.

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Arrived into Narita, quickly through immigration and customs. Downstairs to the trains however is an absolute cough show. Little while to get the JR Pass, then a longer line up and wait to get the Skyliner ticket and a train that wasn't full. Haneda is so much calmer.
Into Ueno about 6.30pm, freezing cold and a 10 minute trek to the APA. Got rid of the shorts, thermals and long pants on and off I went looking for something to eat.
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Catching up

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Very early start as I wanted to beat the morning crush into Tokyo.
Then onto the shinkansen up to Nagano.






Quite a full shinkansen with plenty of people with their ski gear. No skiing for me though, the Shinano to Matsumoto.


Some very nice scenery






Nice, modern station with huge windows for views of the mountains






Mid-morning and a nice crisp 1 degree

 

[Noel Mugavin]

First impression of Matsumoto for me is that it had a German alpine feel to it.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Had a Portugese tart and grabbed a 1000 yen gachapon of Matsumoto Castle, then continued on to the real thing. Side note - been back nearly 3 weeks and still can;t get the damn thing open .



About 1300yen to enter










Inside the castle and shoes off course come off. However a bag is given to you for your shoes and you then carry the bag around. Fine for the most part, not so great having only 1 hand available for the steep staircases, especially so for a scared of heights, vertigo suffering just had a huge fall on ice bloke from Australia. Was fine for about 4 floors, then a particularly steep set, took a couple of steps up, and then thought better of it and backed out.
Was quite interesting in the castle, but an Osaka like elevator would have been greatly appreciated by myself.