Japan Day 7 - Matsumoto Castle and Bus to Takayama

After my breakfast of cold fried chicken, we checked out then walked about one kilometre to the castle that this city is named after. It was a sunny day but quite cool, maybe 5°C? 

Completed in the late 16th century, Matsumoto castle is a famous historic site in Japan. The castle hasn’t changed much. The outside of it is original as well as the inside inside and it  is surrounded by a series of moats.

Characters and historical characters roam the grounds and we got our picture taken with some of them. Ninja!

There are seven floors and each successive one is reached by a series of stairs, some of which are so steep that navigating them was quite the challenge.

On top of that, we had to remove our shoes and the floors were bitterly cold. I went down a whole lot faster than I went up, that's for sure!

The fall colours were gorgeous and I stayed after our tour was over to take more pictures.

There were ducks and swans on the water, and huge fish were begging for food by swimming to the side and opening and closing their mouths.

After I had exhausted all possible photographic angles, I walked back to the downtown area and scouted around for a place to buy some lunch. I found a huge department store and headed to the basement – the grocery department. It was ginormous and sold all manner of baked goods as well as freshly cooked and packaged deli items. 

Travel to the next city on our agenda was via bus this time. The trip was over 2 1/2 hours and I slept for a good part of it. I woke up to some gorgeous scenery and a road that twisted and turned like nobody's business. 

We got off at Takayama and were met at the bus station by the owner of the inn we are staying at. He dropped us off downtown where we wandered down some old streets.

We stopped at a sake tasting shop. You can help yourself and the tasting is free but you must buy a cup for ¥200. There are several sake shops in the area, all with the same tasting model.

We found a place that sold the powdered green tea I enjoyed in Tokyo so I bought some for myself as well as for gifts. 

Our inn is amazing! The bedrooms have tatami mats with traditional futon beds. The inn also has its own onsen, a traditional Japanese hot spring bath. Before you use it, you must wash and rinse yourself. Men and women bathe separately in the nude. 

Our supper tonight was included and what a meal it was! We had a huge variety of things and I did try everything.

I really didn't care for the eel. It had a most strange texture and I would have spit it out if I could have. I also didn't care for the other raw meat. The vegetables and salads were wonderful and there was grilled salmon as well as beef that was cooked in individual pots in front of us.

The sauce made for that was most delicious. I also took a big mouthful of wasabi not knowing what it was or how to eat it! Yee-ikes!! It was so hot my eyes were burning. 

After dinner we had a chopstick contest to see who could pick up the most chocolate covered candies in 60 seconds. I am getting better but I came in second last place.

Some of us retired to a neighbouring room where we made three origami crafts: a crane, a samurai helmet and a frog. Ah, memories of great 2 social studies!

I get a room by myself tonight and it is quite lovely. Breakfast is included tomorrow and is at 7:30 am. Time to hit the hay! Or should I say tatami mat!