 Most viewed - NAGANO 長野県 |
This looks like Log No. 2 for Akimiya Shrine.85 views
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Ax man85 views
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Lots of forest.85 views
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Opposite side of my 8-mat room. Nice design of the sliding doors through which I enter the room from a small foyer. Every room has a different design.85 viewsKoishiya is cheap because it doesn't have hot spring water piped in. Instead, they drove us to the nearby Yorozuya ryokan that has a hot spring bath.
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Ilf Douga Museum, works by Takei Takeo 武井武雄余技作品展示室84 views
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Finally, something to photograph.84 views
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Train station conductor on the Nagano shinkansen.84 views
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Shimosuwa Station 下諏訪駅83 views
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Until we were stopped here. Sign says that only people with tickets can proceed further. Yeah, we walked all this way only to be told we cannot go further. Our destination was the Ki-otoshi slope where the huge logs slide down for the Yamadashi.83 views
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There it is, the slope.83 views
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Log No. 4 for Shimo-sha Shrine's Akinomiya Shrine. 秋宮四之柱83 views
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The Ki-otoshi slope up close. Very rough-looking. 木落とし坂83 views
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The log can move quite fast, even with all those people riding it.83 views
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Bridge to castle park82 views
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New Zealand panel82 views
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African drumming and dance82 views
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We had to wait until the Ki-otoshi at 1pm was over. That's the one we wanted to see. But the place was already too full.82 views
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This was my view of the slope.82 views
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82 views
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Another Onbashira log makes its way through.82 views
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82 views
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These people are from Suwa city.82 views
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Log standing by in front of Akimiya Shrine.82 views
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We waited in the rain for Onbashira Log No. 1 to be erected first at Akimiya Shrine at 10:00 am. However, we had to wait, standing up in the rain and in the crowd, for 2.5 hours before they finally started to raise the log.82 views
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Cabin attendant on the Nagano shinkansen.82 views
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Ilf Doga Museum81 views
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In Okaya, Nagano, Nakamura Naoko singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song." This is the first time this English version was sung in public outside Shiga Prefecture.81 views
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View from Kappabashi Bridge over Azusa River. 梓川81 views
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The trail is nice and flat, but can be snowy/icy and slippery. It's a nice and easy walk along the forest. In winter, you definitely need to be dressed warmly. The temperature was freezing when we visited in mid-Jan. 2016.81 viewsThe nearest train station is Yudanaka Station, little over an hour by Nagano Electric Railway train from Nagano Station. From Yudanaka Station, it's about 15 min. by car/taxi to the park entrance. A day trip from Tokyo is possible, but I highly recommend staying overnight at a nearby onsen (hot spring).
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View from train station overpass80 views
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Lala store in front of Okaya Station. A small city hall office inside might be able to give tourist info.80 views
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Entrance to the smaller hall80 views
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Brazilian school80 views
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Taiko drummers from Okaya Roman Taiko80 views
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People everywhere along the edge of the slope.80 views
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The logs are pulled by people from various districts or parishes in the Suwa region including Chino, Shimosuwa, Okaya, and Suwa.80 views
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No drones80 views
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Humans don't bathe in here. The monkeys poop in the water so you may see poop floating around. No smell though.80 views
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Ilf Doga Museum イルフ童画館79 views
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We had to walk it. This was April 10, 2004, one of the days for Shimo-sha Shrine's Yamadashi when they hauled the logs from the mountain forest.79 views
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After the Shimekake, we walked further.79 views
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79 views
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Everything is very ceremonial.79 views
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I'm told that this old truck has been abandoned here for many years. It has become a landmark at the end of the trail.79 views
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79 views
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) exhibition panel by Philbert Ono at Okaya, Nagano.78 views
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Exhibition panels 展示コーナー78 views
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Full-house audience. Many international groups provided free entertainment.78 views
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The numerous people and trees made it impossible to see the slope itself.78 views
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It was very steep and uncomfortable to sit on, so I decided to leave this place.78 views
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Japanese snow monkeys (macaque) live in the Shiga Kogen Highland area in the Nagano mountains. They have developed a custom of dipping in a hot spring built especially for them.78 views
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No selfie sticks.78 views
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Ilf Plaza, with shops and a culture center. イルフプラザ77 views
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Indonesian dance by Miyazaki Ani77 views
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The Jigokudani Yaen Koen snow monkey park, where the snow monkeys live, is part of the Joshin-etsu Kogen National Park in Shiga Kogen Highland.77 views
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77 views
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These monkeys are obviously accustomed to humans and they seem quite tame and well-behaved. As long as you keep your distance and don't disturb them or eat something in front of them.77 views
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Immediately down river from the monkey spa, more monkeys roam and hangout.77 views
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View of garden from castle tower76 views
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Go up these steps to the park admission gate.76 views
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Jigokudani (Hell Valley) is a common name in Japan for valleys that have volcanic steam vents and other hot stuff. (Japan's image of hell is "hot.") However, this was the only steaming vent I saw in the valley.76 views
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I must say that having snow is the key here. Without it, it wouldn't be worth the trouble of coming here.76 viewsMore info about the snow monkey park: http://en.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/about
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Lobby of Canora Hall75 views
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Exhibition area featuring native costumes, photos, etc.75 views
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song Exhibition panels. 「琵琶湖周航の歌」英語版の展示コーナー75 views
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Although monkeys appear in Japanese legends/folktales and may even serve as a divine messenger for certain Shinto gods, monkeys are generally viewed with disdain in Japan.75 views
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The monkeys always go comb through each other's fur for lice.75 views
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Park staff throwing grain on the ground to feed the monkeys along the river.75 views
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Doga-kan-dori street leading to Ilf Plaza.74 views
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Go straight on this road in front of the station.74 views
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In one swing, he cuts the rope.74 views
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The ax man is ready to cut the rope.74 views
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A total of 8 logs are slid down this slope.74 views
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A thick jacket, ski cap covering your ears, gloves, thick socks, and hiking shoes are a must (no high heels, sneakers, dress shoes, etc.). Hand warmers (kairo) are good too. The entrance has a souvenir shop where you can rent winter clothing.74 views
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Jigokudani Onsen spa is near the snow monkey park. This ryokan named Korakukan has baths for humans and monkeys.74 views
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The hut has these informative sheets about the snow monkeys.74 views
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Why snow monkeys bathe in the hot spring.74 views
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Walk all the way toward the back of the valley, pay the ¥500 park admission, and you'll see this. Tourists crowd around the onsen bath made especially for the snow monkeys.74 viewsIn a beautiful location next to the river. Just the day before, there was little snow here.
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This is the only onsen bath where the monkeys bathe. All the photos of bathing snow monkeys you have seen were taken here. But not all monkeys bathe here. Only some of them bathe.74 viewsThe place is most crowded with tourists in the morning and lunch time. Most are foreign tourists, some Chinese too. Few Japanese tourists. The snow monkeys are more famous outside Japan than in Japan.
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They steal food from souvenir shops, they can attack you for your bag of food, and they may hangout along the road for handouts from drivers.74 views
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Lunch time for the monkeys.74 views
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Monkey souvenirs at the gift shop at the trail's entrance.74 views
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There are no buses nor taxis to where we want to go.73 views
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Another log coming to the slope.73 views
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After walking 30 min. or so, signs of civilization. "Don't feed the monkeys and don't eat in front of the monkeys."73 views
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Park rules73 views
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Near the monkey's onsen bath is this hut where you can take a break or warm up before heading back. It's literally a lifesaver. Wish they at least had a foot bath too.73 views
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Baby monkeys have no fear of humans.73 views
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Monkey totally ignored this bag.73 views
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Next to the monkey spa is a live cam which you can see online here. You can see the monkeys bathing during the day and see how much snow there is.73 viewsIf you visit the snow monkeys, you can tell your friends to watch you on the live cam (updated every minute).
http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/livecam/monkey/index.htm
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Ilf Doga Museum, works by Takei Takeo 武井武雄作品展示室72 views
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The trail also has these informative signs explaining about the monkeys. Also helpful to know how far you have walked and how much more to go.72 views
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We had to wait until the 1pm Ki-otoshi log came out.71 views
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Each log is preceded by flag bearers.71 views
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Listen to one of the song versions here62 views
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They have separate times for men and women to bathe in these large baths.56 views
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Yorozuya's outdoor bath was great too.54 views
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Shibu Onsen is famous for providing guests of most of the ryokans in Shibu Onsen the chance to tour nine different bathhouses to bathe for free. You receive a key to enter each bathhouse.49 viewsHere's a map of those bathhouses. The baths are all segregated (by sex, not by race/nationality).
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A street bath.49 views
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JR Hotaka Station is the nearest station to the Daio Wasabi Farm.48 views
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You can walk around the wasabi fields which look quite vast. They are shaded in the warmer months.48 views
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A publicity team dressed in period costume greets visitors to Ueda Castle.48 views
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Inside the North Turret.48 views
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Yorozuya's Momoyama-buro hot spring onsen bath. Large, but it was steamy. I was the only one there.48 views
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JR Hotaka Station47 views
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Main gate of Ueda Castle.47 views
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Back side of main gate.47 views
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Samurai helmet monument47 views
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Get off at Yudanaka Station.47 views
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About the street bath.47 views
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Shibu Onsen street.47 views
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Eggs soft-boiled by the hot spring water.47 views
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Cautions for taking a hot spring bath.47 views
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Express train back to Nagano Station from Yudanaka.47 views
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Inside the express train back to Nagano Station from Yudanaka.47 views
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Wasabi plants46 views
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Daio Wasabi Farm's founding pioneers. The founder was Fukazawa Yuichi (1886-1941).46 views
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Processing wasabi plants, cutting off the leaves, etc.46 views
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Wasabi Mascot46 views
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Main gate of Ueda Castle and North Turret.46 views
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Sanada Shrine worship hall.46 views
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Sanada Clan crest on prayer tablets for sale.46 views
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Nagano Dentetsu train stops.46 views
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Water is pretty hot.46 views
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Koishiya entrance. 46 views
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My room at Koishiya in Shibu Onsen.46 views
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My room at Koishiya. Tokonoma alcove46 views
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Adjacent to Shibu Onsen is Yudanaka Onsen, another hot spring town that is seamless with Shibu Onsen.46 views
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The Koishiya staff drove me to a hot spring bath at a large inn called Yorozuya (officially spelled Yoroduya) in neighboring Yudanaka Onsen.46 viewsWebsite: http://yudanaka-yoroduya.com/
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Goodbye Yudanaka!46 views
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Nice scenery from JR Matsumoto Station to Hotaka Station. 45 views
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Map of Daio Wasabi Farm. It is quite expansive.45 viewsAddress: 〒399-8303長野県安曇野市穂高3640
3640 Hotaka, Azumino, Nagano
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Clean water flows through the fields.45 views
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Busts of the wasabi farm's founding pioneers.45 views
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Wasabi soft-serve ice cream. Quite good.45 views
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Wasabi furikake45 views
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Ueda Castle was the base of the Sanada Clan who defended the castle against the Tokugawa in 1585 and 1600. The battle here prevented Tokugawa Hidetada from joining Ieyasu at Sekigahara in 1600.45 views
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South Turret of Ueda Castle.45 views
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North Turret of Ueda Castle.45 views
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Giant Sanada Stone.45 views
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View from the East Turret over the East (main) Gate. Where we entered the castle grounds.45 views
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North Turret of Ueda Castle.45 views
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Sanada Shrine torii.45 views
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Behind Sanada Shrine is the West Turret, the castle's only original structure.45 views
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Shibu Onsen is also where most people stay when visiting the famous snow monkeys at Jigokudani Yaen Koen monkey park.45 views
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This is Bathhouse No. 3. I didn't do the bathhouse tour though (外湯めぐり sotoyu meguri). Just one onsen bath was enough for me before my natural 45 views
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The street bathhouses are numbered, but you don't need to dip in them in sequence. Also, you shouldn't enter more than three baths a day. The heat may be too much, and your skin oil depletes.45 views
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Dinner at a restaurant near Yudanaka Station.45 views
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Reminder that this was the site of the 1998 Winter Olympics.45 views
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One of Japan's largest wasabi farms is a tourist attraction. Clean water from the mountains provide an ideal environment to grow wasabi.44 viewsEntrance to Daio Wasabi Farm. Open: 9:00 am–5:20 pm (closes at 4:30 pm during Nov. to Feb.). Free admission
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Wasabi for sale. It's a root plant.44 views
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You can sample the farm's cold spring water.44 views
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Daio Wasabi Farm's water originates from snow melt from the Northern Alps. It flows from a spring within the farm.44 views
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Ice cream time44 views
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Wasabi beer44 views
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Wasabi-colored benches.44 views
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Taxi ride back to Hotaka Station from Daio Wasabi Farm.44 views
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JR Hotaka Station44 views
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Inside JR Hotaka Station.44 views
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Ueda Castle inner moat around the Honmaru.44 views
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Back side of main gate and South Turret.44 views
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West Turret as seen from the South Turret.44 views
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View from the South Turret.44 views
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East Turret over the East (main) Gate.44 views
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Inside the East Turret over the East (main) Gate.44 views
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The turrets were used to store spears and other weapons.44 views
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Ueda banners44 views
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Sanada Shrine44 views
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West Turret, Ueda Castle's only original structure. It was closed already.44 views
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West Turret as seen from the train.44 views
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To go to Shibu Onsen or Yudanaka Onsen, we catch the Nagano Dentetsu train at Nagano Station. Same train line to see the snow monkeys.44 views
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Getting off at Yudanaka Station.44 views
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Border between Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen.44 views
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Koishiya, a budget ryokan inn where I stayed in Shibu Onsen. Koishiya opened in the 1920s-30s, but closed in 2013. A company bought the building and renovated it and reopened the inn in Aug. 2015. 44 viewsWebsite: http://yadoroku.jp/koishiya/en/
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