Dawn rain shower was a good reason to stay in bed a bit longer, thankfully our barbecue shelter kept us dry.
Obviously couldn’t find our usual muesli and yoghurt breakfast yesterday.
The observatory was easy enough to work out, what the train in the sky is about – I’m unsure.
Big descent out of the hills first up, five hundred metres in five-ish kilometres, through a few tidy small villages.
Rice drying with raincoats.
Unfortunately the last steep part of the descent was in a long snow tunnel, so we couldn’t see much. After a short section following river down valley and a michi-no-eki stop, we turned south and regained most of the altitude we’d just lost getting to Miasa.
A smaller climb and drop took us to the outskirts of Omachi, where we had an interesting chat with a ski guide outside a konbini. Rest of the day skirting towns in wide, flat valley floors. Surprised to find a well-maintained cycle path taking us most of the way to Matsumoto.
Signs of recovering from flood damage…
Bit cloudy for much peak viewing, but nice to be surrounded by mountains.
Took a short while to work out what this complex was, big building and large grounds.
An enclosed driving school training area – cars, trucks, motorbikes all over the place.
Some fine examples of grain stores to be seen.
Strangely large bike parking area in what seemed nowhere in particular – but probably was somewhere.
Nearing Matsumoto, it was about now a scratch in my throat developed enough that I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t getting sick. Thankfully we had a few days off the bikes planned.
Blue raincoats now.
Reaching the city, we headed straight for this well-reviewed ramen restaurant; helped by being in an old grain store.
We were not disappointed – best ramen of the trip so far.
Checking into a good hostel, in a restored building, I spent a lot of the rest of the day snoozing and avoiding the heat outside. I did venture out a little later in the evening to see some of the sights.
Matsumoto Castle.
A giant dog!
Giant frogs too, sort of.
