Japan 2019 Trip Day 1: Explore around Nagano
[Introduction]
Our (wife and I) first ever trip to Japan (after saying for so long)! It is a red-eye flight from Singapore to Haneda International Airport via Japan Airlines JL38 on Business Class.
Upon clearing immigration, collecting our luggage, exchanging our JR Passes at a booth a few steps away after stepping out of immigration, plus a couple of train transfers before taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station (phew, that’s quite a handful).
Still pleasantly surprised that I navigated through the transfers in less than 30 minutes for a first timer, although it was a rush for us (cause we don’t wait to miss it and the next train will reach our destination 1.5 hours later).
Monorail: Haneda International to Hamamatsucho Station
JR: Hamamatsucho to Tokyo Station
Shinkansen: Switching to the Shinkansen platform to go to Nagano Station (Hakutaka 561)
Long story but due to YOLO changes we never stayed or explored Tokyo, even though both our entry and exit flights are at Haneda International Airport.
But the following are the cities we visited during this trip: Nagano, Ueda, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Toyama, Matsumoto, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Hida-Takayama, Hida-Furukawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Okayama, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Yufuin, Hakata
[Trip Report]
Day 1: Explore around Nagano [current post]
Day 2: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Day 3: Matsumoto Castle, Nakamachi District, Matsumoto City Museum of Art and night exploring around Nagano
Day 4: Nagano Zenkoji Temple and Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District
Day 5: Shirakawago
Day 6: Hida-Takayama, Hida-Furukawa, and “Your Name” location spots
Day 7: Kanazawa Omicho Market, Kenrokuen Garden, and Kanazawa Castle Park
Day 8: Explore around Osaka
Day 9: Osaka Shinsekai, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Glion Museum, and Cosmo Tower Observatory
Day 10: Osaka Castle, Gozabune Boat, HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, and Kuchu Teien Observatory
Day 11: Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkakuji, and Yasaka Shrine
Day 12: Osaka Dotonbori, Kaiyukan, and Shinsekai
Day 13: Kyoto Fushimi Inari, Ginkakuji, and Arashiyama
Day 14: Okayama Korakuen, Okayama Castle, and Kojima Jeans Street
Day 15: Miyajima
Day 16: Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, Peace Memorial Museum
Day 17: Yufuin
Day 18: Hakata Ohori Park, Fukuoka Castle Ruins, and Fukuoka Tower
Day 19: Nanzoin Temple
[Travel Date]
2019-10-27 to 2019-11-14
Apple decor in MIDORI mall
Nagano
[Main Content]
After a mad rush to make it for the Shinkansen (Hakutaka 561) from Haneda International Airport, which I still have 20 minutes buffer in the end. Finally reached Nagano Station with no drama, went over to the Hotel Metropolitan Nagano to leave our luggage with the hotel staff because it is still too early for check in.
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue
Nagano
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue
Nagano
[Lunch at Shinshu Soba no Kusabue]
We had lunch at Shinshu Soba no Kusabue, which is a decent place for Shinshu Soba.
Do click on the link for the detailed review and full photos.
After lunch as per our plan, we wanted to go to Ueda for a half day trip, but some trains are cancelled in the afternoon (as still on recovery mode from Typhoon Hagibis) which I wasn’t aware of.
Decided to just walk around Nagano city then!
Arukuma at the Coin Lockers
Nagano
Nagano’s mascot “Arukuma”, a walking bear with an apple hat at the Coin Lockers area in Nagano Station. By the way, Nagano is famous for its fruit produce, especially apples and grapes.
Buildings outside of Nagano Station
Nagano
Nagano
Sidewalk
Nagano
Antique Store
Nagano
Construction Site
Nagano
Just walking around Nagano towards the direction of Zenkoji Temple.
Nagano
Nagano
Postbox
Nagano
Nagano
Getting closer to Zenkoji Temple, also start to see more residential buildings and shops along the way.
Nagano
Nagano
Nagano
Close to the Zenkoji Temple now, crossing the street will be the touristy area prior to the temple.
Nagano
Entrance to the Zenkoji Temple, also did some exploring around but the gloomy weather discouraged me to take much photos. So we decided to just walk back to the city instead. (We came back on another morning, which has good lighting and weather!)
Nagano
Fruits at a minimart
Nagano
Fruits at a minimart
Nagano
Also walked past a minimart, bought some grapes and apples too! It is cheaper than the supermarket ones, but definitely a lower grade (non-uniform size and/or not as nice aesthetically but still fresh).
Nagano
Main street of Nagano Station and Hotel Metropolitan Nagano
Nagano
Sanada Clan Armor
Ueda
Sanada Clan Armor
Ueda
Sanada Clan armor displays at Ueda Station.
Rikitei
Ueda
Rikitei
Ueda
[Dinner at Rikitei]
Took the shinkansen to Ueda just for dinner at Rikitei, which is one of the best Tonkatsu in Ueda (as per Tabelog).
Do click on the link for the detailed review and full photos.
[Closing]
After dinner, we went back to Nagano and have a relatively early rest to prepare for tomorrow’s long day trip to Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route!
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