Sunday 16th April train to Soja station and a bike ride around the Kibi Plain in beautiful weather, first we visited a temple, then cycling around paddy fields when we stumbled upon a festival at a small village and we were the only Europeans they were demonstrating making rice flour (which I joined in), various dance routines, lots of food and drink stalls and the Japanese Minister of Culture was there, he wanted us in some photo's with him, our guide said we w...

Thursday 13th April, we visited Matsumoto Castle and it's Japan's oldest, constructed in the 1590's, it's spectacular with the cherry blossom in bloom and the snow topped Alps in the distance. There's a fine collection of samurai armour and swords on display. Later bus to Takayama, next morning short bus trip to Hida Folk Village to see how the mountain people lived and believe me they had it tough. Then back into town to watch a traditional puppet show then a pa...

Tuesday 11th April off to Nagano in the Japanese Alps we traveled on the bullit train average speed 120 mph with a top speed of 180 mph and it was cold with rain yuck. Dropped our bags at the hotel and went to a small bakery where we made our own lunch small pastries some with sweet red beans and some with mixed vegetables after watching the old baker cook them on an open fire we ate them with geeen tea. Then Zenkoji Temple a beautiful old wooden structure after...

We arrived Saturday evening, met our tour leader, had a quick snack and an early night in our very small hotel room (our caravan is bigger). Guess what it rained most of Sunday, it felt quite refreshing at first after all the heat we'd experienced the last couple of months but we soon felt cold (what a shame) went to a Temple shrine in a lovely park with huge mature trees. Afternoon onto a small river lined with beautiful cherry blossom trees in full bloom (they'...