Today we went for a walk around Matsumoto city. We ate breakfast at a coffee shop by the station Vie de France, which sold all sorts of unusual cakes, such as anko paste doughnuts, sweet potato muffins, pumpkin stuffed muffins and many more.Then we walked towards the castle. On the way we past the Yokashira shrine. Alongside it is a narrow street of shops and eateries, where frogs seem to be the coomon theme. There was a huge sculture of a lizard fighting a frog, which was a float to be carried at festivals. There was also a shrine dedicated to frogs.

From there we made it to Matsumoto Castle, the oldest surving donjon of its type and era. It is sometimes known as the Crow Castle due to its colour. It was very eyecatching. On the outside it appears to have five floors but there is a hidden floor between the second and third layers.

Some of the staircases were very narrow and there was barely space for two people to pass. Also some of the steps were 40 cm apart which was tough for us, but even tougher for some of the tiny Japanese pensioners who were sightseeing there.

At the end of the castle tour there is a moon viewing room that opens up on three sides. It must be wonderful to sit in the room on a warm evening watching the moon rise.

Having seen the castle, we wandered through the streets and came across a shrine, Jyorinji, which had huge papier-mache dogs. Nearby was the karakuri clock which we photgraphed but didn't realised it opened and had figures in it, on the hour.

Nearer to our hotel we checked out the Station quarter that was crammed with small restaurants and dodgy hostess bars.

Then, it came on raining, and we headed back to our hotel for cover. We watched cyclists in the rain with their umbrellas.

About six thirty we headed out for dinner. The restaurant we wanted to eat at was shut so we walked down a famous street, Nakamachi, where there are many restaurants. We saw one soba joint that sais it had an English menu so we went in. On the menu was vegetable tempura and soba noodles. We ordered it and also decided to have sake warmed.

The sake came very hot and after one thimblefull Joan could feel the effect. It came with an appetiser which was tofu with onion and what Joan suspected was fishflakes so we waited until the main dish came to ask the cook. We asked and he said it was fish. He then pointed out that the noodles were in fish soup too. We explained we were veggie. It was a bit embarrassing. We said we would pay but couldn't eat the food. He came back and asked us to pay half price which was kind. It was a real shame as the food looked delicious, but...... Howvwer we were grateful he told us it was fish stock as we didn't want bad tummies again.

Still raining, we found a steak and pasta restaurant and ordered dinner. Towards the end of dinner a gentleman came and asked us in impeccable English if he could help us in any way. He explained he was the septagarian owner and had been born upstairs. He was a real gent.

Still tipping down we made it back to the hotel.