Kurinokinoshita Yamanakako-mura

first day; we had to catch a bus from shinjuku to hakuba which took us 4.5 hrs to get there. when we arrived at hakuba we've arranged a pick up from the hotel that we will be staying for the next 5 days. (hotel phoenix wing) we were greeted by a nice young guy at the happo bus information centre from the hotel. we were surprised that the guy who greeted us is also from australia as well. anyway, we've booked a room for 2 adult for 4 nights without ...

... since it was all in Japanese. So the next day we took a train to Nagiso and then a short taxi ride to the post town of Tsumago. The town was part of a route that linked Tokyo with Koyto during the Edo Period and survives along with Magome. Tsumago is government protected so the street and buildings remain the same from long ago ...

... ont garde leur architecture traditionnelle permettant de se plonger 200 ans en arriere (en dehors des touristes et des magasins bien sur). Le sentier reliant les 2 villages est plus calme, tres agreable, serpentant dans les collines boisees. Le paysage est magnifique ; plein de montagnes de differentes tailles, tres touffues et regroupant tous les tons de vert imaginables.

... 1 hour). Arriving in Magome was really disorienting because Kyoto has really been for me overrated. The sights I saw were nice but different in both physical terms and ambience than I expected. Magome, while also overrun by tourists (Chinese mostly, as you can tell by their strident voices), looked and felt exactly how I imagined. It's small with a single avenue of authentic looking old Edo period houses and each 'house' is really a souveneir stall ...

... at a mountain is enough to change a person in a profound way. That should give you an idea of how great this thing is". Truly one could call this place a kind of paradise. But, that's not where I got the idea for today's title. That came to me during the train ride out here. It was a hazy afternoon when I said "good-bye" to my few friends in Tokyo, strapped my backpack on, and went to the train station for the final time. From there, I boarded ...

... Scott also made sure we had satisfied stomachs, taking us all to a couple of out-of-the-way restaurants that gave you an incredible amount of ramen, katsu-don and other Japanese delights for your yen (a VERY welcome change with the dive in the dollar). The boys had hoped to do some backcountry with Scott, to explore these incredible mountains even more (and also as skiing out of bounds is strictly forbidden at Hakuba - ski patrol will come ...

... After having so much fresh powder in Hokkaido, we were hoping to get some more freshies at Nazowa Onsen, although we were loving the sunny spring-like conditions. Well Mother Nature did not let us down and our last two days of snowboardig at Nazowa were in great powder conditions! As always, Fi and I made it up for first chairlift and were rewarded with fresh untouched powder. Needless to say it was the perfect way to leave such a great place.

... high mountain passes between Kyoto and Tokyo. I chose this route because the old post towns along the way are known for their historic wooden architecture, particularly Narai. Charming and beautiful. True, rural Japan...simple slow life!

... excursion was pretty good, but the area was a real countryside. So you should be careful of the transportation schedule, if you visit Magome or Tsumago. There were a few trains running hourly between Nagoya and Nakatsugawa, but much fewer beyond Nakatsugawa. In addition, you can travel between the post towns by car or public transportation, but if possible, it is better to walk on the Old Route. Compared to the other old routes, the part of the route has been well preserved. Don't miss it.

2-day orienteering competition http://orienteering.com/nagano/event/19 94/n15/index.html 第15回長野県オリエンテーリング大会 成績 1994年8月 1日目「信州大芝高原」 2日目「信州伊那高原ますみヶ丘」（チェイ シングスタート）