Mon Jan 1 2007 (Day 11) - A New Year

It's New Year's Day. Today we depart Tokyo for Matsumoto via shinkansen. We arranged the reserved seats tickets few days ago, using our Japan Rail Pass. It's our first shinkansen ride.
Last look at our hotel room at Nishi-Shinjuku Hotel.

Our load




Eki-ben for brunch

After about 3 hours on the bullet-train, we arrived at Matsumoto station. We stored our heavy packs in the lockers at the train station (what would we do without these lockers) and walked towards Matsumoto-jo after some searching and referring to Lonely Planet Japan


Glimpse of the castle

at Matsumoto Castle

Sun is setting & moon is appearing

Queue to ring the New Year bell and some shops somewhere near the Matsumoto-jo

We had a quick soba at a Family Mart convenience store (below). I asked if there are hot water for us to pour onto the instant soba and the attendants went through the whole preparation process (put in the sauces & flavourings) for us.



Quick night-time view before hurrying back to the train station to grab our bags and catch the shinkansen to Nagano. We had our seats reserved. Beginning to get hold of the train system already....it really isn't that complex.


Arrived at Nagano station. The Winter Olympics 1998 was held here in Nagano.


Our load was very, very heavy and we had to practically drag it along, searching for the hotel we're staying for the night, Comfort Nagano Hotel.
Our room, which was more spacious than the room in Tokyo.


Going out for a walk in the freezing temperature - 0 degree celcius

Dinner was from the Lawson convenience store. Some rest before the long walk tomorrow and prior to that, searching for the post office to reduce our load.

Next day...