Last post from Japan

Had an afternoon and day back in Tokyo, so after organising our airport transfer we found a lovely house and garden, built by the Mitsubishi/Fujitsu family in the 1890's.

 A huge Japanese house, now largely demolished and a European style house for guests.  The gardens were much bigger but got requisitioned during the war.

Then last day around the Imperial Palace which you can't enter or even really see.  But the gardens were pretty.

Sending this from the airport!

Matsumoto other pics from Judy's camera

On the journey down from Takayama 

and on the Kiso walk

Kamikochi pics from Judy's camera

She likes reflections

and other things, of course.

Matsumoto 3 ...

... or rather Kamicochi, a mecca for hikers and mountaineers.  At 1500m altitude people come from all over Japan to enjoy the scenery,

and if you don't want to climb a mountain (we didn't!) there are miles of paths along the river valley.  We were even joined by a troop of monkeys for a few hundred metres.  

Just brilliant, we'll let the photos speak for themselves...

... although this is a photo of a photo!

Rounded the day off with a Nepalese curry, and why not?!!

Back to Tokyo tomorrow, then last day in Japan.

Matsumoto 2

We took a train down the Kiso valley to walk from Yabuhara to Narai along a bit of the old Edo period road from Tokyo (then called Edo) to Kyoto.  The train went through the hill but we had to walk over, 

but it was mostly through woods so very pleasant.  

And Narai was a big surprise, a whole street about a kilometre long lined with original houses - this was a staging post on the way.

Another grand day out.

Matsumoto 1

It's the beginning of the end of our Japan trip, up here on the edge of the Japan Alps.  First stop was a visit to the very helpful tourist office who advised us what to do and how to do it.  

So, Friday afternoon to the castle, not far from our hotel.  

Very impressive and a bit lighter than Matsue, smaller pillars and more openings.

Even a shrine to their saving grace in the roof.

Takayama, more pics

Mostly from the old administration building