To the mountains

Landed at Haneda dead on time and through customs and immigration in a few minutes. First I have to collect my Japan Rail Pass. I feared a long queue which may have put my schedule at risk but there is no queue .. at all.

I’d allowed an hour to get sorted so I’m ahead of plan and some replanning is needed. There is a direct train that would take me most of the way to my destination but where’s the fun in that.

So the journey is:
Monorail to Hamamatsucho
Keihin line to Tokyo station
Horuriku Shinkansen to Ueda
Shinano railway local train to Nagano
Shinonoi limited express (LEX) to Matsumoto which rapidly climbs into the hills with great views and then descends into the next valley.
And finally another local track on the Oito line to Shinano-Omachi.
Phew!

Shinano-Omachi is in a wide valley surrounded by hills and mountains. And is the starting point for the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine route, a popular tourist trail (I should add - using transport not walking). The mountains, where I am headed tomorrow, are shrouded in rain and mist.

Time for dinner and a long sleep.Read more