17th February, 2010
Views overlooking the Hakuba Valley from Happone

Went out skiing this morning and it was lightly snowing for the first few hours then it stopped and was quite mild.

I completed a whole 1/2 a run when I stacked and pulled the muscles in my lower abdomen and was forced to sit it out for a couple of hours. Tom took off and had a good board around the mountain without me lagging behind him..hehe

I got back on the ski's after lunch and could manage better than I thought I woule be able to but only stuck to the Bunny Runs aka beginners runs for a little while before calling it quits and heading home for an Onsen.

After a nap and hot bath I felt a little better and so we headed out for a late dinner at the Korean BBQ ( forgot to take the camera but a barbie is a barbie), dinner was filling and it the spot perfectly.

Then it was home to bed.....

Matsumoto Castle

16th February, 2010

This morning we left our hotel and set out for Matsumoto Castle. Along the way we found all sorts of interesting things to see.





More decorative drain covers - the balls here are traditional silk balls that are everywhere in town.

More fancy than the ones you sent from Morocco Sharon...hehe













Coy in a pond..poor things were looking for a feed I think.

















Matsumoto Castle Information - if you squint its crystal clear!!!
























Matsumoto Castle - over 400 yrs old and still standing as glorious as it did back then

















The rear of the Castle and Red Bridge


















After we had a look at the Castle we walked back into the main part of town and found the Matsumoto Timepiece Museum, it was filled with all sorts of European and Japanese time piece's going back hundreds of years...this is just one of them.










We then caught the train out to Hakuba where we will be spending the next 8 days. Weather was pretty ordinary so no photo's from out the train windows this time but this is where we will be staying.
Lovely B&B with great hosts who "inducted" us into the Pension with a guided tours and heaps of local information on things to do.

Our room is the one with the light on far left


We have our own private onsen - hot spring- to soak in and it overlooks a snowy bank and the snow was falling when we were in there tonight - magic stuff!

Nothing spectacular for dinner tonight just a steak for me and chicken parma for Tom!

Been a long day and its up early to catch some snow in the morning.