Narai - the end of our hike

Hiked down the mountain to arrive in Narai. Great little village. We wandered slowly though and picked up a couple of delicious stuffed steamed buns on the way to the train station.

Next stop Tokyo!

The Torii Pass

Happy birthday Brian!!!!!

Easier days hiking than we thought considering it was meant to be the hardest part of the trail.

Hiked up to the pass through beautiful snow sprinkled woods to the temple at the top of the pass. From there it was an easy relaxing hike through the forest and then lovely descent along the valley to Narai the last point on our trail trail.

Defo the best day. And it's Brian's birthday too!

Happy Birthday Brian!!!

Up early for Brian to open cards and presie!

Again a posh slap up breakie to set us up for the day.

Hot hot springs :)

Arrived on train to Kiso-Fukuahima thoroughly cold and got picked up to go to our lodgings.

Wow what a place :) Room was fabulous - almost like a large suite. Changed into our robes and went up for a formal dinner where they didn't stop bringing us delicious food for an hour! YES!!

Rolled out and went to the hot spring baths where we soaked in boiling hot waters in both an indoor and outdoor pools surrounded by snow. Exactly what the doctor ordered! :)

Went to bed sated and all aches of the long day hiking washed away.

Cold cold wait at the train station

Last part of the walk turned out to be easy romp down to the village which meant we had 1 1/2 hour wait for the next train. Freezing cold and had to buy cans of hot coffee from the vending machine to keep our hands warm! Brrrrrrrr :(

Views on the trail

Today's trail was a bit fragmented. Walked through villages in the morning with short detours through forests, bamboo groves etc. but there was lots of fiddling around crossing roads and stuff.

One time went round the same hill twice and right near the end there was a long climb through a forest and half way up double checked the instructions, thought we were wrong and went all the way back down again only to find we were right first time and had to walk up it again! Argh!

Start of the second day hike

Up at 7 for traditional Japanese breakfast. Hot pan fried salmon, pickles, poached egg in soy sauce, miso soup, sticky rice with melted sesame miso, green veg, yoghurt, apple slices and coffee. Ate the lot which pretty much set us up for the day.

Set off from the lodgings soon after 8 and were waved off by the mother and daughter who run it and continued along the trail bound for Nojiri.

View is looking back to the village as we started to climb.