On the way, we passed by an area called Ubusute
Ubu stands for elderly and sute is to throw away
This was an area where people "left" their elderly family members so that they could "save money" not having to feed another mouth
Video here
The Metoba River is in between of Okinado and the Nawate Shopping Street
Okinado is a cafe/coffee shop that has been in business since 1933
The wait for a table was 40 minutes, but we actually got in a little earlier because most of the people before us gave up...ha!
Kat chose the half and half...half hayashi beef and half pork curry
Nearby is the Former Kaichi School, one of the oldest schools in Japan
Next door is the home of a Catholic priest
On the way back to the hotel, we walked through part of the castle grounds and came across this vibrant ume tree.
You can refill your water bottles at most Tourist information offices, but we were also told that the water from this well was also potable.
Since we had a late lunch we decided to just have some soba for dinner at Iidaya
After dinner, we shared this chocolate soft serve at Gaku, which uses a lot of ingredients from Nagano
Satoshi chose the otona no lunch (adult lunch), a version of the kids meal (probably bigger portions)...hamburg with demi glace sauce, omurice and napolitan...he said he enjoyed this
The meats in both were so melt in your mouth!
We shared this housemade caramel flan (purin) delicious!
Loved that the "ice" in the iced coffee were cubes of coffee.
After lunch, we went to Matsumoto Castle and the wait to get in was 50 minutes!
Be prepared to take off your shoes, carry them in a plastic bag, as well as what ever "stuff" you have too
One staircase was super steep and the distance between each step was about 40 centimeters (15 inches) !
No photos especially on the staircases, because it is so dangerous and everyone is waiting to get up and down the stairs
Believe me, you gotta hang on for dear life on some of those stairs
My legs and arms were sore the next day because I used a lot of the muscles I never knew I had!
Satoshi chose the wasabi leaf soba...he said he enjoyed this
I chose the walnut sauce soba, the sauce was mixed with sesame seeds so the walnut flavor was kinda lost...bummer
I picked up this guide on everything delicious of Matsumoto
It also explained some of the culture and sights too.
One thing I wouldn't mind seeing is the cherry blossoms that encircle the tomb on Mount Kobo
It was quite a long day, lots of "climbing", eating and walking
Okinado
2-4-10 Chuo
Matsumoto, Nagano
Closed: 2nd & 4th Wednesday
Hours: 11:00-15:30 (lunch), 17:30-21:00 (dinner)
Iidaya
Midori Matsumoto 4F
Matsumoto, Nagano
Hours: 11:00-20:00 (earlier if they run out of soba)
Closed: when Midori Matsumoto is closed
Alpico Plaza Hotel
1-3-21 Fukashi
Matsumoto, Nagano
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