From Phil Ingram | ShumiStayJapan April 2021 The last stage of the Shionomichi Trail going into Matsumoto was not nearly as boring as I thought it might be. Our daughter, Nicola, accompanied me so that might have made it more interesting as she doesn’t tolerate navigation errors and so I had to be on my …
From Phil Ingram | ShumiStayJapan This Spring I decided to walk the last 40 kilometers of the Shionomichi Trail going to the start/finish of the trail in Matsumoto. I did it on two separate days about a month apart. Spring is a wonderful season in the high plains and mountains of Nagano as the earth …
After a long and damp rainy season, Kazuko and I were bursting to get out and do some long- distance walking, but we didn’t think our legs would be up to tackling a mountain peak yet. So we thought what better place to walk then the scenic and gentle second half of the Shionomichi (Salt …
The northern half of the Shio-no-michi trail runs along the sides of a narrow and rugged valley and was relatively isolated until the road and train line were built, mainly running through tunnels, in the later half of the 20th century. This meant that the area was undeveloped until recently and is one reason why …
Japan is a country of matsuri- or festivals – which are usually based around the changing seasons. At the beginning of May each year, Golden Week – when three public holidays mean that most Japanese take the whole week off – also heralds the arrival of cherry blossom season in this area of Nagano. To …
‘Yukiwarisou’ is a lovingly restored 150 year old traditional farmhouse located in ‘Irori no Sato’, a tiny village of 11 homes located in northern Nagano at 800m above sea level at the foot of the towering North Alps. Yukiwarisou is enjoyable to visit in any season and is open all year round. The village is …
The Shio no Michi area is located along a major geological fault and in an area of volcanic activity. This same geology has bestowed a number of blessings – and few of these hold as central a place in Japanese culture as the hot spring baths – or onsen. The area on and surrounding the …
In between two of Niigata’s largest fishing ports, – Itoigawa and Joetsu – lies Marine Dream Nou – one of the best places to enjoy the bounties of the Sea of Japan. Itoigawa’s unique position on the edge of Toyama Bay has helped it become one of Japan’s largest producers of crab, with the markets …
The Kubiki Cycling Road is a classic bicycle “rail trail” – built atop the remains of the Old Hokuriku Railroad, which was moved into the mountains in the 1960s. As the course follows the old railway line, the Sea of Japan-facing course offers a unique opportunity to ride through several old rail tunnels and bridges …
The Oito Line is one of Japan’s most picturesque local rail lines – connecting Itoigawa – facing the Sea of Japan – with the city of Matsumoto which is located in the middle of Nagano Prefecture – home of the 1998 Winter Olympics. It sits at the foot of the Japanese Alps, nestled between the …
The Oito Line – connecting the sea and the mountains Read More »