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Apple Pie, Monkey Lattes & A Post-Hike Break at ENZA Café

If you're planning a visit to Jigokudani Yaen Koen (Snow Monkey Park), ENZA Café is arguably the best place to stop before or after the monkey walk. Conveniently located right at the entrance of the forest trail leading to the park, it's hard to miss and makes for a perfect rest stop. We dropped by after visiting the snow monkeys and only then realised that the café actually has indoor seating. Since we hadn't noticed that earlier, we ended up ordering from the outdoor terrace section, which operates more like a takeaway counter. The terrace was still a pleasant place to sit and enjoy a snack while soaking in the fresh mountain air. F ood & Drinks The star of the show was undoubtedly the Nagano Apple Pie . Made with local apples, it had a flaky crust and a generous apple filling that wasn't overly sweet. It's easy to see why so many visitors recommend it. Of course, we couldn't resist ordering the famous Monkey Latte , which comes topped with an adorable ...

Kusatsu Onsen: Yumomi Performance and a Relaxing Stay at 湯宿季の庭 Yuyado Tokinoniwa

The Scenic Drive to Kusatsu One of the unexpected highlights of the day was actually the drive to Kusatsu. We drove along National Route 292 , and the scenery was absolutely stunning. The winding mountain roads offered beautiful views at every turn, and we found ourselves making multiple stops just to admire the landscape and take photos. It was one of those drives where the journey felt just as enjoyable as the destination. From the scenery and surroundings, I believe we were passing through one of the ski resort areas. Although there wasn't any snow during our visit, it was easy to imagine how lively and picturesque the region would be in winter. Unfortunately, we couldn't complete the entire route as planned. Due to volcanic activity, part of the highway has been closed, and our navigation rerouted us downhill midway through the journey. While it was a little disappointing not to experience the full route, the detour still provided plenty of spectacular mountain views. Watch...

Matsumoto Food Guide: French Cuisine, Izakaya Dishes & Three-Way Soba

Dinner at Matsumoto 萬来 Banrai, Matsumoto For dinner in Matsumoto, we visited Banrai , a very popular local restaurant known for its extensive menu and unique Japanese delicacies. One of the signature dishes we tried was the Zuku Karaage (fried chicken) . The meat was quite thick and on the drier side, with a flavour profile that reminded me of lemon chicken. It had a peppery, slightly tangy taste that was enjoyable, although the texture wasn't my favourite. The skin, however, was excellent, crispy and savoury, with a flavour that oddly reminded me of agedashi tofu. Speaking of tofu, the agedashi tofu was one of the highlights of the meal. Lightly crisp on the outside and silky inside, it was comforting and well-executed. We also ordered the egg with whitebait . The egg was soft, fluffy, and slightly runny, giving it a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The seasoning was delicate, allowing the natural flavours of the whitebait to come through. For sashimi, both the maguro ...

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Visiting Jigokudani Yaen Koen Snow Monkey Park in Autumn - is it worth the trip?

After a relatively relaxed day, it was time for another chiong day , this time to Jigokudani Yaen Koen (Snow Monkey Park) . Getting there wasn't exactly effortless. From the entrance, it's about a 40-minute walk through the forest before reaching the monkey viewing area. The trail itself is easy enough, but it felt much longer because Mister was taking his own sweet time after I broke the news that there was a chance we might not see any monkeys at all that day! His disappointment was understandable. We had heard that for the past week, there hadn't been any monkeys at the park, so expectations were already quite low before we even started the hike. As it turned out, we were actually very fortunate. When we finally arrived, there were no large groups of monkeys soaking in the famous hot springs that appear in all the postcards and travel photos. But after a bit of searching, we managed to spot three snow monkeys roaming around the area. They occasionally stopped to observ...

Matsumoto Castle (Matsumoto-jō) - A view of Japan’s Iconic "Black Beauty"

Matsumoto Castle is one of the highlights of central Japan and easily one of the most impressive castles I've visited. Unlike many Japanese castles that were reconstructed after wars or natural disasters, Matsumoto Castle retains much of its original structure, giving it an authentic and historic atmosphere. This enduring preservation is even more remarkable when you consider its deep heritage: during its 280 years of military use, the castle was governed by 23 successive lords representing six different daimyo families. The castle's iconic black exterior, which has earned it the nickname "Crow Castle," is particularly striking. Surrounded by a peaceful moat, it offers some of the most picturesque castle views in the country. The reflection of the castle on the water creates fantastic photo opportunities from almost every angle. One interesting feature of Matsumoto Castle is its architecture. Although from the outside it appears to be a five-storey castle, it actuall...