My First Solo Trip (Part IV) - MATSUMOTO/TOKYO

Here comes the last part of my solo trip to Japan. Decided to spend one day at Matsumoto city before going back to Tokyo. Matsumoto (松本) is the second largest city in Nagano Prefecture. It is most famous for Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's most beautiful original castles. Matsumoto Castle is one of the most complete and beautiful castle among Japan's original castles. It is a "hirajiro" - a castle built on plains rather than on a hill or mountain. Matsumoto Castle is unique for having both a secondary donjon and a turret adjoined to its main keep. The castle is also very unique in its black colour which makes it distinct from the rest of the castles in Japan. There's also free tour guide there who will explain to you the history and design of the castle.

Matsumoto is where the famous artist, Yayoi Kusama was born and raised. The first thing that caught my eye upon reaching Matsumoto was the cute bus with polka dots, which is the signature arts by Yayoi Kusama. If you are interested in her artwork, be sure not to miss Matsumoto City Museum of Art where it showcases Yayoi Kusama's artwork. There's polka dots everywhere in the museum, you will see polka dots coca cola vending machine, polka dots chairs, polka dots sculptures, etc. I had so much fun taking photo with this vibrant and vivid background! Paid 410 Yen for the exhibition and it was so worth it!! No photo taking so no photos to show but it's an incredible exhibition, please visit the exhibition if you can!

Transportation:
Matsumoto to Shinjuku: http://willerexpress.com/en/

Accommodation:
First Cabin Hotel
-This was actually my first time to try capsule hotel and I love it so much!! The hotel is so so so clean and well maintained and I had a really good rest on my last night of the trip.

Meal:
Luke's Lobster is so so so yum!!! Went to the one at Shinjuku with my luggage before checking in to the hotel hahaha! The lobster roll is full of big chunks of lobster meat..omg I miss it so much T.T

Yeay, this conclude my first solo trip to Japan!!! Was really glad that I chose Japan to be the destination and I enjoyed myself so so so much! One of the perks of travelling alone is you can have the time entirely to yourself without having to cater to others, hahahahah!! To be honest, Japan is really very suitable for solo traveller! The people there are generally nice and helpful. Most of them can speak basic English so I feel there's no problem to communicate even if you don't understand Japanese. I miss Japan more after I documented down this solo adventure, hopefully I will get to visit this amazing country again soon! :)

Till then!

My First Solo Trip (Part I) - TOKYO TEAMLAB PLANETS
My First Solo Trip (Part II) - KAMIKOCHI TAISHO POND

My First Solo Trip (Part III) - KAMIKOCHI MYOJIN

My First Solo Trip (Part III) - KAMIKOCHI MYOJIN

//Spent close to one hour to take this shot...opps hehe

Soaked in the onsen for the last time in the early morning before I headed back to Kamikochi Bus Terminal for my 2nd trekking in Kamikochi. Had a really homey and yummy breakfast served by the hotel, what a good start for the day hehe! The staff there is really friendly and helpful, I'm really glad that I asked him for the instruction to go to Matsumoto just to ensure what I understood was correct because I actually make a mistake on the transportation and timing, lol!! Took a bus back to Kamikochi Bus Terminal to start my trekking to Myojin, look how cute the bus stop is!

Just like the day before, I started my trekking from Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Remember to always book your return ticket before you started trekking because the bus timing is really limited and the tickets sold out pretty fast. I went to Kappa Bridge 1st which is only 5 mins walking distance from Kamikochi Bus Station, this explains why the bridge is always full of tourists especially tour groups hahaha! Took some photo there and continue my trekking to Myojin! It's about 3.4km from Kappa Bridge. There's two iconic places in Myojin which is the Myojin Bridge and Myojin Pond. Spent quite some time at the Myojin Pond to take the perfect shot, I think I spent close to one hour there? Hahaha!!

Anyway, I saw a lot people wearing some bells on their bag and I was wondering what are those for. And then I saw this notice outside the toilet's notice board...omg there's actually wild boars at this area and you might actually spot them. I didn't know this at all! Luckily I didn't spot a bear along the way..lol! The bells are actually bear bells to alert the bear since the bells don't sound like any natural forest noise, and bears almost always want to avoid people so the bear bells will keep the bears away.

Lunch was hot soba at this little eatery near Myojin Pond, simple yet comforting. Went to this hidden cafe, Cafe Dokoisyo afterwards since I have plenty of time to spend before trekking back to Kamikochi Bus Terminal. There's literally no one at the cafe except the cafe owner and her friends, lol! It was really nice to spend some quiet moment at this cafe.

Transportation:

Kamikochi > Matsumoto

-First you have to take a bus from Kamikochi Bus Terminal to Shin-Shimashima and change to a local train to Matsumoto Station. The whole journey took about 2 hours. Please note that there'll be a number indicated on your bus ticket and the staff there will call out the number for passengers to board the bus. 

Accommodation:

Aplico Plaza Hotel (Strongly recommended!!) 

-The hotel is just beside the Matsumoto Station, super convenient for me as I'm taking bus back to Tokyo from there the next day. 

To Be Continued...

My First Solo Trip (Part I) - TOKYO TEAMLAB PLANETS

My First Solo Trip (Part II) - KAMIKOCHI TAISHO POND

My First Solo Trip (Part II) - KAMIKOCHI TAISHO POND

Kamikochi is a popular resort in the Northern Japan Alps of Nagano Prefecture, offering some of Japan's most spectacular mountain scenery. It's only open from mid/late April until mid-November so I guess I was lucky to choose to go there in May, the weather is perfect!

I took bus from Shinjuku to Kamikochi and the journey took about 5 hours. There's only 2 timings everyday (7.15am & 10.15pm) from Shinjuku to Kamikochi Bus Terminal so make sure you arrange your time wisely and book the bus ticket in advanced. I took the day bus which is at 7.15am and reach Kamikochi Bus Terminal around 12.15pm. You really need to plan your itinerary and timing  properly as transportation at Kamikochi is quite limited. The last bus timing at Kamikochi Bus Terminal is around 5-6pm, so please make sure you book your bus ticket before you started trekking or sightseeing.

There's 4 popular spots to sightseeing/trekking in Kamikochi which is Tashiro Pond, Taisho Pond, Kappa Bridge and Myojin Bridge. Out of these 4 spots, the nearest one will be the Kappa Bridge which is the most popular spot with lots of tourists as it's just few mins walking distance from Kamikochi Bus Terminal. I decided to go Taishiro Pond and Taisho Pond on my first day at Kamikochi. You can refer to the trekking route via this website.

I stored my luggage at the baggage room at Kamikochi Bus Terminal before I started my trekking, please note that the baggage storage only available until 5pm everyday and they don't allow overnight storage. There's so much to see along the way and I'm really amazed by the view and the fresh air there! The trekking route is really well organised and the signboard is also very clear, no worries of losing your way. Met some monkeys along the way and I was actually quite afraid of them, told myself to keep calm and keep walking without having eye contacts with them hahaha! Taisho Pond is so so so pretty and the good thing is there's literally no one there, hahaha! If you only have time to visit one place at Kamikochi, I will definitely recommend you to follow the route that I have highlighted in the map below! You won't regret it! ;)

IMPORTANT TIPS: There's 2 route to get to Taisho Pond which is Forest Course and Azusa-gawa River Course. I strongly suggest you to try 2 different routes when you trek to and fro. Forest Course is the one that consist of wooden trail and Azusa-gawa River Course is where you can see the amazing Azusa-gawa river which blow me away with its breathtaking view.

Transportation:
Shinjuku to Kamikochi: http://willerexpress.com/en/
Bus to get around at Kamikochi: Alpico Bus

Accommodation:
Okuhida Yakushi No Yu Honjin (奥飛騨薬師のゆ 本陣)

-This onsen hotel is the most luxurious stay in my trip, hahaha!! I stayed at the Japanese Standard Family Room (it's the smallest room already, lol).

Meal:
Bought a really big sweet potato for my breakfast and snacks on the bus to Kamikochi. Dinner is at this cosy small homestyle restaurant うな亭 which sells unagi don! Chanced upon this place at Google Map and decided to give it a try, by far the best unagi don I've eaten in my life!

To Be Continued...

My First Solo Trip (Part I) - TOKYO TEAMLAB PLANETS

My First Solo Trip (Part III) - KAMIKOCHI MYOJIN

My First Solo Trip (Part IV) - MATSUMOTO/TOKYO