Exploring from Nagano

Today was the day we decided to go see the snow monkeys up in the mountains. This meant a bus ride out of Nagano city, and up towards a ski resort.

On the way there we drove past one of the old Olympic buildings from 1998.

The snow began to lie thicker on the ground as we headed slowly uphill.

         

After about 40 mins on the bus, we got out at snow monkey park! There was a 30 minute walk along a very well trodden and slippy path, but it was a snowy winter wonderland, so that didn't put us off too much!

At one point before we got to the monkeys, we saw an animal down to the left of the path, that a group of people were observing. It was partly hidden by a tree, and was far enough away that it was a little difficult to see. Whatever it was, it wasn't a monkey, and we were fairly sure it wasn't a deer either, as the Americans beside us summised. We reckon it was a wild boar- we have read a few signs dotted around saying not to approach them, if seen, so they definitely exist around Japan. Whatever it was, it wasn't at all interested in the stream of tourists flowing by uphill, so we left it to its snuffling and continued.

Then we reached the hot springs, where the monkeys spend their days lazing around in the hot water. They are absolutely surrounded by tourists with cameras, but they don't give them the slightest bit of attention. It was like we weren't really there, and they got on about their business as normal.

There's definitely a pecking order- several scraps broke out as we watched, mostly involving a bit of screeching or chasing. One rather violent 'top dog' seemingly threatened to drown another in the river, as an audible gasp went up from the onlookers! We were pleased when that monkey got safely away!

    

There must be thousands and thousands of pictures taken at this place every day, some photographers had obscenely big camera lenses that were rattling off constant streams of photos, like a machine gun. Snap snap snap snap snap snap snap! Show offs! I bet they have some fabulous photos though. The monkeys didn't make it difficult!

     

Some of them walked right through the groups of humans, even the baby monkeys weren't phased.

Just to show how much snow there has been here, look at the digger on the left with it's huge snow hat!

I thought this was an amusing notion, though we weren't really ready for a meal at this point!

And one of my favourite signs so far! :-D even though we like to laugh at funny translations, we are hugely grateful for all of the signs in English, whether well translated or not. We would struggle to get by without them, and you (almost) always know what they mean! Thank you translators!

We still had most of the afternoon before us, having had an early start to the day, so got back on the bus to view the ski resort up the road. The upper half of the piste coming down on the right is where the Olympic slalom course was! There wasn't really time for it to be worth paying for ski hire and lift passes, as the lifts closed at 4. So we sat with a meal and looked at the fine view.

Look at the huge swab of snow protruding from this hotel roof! The diggers below seem to be making way for its imminent downfall!

Beside our lunch spot, you could step out on to the platform of an old lift station. The cables have been taken down, but you can have a picnic in the old cable cars!

There was a nature museum where (among other things) you could put an egg into a nest, and it played the song of different birds.

And of course there was another of these!

We couldn't both be in it together, so you just have to imagine that we were!

   

They also had an Olympic display room, which had a gold medal!

Back on the bus down the hill, we saw continued lovely snowy sights.

As evening approached, we went to find igloos at Iiyama train station, one stop up from Nagano.

And took a short bus ride to visit an igloo village! It's there over winter, and you can cook a meal inside (though we just went for a stroll around, still full from our ski-viewing meal).

Now we are back at hotel unicorn for the night, I thought I'd share a few more pictures. Look at the swanky head board, with built in shelf and switchboard for the lights! There are also sliding paper doors onto a pretend garden with bamboo.

A short and deep bath, with wet room, wash basin and buffet.

And painted glass screen by the door.