Nakasendo Trail: Day 3

There was an option to take a morning hike to this waterfall before heading to the next segment of the trail. Because I didn't take the planned hike the day before, I felt a need to do this. Though it was rainy the day before, this day was gorgeous and clear, so I decided to take this option. My companions chose not to, which was fine. They spent the day in the town, as we did the day before.

Here was the beautiful breakfast. And there I am, waving sayonara to my tomodachis.

It was not easy, lots of steep climbs, but it seems as if someone checks on the trail. There was a tree that had fallen over the path, but a slice was cut so that one can easily walk over. It was so peaceful and serene, and I never ran into another human being the whole time I was on the trail. This is what is meant by "forest bathing." I heard there is a Japanese word for this practice, and I so believe it is therapy.

Lots of parts like this - and worse.

Walking alongside a stream is always soothing.

We agreed to meet back in the lobby. I think I did it in 2.5 hours. I was back first.

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We went on the train to the town of Yabuhara. We were a bit distracted walking through the town, but apparently we missed the landmark for the trailhead. After walking for a couple of pretty grueling hours, looking for the trailhead, and not getting much help from the townspeople (they didn't seem to know what we were talking about), we decided to get on the train to the next village. If we had walked, it would have been a good four hours more, and we would have been uncomfortably late. 

The Yabuhara version of a water fountain. Yes clean!

Typical street scene.

Our next village was Narai, which is a World Heritage village where all of the buildings are constructed in a traditional style, a kind of dark, wooden look. It was getting dark and overcast when we arrived: the directions to the minshuku said it would be on the left as we entered the town, and was the only 3-story building in town. We kept looking for that, and walked the length of the town (maybe a half-mile) before we realized we had missed it. Using my 101 level Japanese, I found out it was on the side opposite of where we were looking. Finally made it there, settled in, took another walk, and then had  dinner. 

Our minshuku

I recognized the tsu in this sign and that was the clue that we had found it!

Our little living room. On the opposite side of this room was the sleeping room. While we were eating dinner, they laid out the futons for us.

This was the best meal of our three nights. The hosts were so nice and such good cooks. They really gave us a treat: fresh fish, tempura, sashimi, shabu-shabu, and more! 

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