Matsumoto – BLOGPASTOR

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JAPAN JAUNT 2016 – DAY 4: WASABI FARM AND APPLE ORCHARD

5 December 2016 blogpastor Leave a comment

When we discovered that Joy lost her bicycle key we were like Oh dear, what do we do now?

Choosing our bikes for a comfortable ride: seat height, bike size, etc.

Getting familiar with our bicycles on the quiet pedestrian pavement.

Cycling along this farm stretch in cool weather was invigorating, exciting, captivating.

The forbidding clouds above failed to dampen our spirit.

It had been a fun morning. From Matsumoto we went to Hokata train station in Azumino. On arrival we searched for the bicycle rental shop near the station and rented the bicycles. Some had not cycled for some years so we rode slowly on the pedestrian pavement till all were more comfortable. We cycled about 2 km to the famous old wasabi farm. From the small town’s quiet pavements through the country roads to the farm. It was a cloudy and cool day, lovely for cycling in the country. It felt like I was in some Japanese movie where I cycled through rice fields, country homes and gentle slopes.

At the wasabi farm in front of a scene made famous in a Japanese movie. — The group photo….of course.

It must take great organization to maintain and harvest the wasabi.

Wasabi ice cream at about 350 yen or 5 SGD.

The real thing is not cheap. The one we are served in restaurants are usually mixed with chemicals and what not.

The wasabi farm was stunning, extensive and interesting. We walked back and forth and all around the farm. It was a well-developed tourist destination with several food stalls and two shops that sold all kinds of wasabi products, souvenirs and other products. We all tried the wasabi ice cream, yes, ice cream. Thankfully it tasted mild, more sweet than wasabi. Then the drama began.

Joy could not find her bicycle key. She checked and checked and concluded that she must have dropped it in the farm – the size of which is several football pitches. How are we to find a lost key? Some were lost in thoughts, some gave suggestions, some prayed quietly. She headed to the reception and asked. Miracles of miracles the lady took out a key and asked, Is this the key? Yes! What are the odds of the key being picked up and returned to the counter before Joy asked for it? Zero, in my opinion. Everyone, like us, would be taking in the sights, taking photos. Who would be looking at the ground? We cycled back with great joy. We marveled at God’s faithfulness and goodness.

Our joy was so great nothing could dampen it. Not even an hour of searching for a restaurant to have lunch in. We ended in a wild goose chase that finally landed us in a large supermarket eating cup noodles and sandwiches and bento sets. We took all that walking in good spirit. After all we were hikers and a positive spin on this would be to take this as an urban hike.

The captain and her two lieutenants, God bless them. Where would we be without them.

A group photo in front of the apple orchard.

Such low lying fruits cannot be resisted.

Maybe its more of photo taking than apple picking! Haha — We definitely took more photos than picked apples.Haha

Soon we were off in cabs to an apple orchard to what else but pick apples for a fee. Another disappointment? As it turned out we experienced the kindness of the young lady who ran the orchard. After we picked apples and took photos, it got very cold and windy. The young lady phoned but could only secure two cabs, and worried for us, she personally drove the last group back to town. Such kindness. Another wonderful act that showed that God was present with us even in our vacation. God bothers about the small stuff too.

Back at Matsumoto, except for me and Tan, everyone else took a 30 minutes bus ride to a free onsen linked to the Ace Inn hotel. They had a wonderful experience and the onsen was fabulous like the ones you see featured in Japan Hour. As for Tan and myself, we went shopping for some clothes in GU, a cheaper version of Uniqlo. That night it hit me that 90% of the shops catered to women.

JAPAN JAUNT 2016 – DAY 3: NARAI AND SHIOJIRI

27 November 2016 blogpastor Leave a comment

The original plan was for an hour and a half hike but this was cancelled. This turned out to be a providential decision as Tan was walking with pain in his leg, and the whole day was wet, wet, wet. If we had hiked, it could have been a showery muddy trudge. This was a sign of God’s care.

A wet day at Narai, an old Edo era town with one street a kilometre long — A wet day at Narai, an Edo era town with a kilometre long street. (Credits: Judith)

Happier friends who were served more quickly and had a good lunch.(Credits: Judith)

From Hanaya inn we rode cabs to Nagiso Station where they rushed back and forth to see a 200 years old bridge while I had coffee in a souvenir shop opposite the station. Then we took a train to Narai, an Edo period post town in Shiojiri city, Nagano Prefecture. We had an hour or so to explore this old town that was about one kilometer of old houses and temples on both sides of a street. Most shops were selling food or lacquer souvenirs. It drizzled intermittently and I had to use a raincoat. This was where we missed a meal in order not to miss the train. Six of us found a restaurant and ordered our food but unknown to us there were many patrons waiting for their orders ahead of us. When we realized we would be late if we had waited any longer, we cancelled our order and rushed off. Good thing the restaurant allowed it. It was at Shiojiri train station that we finally had our belated lunch.

These luscious grapes in the greenhouse are to die for.

The grapes outside are for plucking but not to die for.

Street smart Singaporean women plucked shrewdly. Many green grapes were seen, but few were chosen. That’s why they are still smiling. Ha ha.

The next activity was to go to a vineyard and pluck grapes for a fee. Right in the city! Took a cab there. There was a store next to a greenhouse. The grapes we sampled were superbly large, round and sweet. And expensive. I thought this was what we came to pluck but it was not to be. They brought the women out to where they plucked grapes that were small, green, ripened, and not as sweet nor as crunchy as the samples we had tried. Was this a bait and switch strategy? I don’t know. Anyway the women came back with few branches of grapes. Smart girls. We bought some apples, grabbed a cab to the train station and went to Matsumoto, where we would be re-united with our luggage at Ace Inn. It was an eventful day but one I would rather laugh away or forget. For me a hearty dinner and a good sleep helped me forget the day’s misadventures.

Our forwarded luggage was waiting for us at Ace Inn Hotel in Matsumoto. Nice to have all our stuff again. — Our forwarded luggage was waiting for us at Ace Inn Hotel in Matsumoto. Nice to have all our stuff back.

Nothing like a great dinner at reasonable prices to get everyone smiling again.(Credits: Helen)