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| en route: piney parks for picnicking |
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| outer (remote) moat Note the nice location in trendy downtown office district |
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| entrance gate (we had not received a personal invitation) |
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| The walls are made of stones weighing up to 35 tons. How did they get there? |
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| lots of ponds, as well as moats |
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| "Tractor-seat plant" , apparently an imperial fave |
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| a few weedy spots |
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| colorful azaleas coming into full bloom |
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| very large koi |
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| golden |
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| Japanese technology: a bagel-vending machine |
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| at the Osu Kannon arcade |
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| Takayama's extensive historic district |
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(traditional hotel |
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| What luck (fortuitous good timing?) Up here, at higher altitude sakura (cherry blooming) is still at full tilt |
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| breakfast for two at the ryokan (rice, green tea and miso soup still coming) |
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| Matsumoto Castle, preserved feudal site. You can climb to the top on difficult internal stairways! |
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| a samurai on duty |
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| Kaichi School, first Western school in Japan |
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| The Matsumoto City Art Gallery, sculpture by Yoyoi Kasuma |
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| the gallery features works by Kasuma (unfortunately photos not allowed for most) |
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| a polka-dot bus |
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| gorgeous sunny warm day on trails |
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| good wishes from the afterlife |
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| remember to flip your card |
Through the villages of Magome, Tsumago and Nagiso, along a 150 year -old post trail, joining Tokyo and Kyoto.
