Nikko Festival

Went to Nikko again for a festival that has been happening for 400 years, where a shrine gets carried away from the main shrine, and a demonstration by traditional style archery on horseback. Misato found a nice B&B where we took a private onsen, had a really nice dinner and breakfast. Took the motorcycle up there and found some nice winding roads to tour up and took a gondola ride up to see the trees leaves changing color. Here are some videos.

Nikko Festival

Nagano Motorcycle Trip

Our energy saving summer schedule came to an end so after working 6 days this week I had a three day weekend so I decided to go to Nagano by motorcycle despite my route being "not recommended" by my Japanese colleagues. Here are the highlights: first country road from Utsunomiya was washed out by the Typhoon, here are a few pics near the wash out.


Those are pieces of the retaining wall for the road in the middle of the river.

It started raining on my way down a mountain pass, and couldnt find a hotel for hours while lost in Nagano.
Hung out in Obuse (one of my destinations) for only an hour or so, then missed my exit to meet my colleague and see the monkey park. Monkey park was pretty sweet, although only about the size of the one pool.


Saw some beautiful views along route 292, 55, 353, 145 and 120 from Nagano to Utsunomiya if there are any other motorcycles out there in Japan looking for a nice route.

View at the mountain pass on 292

Waterfall near Numata route 120.

Road down the mountain pass from Numata to Nikko maybe still 120.

Check out the rest of the pics here.

Nagano Motorcycle Trip