Riding the Shinkansen literally feels like flying on land. It's unbelievably fast, yet very safe and orderly. It was amazing, and really makes you wonder why we can't get our public-transit act together here in America. While on the train, I noticed that every time the train attendant entered and exited our cabin, she bowed politely. No eye contact with anyone, just a simple bow. Whether it was a gesture of respect to the passengers, or perhaps to foster positive chi, it made a lot of sense to me.
When we arrived at the train station, we stopped at the tourist center as directed by my Japan travel guide. We hadn't planned to visit Kamikochi National Park, since we had only one full day in Matsumoto, but we were convinced that the excursion would be worth it given the weather forecast. We'd have to wake up at 6am, not exactly our finest hour, but we decided to make it happen.
It was one of the best decisions that we made on our trip, a relaxing day in nature before the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, where we would spend the rest of our trip with Alexandra's parents. The air that day in Kamikochi was incredibly crisp and clean, and the park itself was so lush and pristine. Its natural beauty was absolutely breathtaking.
As I wrote in my journal, "The moment we boarded the transfer bus, in the heart of the Alps, I had a very strong feeling that I'd be back one day." There's definitely something about that place... Hope I'm indeed lucky enough to go back someday.
For our last dinner together, just the two of us, we pigged out on all-you-can-eat hot pot, of course! The different cuts of Japanese beef were soooo good; everything was perfectly fresh and flavorful.
The next day, we boarded a bus to our final hsiaoswithoutborders destination: Tokyo!
