Around Nagano, Yudanaka and Hakuba

hiking in Hakuba
Hakuba looking...in a certain direction
Fall colours, trail to Happo lake (pond)
Fox bundled up, freezing on chairlift heading up to the start of the hike
Fresh tomatoes at Gravity Worx Restaurant & Cafe (Hakuba). Best pasta I've (Fox) ever had!
Nom nom
Les fleurs in Nagano
Practicing my Japanese archery with a master! in the Uotoshi Ryokan in Yudanaka with Mr. Miyasaka.
Even the man hole covers are pretty in Japan.
Fancy a boiled egg? Simmering away in the hot spring water that flows all over Yudanaka and in many parts of Japan. We've stopped for so many soaks here and there, its a perfect way to pamper our feet after walking all day. Plus beer comes out of a vending machine here. Hot spring & beer, match made in heaven.
Crazy carved dragon. Yudanaka (tucked way above the old part of the town, up a gagillion stairs). We've no idea how old this is or what it's about, there is little English signage around.
Crazy Kiwi
Monkey love
Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani (near Yudanaka & Shika Kogen area)

Cuddling
We had to have a soak in the free community onsen (hot spring) just outside of the Yudanaka train station. These free foot onsens are all over the place and you can meet some cool folk if you're willing to mix your foot juice with theirs. Nice gams Kiwi.

Our room at a Ryokan (Japanese guesthouse with its own hot spring on the premises) with the traditional futon sleeping mats. Kiwi slept like a baby...I was feeling like the princess and the pea