Day Trip to Nagano-- Matusmoto Castle

After our morning with the Snow Monkeys, we stopped for lunch and then headed on for our final destination of the day! 

Matsumoto Castle!

 This was a neat building with vines growing over the sides

 The moat at the castle

 Matsumoto Castle (real swan and all!!)

 One of the six levels inside the castle

 These two made this LONG day on a bus (9 hours riding....) and hiking in the snow over a mile look easy! They have come a long way in the past year of being active and stroller-free! They said this was their favorite trip so far.

 Side view of the castle and the different levels

 Everyday between certain hours there are ninjas and samurais dressed up to pose with you

 Castle family selfie!

 After the castle we hit the road for home, with a brief break at a rest stop (in Japan rest stops are WAY more than just vending machines and bathrooms-- most at least have one restaurant and usually more plus a grocery store!!)

 Mike tried his first hot food vending machine (since the restaurant was very authentic Japanese with limited "American" choices.....Abby said the fries were horrible.....)

Other hot choices were fried rice balls, hot dogs, Octopus balls!!

 Also here is a panoramic of what a typical selection of vending machines looks like in Japan.....and this is just at a small rest stop! Every type of flavored water, or coffee you can imagine!