Snow monkeys

Today we were up early to get the train to Nagano. It was my first trip on a shinkansen (bullet train) and I was ridiculously excited. I love trains, and the shinkansen are so sleek and fast, running on their own special tracks and always arriving exactly on time. I will blip one another day, I'm sure..

From Nagano, we caught another train called the Snow Monkey Express, which took us to Yudanaka. We are staying at a ryokan, which is a traditional Japanese hotel. It has tatami matting, futons and pillows filled with buckwheat. Special robes, called yakata, are provided for guests to wear.

The owner took us up to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where Japanese macaques live in and around hot pools. Many were in the pool, swimming and grooming each other. We took hundreds of photographs, and it was difficult to drag ourselves away, but it was raining and our hands were cold.

Tonight we visit an outdoor onsen (just like the monkeys!).