Breakfast followed on from last night's dinner in that it was 10 different bowls of scrumptious food. Porridge will never be the same.

Then into the street market where there was buying and tasting aplenty. These carriages are designed for tourists. They are carried through the streets by some strong mem with thunder thighs.

We visited an ancient Ministerial building and progressed to a Sake tasting. I left with my head spinning.

This region is famed for it's beef which is supposedly better than Wagu or Kobe. I can say that Hida beef was mouthwatering, packed with flavour and melted as you ate it. Wow!

A trip to a Shinto Shrine, a Buddhist Temple and a Retro Museum. We all loved the retro museum. The Shrine and Temple offer a quiet reflective moment and these two were not really on the tourist trail which made them all the more special. These moments are much needed in this manic country.

Dinner was again a smorgasbord of delights. The cards afterwards got more serious as we agreed to play for money. One yen per hand, you can't spend a yen on anything but it did make the game more interesting.