Transports of Delight

We leave Matsumoto today to start our epic journey on the Kurobe Alpine Route. Japan is in the middle of Golden Week which is a succession of public holidays so we will not be alone.
Following a breakfast of hot dogs garnished with banana sprinkles we walk to the railway station for our first leg by school train;

then it is by local bus into the mountains.
Then it is by electric trolley bus

through a mountain to the Kurobe dam-Japan's answer to the Hoover dam.

Then by funicular to our next stop,

followed shortly by a cable car

and then another trolley bus through another mountain

to our destination for the night at Muruodo.
This place is famous for it's 15 metre snow wall

and a strange bird, the ptarmigan, which sounds like a cross between a parmigiana and termagant(look it up).

We have a stroll amongst the peaks and valleys

and then it is time for our first Japanese bath.
Dinner is a rather simple affair of about 27 courses.

The Amuse Bouche

Weird Japanese dessert