The day dawned clear and hot. We were up early and into the subway (I Want to Hold Your Hand was playing) with just enough time to grab a cheeky pain au chocolate before boarding the train to Megome a couple of hours north east of Nagoya. There was however a crisis. There had been no time to find coffee of any kind and I felt crabbiness descending.
Megome marks the start (for us anyway) of a section of the ancient walking trail between Kyoto and Tokyo used by the samurai (and to deliver the mail I guess) during the Edo era. History is not really my strong suit – but I like to walk. In this case we planned to walk about 12 kms from Megome to Nagiso where we could jump on a train back to Nagoya.
Luckily Magome is home to Hillbilly Coffee – proper hardcore espresso in the middle of the countryside. Sigh…who knew. But thank you Hillbilly Coffee! Caffeine dependency sorted we strode onwards and upwards into the blazing heat.
The walk was a treat despite the heat. Much of it was through lush green and brown cedar forests and every 500 metres or so there were little bells on the side of the path which you are supposed to ring to scare away any wild bears. We didn’t spot any – in fact I’m not sure that they are very common- but we have the bell a few discreet tinkles anyway. Pretty much the whole walk follows a stream so we were accompanied by the sounds of water splashing over granite stones…. just charming.
Charming or not we were very happy to reach Nagiso. It was hella hot still – so a cool drink from a vending machine and an airconditioned train back to Nagoya were bliss.
The train to Megome. Not exactly packed.
Hiking up and out of Nagome in the blazing heat. Jules made good use of her sun/rain umbrella.
Just leaving Magome on the Nakasendo Trail. Beware there may be bears – allegedly.
Verdant.
Verdanter
Verdantest
Cedar forest.
Hiding from the heat.
Inevitably, a rice field.
Once back in Nagoya (You Can’t Do That was playing in the subway alley this time) there was time to rest and drink cold Japanese beer back at the hotel. All we could manage after all that samurai striding in the heat was some delicious tempura from a standing bar about 200 metres from the hotel, along with more cold beer of course.
flyeelookee 