美ヶ原高原

We drove through countless wicked curves and bends for an hour and finally reached 美ヶ原高原. There was no sound, absolute silence except for the clouds which pretended to be still, but they were marching, almost descending upon us. We were embraced by waves of mountains, we were very small, we were very close to the sky and we felt so free that our souls began to dance at one instance and sober at another. There is a Creator and He makes all things beautiful!

The above is my favourite. Title: The Long Road Home.

アルプス公園

We bought sandwiches back for the kids and enjoyed Shinshu soba and grape ice-cream in the park.

Day 5 Matsumto City

Mineka, Yoshito and I explored Matsumoto City while the kids were at the Alps Park with Okasan.

Day 4 Dinner @ Hotel New Kotobuki

美ヶ原温泉 ｱｽﾚﾁｯｸ

We were not able to check into Hotel New Kotobuki till 1pm, hence, we took the kids to the near by ｱｽﾚﾁｯｸ.

On the way to 松本美ヶ原温泉 ホテルニューことぶき

Day 4 バラ園

Since we could not check into the next hotel early, we decided to visit the rose garden.

Day 3 渓流広場

After the farm, we drove back to the hotel, where we took a stroll by the stream, which is a stone's throw away, before returning for onsen. In the late evening, a wild black bear wandered from the woods and came near the hotel. We had a good view of it from our level. This rare sighting happened for the first time according to the hotel attendant.

Goat Farm @ Azumino

We had soft cream at the farm while Yoshito had fresh milk. Busy blowing the dandelions.

Day 3 安曇野ちひろ美術館 CHIHIRO ART MUSEUM AZUMINO

安曇野ちひろ美術館 was our first activity of the day, we then made a brief stop at a goat farm and followed by a stream walk in the evening near the onsen hotel where we stayed.