Magome - Rainy hike to Tsumago

Next stop was the postal town Magome.  This was part of the major route connecting Tokyo and Kyoto  during the Edo period.  The town has now been restored and is mainly known for the 7.9 km trail hike to Tsumago, our main reason for visiting.  

We started the trip to Magome with the breakfast of champions.  A go box from the connivence store and starbucks latte.  So far in my experience, Japan does starbucks better than Seattle.  The latte is perfectly creamy and foamy!

Pictures may not really show it but it was a crap day for a hike.  It rained the whole freaking day!  Sometimes just sputtering, most heavy rain.  But we forged on...mostly Michelle forged on I muttered...I coulddn`t help it my feet were wet.   At least it wasn`t cold, we were quite comfortable in t-shirts.

Bamboo tree galore!

Cute rest place...

Really this could have been anywhere.  Foliage was very similar to Canada, at points I felt like I was in Gatineau and then a bamboo tree would pop up and I remembered, right Japan

Really pretty bright blossoms of some sort.

Beautiful greenary.  Michelle kept on commenting on how green and fresh it smelled.  I have no idea what she is talking about.  How do you smell green and fresh?!

Mountains were gorgeous, clouds were so low they were like cotton balls right above the mountains!

Finally the Tsumago.  It was a good trek, I would have enjoyed it so much more if I wasn`t wet.  But as Michelle kept on pointing what else were we going to do - sit in the hotel room?  There was really nothing else to do in Magome!

We were told that most restaurants closed at 1700.  When we got back to Magome around 1530 we found most restaurants closed and sadly no real food options at the convenience store.  Dinner ended up being chips, mochi and rice cake.