Nakasendō Diary

The bit of rest yesterday didn’t really improve much so we decided also to not push things today and had a start with a slow walk along the lake (because we had to check out anyway). Since the other mountain directly at the late (Shiojiri-toge) also seemed quite steep, we decided to skip that one too for my foots health sake and tunnelled it...

This morning we paid the hotel to drive us to Shimo-Suwa, the city behind the Wada mountain. I really wanted to climb it but also didn’t want to risk a bad injury of my Achilles so we skipped the climb and went straight to a clinic to have my foot checked. The doctor was a bit spongy with his response but basically it seemed...

Last night I didn’t sleep well as it was super cold and I was freezing. After Japanese breakfast we left 08:10 am into a cold but sunny countryside. Icing and an anti-inflammatory sheet over night didn’t help my foot tendons much – after a few kilometres I felt the pain again. So also today we walked slowly with a lot of breaks and after...

This morning it was still a bit chilly when we left at 07:55 am and after a bite from the convenience store we set off. After some kilometres I could feel my right foot again (it hasn’t been so great and after the hike I think I over stressed more of the bands (Achilles tendon?) in the foot so we had to take more...

After a nutritious Japanese breakfast we started off at 08:06 am. During us eating, the hotel owners scared us with talks about these blood sucking worms which have high season now and how they get into the clothes and after your attacked how the blood would flow etc. 早起きして朝ごはんを食べて8時ころに出発。食べながらはでもヒルについて色々怖い話を聞いて、山の楽しさは少し… 血を吸うって。木から落ちてくるし靴も登って隙間に入る。きゃー We got some vinegar spray from them as a repellant and some Tipps and...

Cloudy later sun 24℃ This morning we got up even a bit earlier but took some time to dry our washed clothes from last night with the hair dryer. We left 08:25 at Takasaki Station and had a rice ball to get started. The longer rest yesterday (and hot bath) did my muscles and feet well – I felt super good in the morning....