KAMIKOCHI is an incredibly scenic destination in the Japanese alps, home to mountain vistas, hiking trails, camping grounds, a famous bridge, fresh fish, wildlife, and a select few hotels for overnight visitors. It's easily accessible from others parts of the Nagano prefecture via train and then bus/taxi, and made for a lovely day trip from Matsumoto.
Here are some photos from our latest rainy-day adventure, our "honeymoon hike" through Kamikochi. (To Joe's great disappointment, we didn't encounter any of the famous monkeys that live in the mountains...maybe next time). Learn more about it: here and here.
Kappabachi Bridge from the trail
view from Tashiro Pond Trail
Tashiro pond trail
fresh rainfall
so fresh and so green
We started at Taisho Pond, which I believe was formed by a volcano. Pretty incredible on a misty, foggy day.
Today I took a stroll through the shopping districts of Matsumoto, Japan. This city is full of beautiful printed papers and fabrics, dainty and ornate ceramic serving dishes, classic and simple fashion, and bright colors. Any of these would make wonderful gifts!
Blue and white serving dishes--great for serving sorbet or mixed nuts
cute patterned lunch bags
unisex backpacks, perfect for Fall
Men's watches with simple woven bands
I may or may not have purchased this flowy, layered tank...
scalloped tea or coffee mug
I have to go back for this sunshine yellow backpack
Eggplant is one of my favorite things, but I know that it’s
not for everyone. It’s one of
those weird “vegetables” that’s technically a fruit, but gets put out in the
squash section and then salted and cooked in savory dishes. Identity crisis.
In case you're someone with only one tentative foot in the eggplant
camp, try one of these recipes and see if you won’t change your mind. After all summer is the perfect time to
take advantage of fresh and locally-grown produce available to you!
Fun Flavors
1. Sauteed Eggplant with Thyme and Honey from A Spicy Perspective (<--click for recipe)
Chopsticks. If
you grew up using Western cutlery, chances are you’ve experimented
with them from time to time. (And
by "experimented," I mean cursed under your breath while your hand started to get sore chasing around those last few grains of delicious sauce-covered rice).
...just me?
If you're
accustomed to forks, knives and spoons, like any other new skill, eating with chopsticks
takes practice. Having now traveled to a few countries in which chopsticks are
the traditional utensils used for eating, I’ve gotten some real-time training,
and had the chance to see everyday chopstick handlers in action. Even though I have far fewer
stab-resulting run-ins with the elusive cherry tomato, I discovered while
writing this post that even after all this practice, my grip is still not “ideal.”
The thing is, eating
with chopsticks is more complex than simply learning to use a new tool. In the same way that kids in many
American households are taught that it’s considered “good manners” to put
napkins in their laps and keep their elbows off the table, learning to use
chopsticks opens a door to observing the cultural nuance behind the manners, dining
habits, and etiquette practices associated with said tool. And while the basic grip and etiquette
may be fairly universal, the application and detail varies between and evolves
within each country and region.
For instance, did you know that
the shape and material of chopsticks traditionally varies from country to country?
Or that in China and Vietnam it’s customary to lift the bowl to your lips and
scoop rice into your mouth using your chopsticks, but in South Korea you should
leave the bowl on the table and bend to eat it?
image Lyson Media
I have compiled a
list of helpful How-To's from crafty bloggers and eaters everywhere to
help you learn the basic rules and etiquette associated with using chopsticks, unique
to each country. So, even if
you’re not sitting down to a meal right now in Japan (or China, Korea, Taiwan,
or Vietnam…), at least you’ll be prepared to eat like a pro the next time your
friend wants to meet you for Sushi.
GET A GRIP
(tutorials)
This one is my favorite, and it has a visual guide
I know this only scratches the surface, but hopefully you found this helpful. Five points if you're currently
practicing your grip with the pen and highlighter you found lying on your
desk. Happy eating, travelers!
One of my greatest struggles when
traveling is maintaining some sort of exercise routine.(Don’t even get me started on diet). Sometimes
I’ll get lucky and stay in a place with access to a great gym facility (hello, free summer gym pass!) or I’ll happen to get put right next to an affordable yoga studio (like one fall in
Lynchburg where I discovered Hot Yoga). Other times, it’ll just be me, a
mini fridge, and an all-too-convenient neighborhood 7-11 calling to me late in
the night like a fluorescently-lit-She-Devil for weeks. And I’m no runner, but what happens if you’re stationed
somewhere with no gym and winter weather means it’s not safe to run on
sidewalks?Or you flew with one
checked bag and couldn’t bring along your favorite set of 10 & 12 lb
dumbbells?(Don’t worry, I have an elaborate list of other excuses and scenarios). Fear not, fellow travelers.Through trial and error, I have
garnered a collection of resources, streaming guides, and workouts that can be
done in a space as small as a hotel room.Some of these are wifi dependant, and some are not. Some are free, some are not. Some require you to do most of the research
and planning, while others are designed to guide you blissfully through
calorie-burning greatness.Hopefully,
if you’re able to travel using some combination of these, you’ll never have to
neglect fitness goals in the name of your career or vacation again.
Walking
This goes without saying, but,
I’ll say it anyway.It’s
free.It’s limitless.It’s low intensity and fat-burning. And
as long as there’s decent weather, it’s a wonderful way to explore a new city.
Plus, I use this as simultaneous study time to listen to audiobooks or study
music or a new language. It’s safer than running when dealing with
snow and ice in the winter, as long as you don’t mind bundling up. And it's a low-impact option for those of us without titanium joints. For me, walking is a daily must that supplements my other workout routines, but even if it's the only thing I do, at least I did something. Pros: Free! Exploration bonus points! Great study time! Cons: Bad weather restrictive, tricky without safe sidewalks, and not high intensity
Exercise DVDs
Purchased on sale at Target,
consignment stores, ordered on Amazon, and handed down from friends and family,
I have a sacred little collection of dance, cardio, pilates and yoga DVD’s that
travel with me everywhere.There
is no wrong or right (unless the instructor is wearing floral biker shorts
under a unitard, and if that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right).Just bring a few favorites that you can
pop in your laptop for a little sweat jam with old friends. Pros: Lightweight for travel,
familiar workouts in a new environment Cons: Novelty has worn off…along
with the fashion choices, and not an option for tablet users
Online Streaming Programs (Wifi required)
My current obsession is the BeachBody On Demand Club Membership.For just $2.99 per week, I’m able to
stream workouts from the entire collection (T25, P90x, Insanity, 21 Day Fix, Yoga Booty
Ballet, Brazilian Butt Lift, Turbo Fire, PiYo, Cize, etc.)Most of these workouts feature high
intensity interval training, high intensity cardio, and require minimal space
and equipment.These have been the
best way to get an intense workout in a hotel room that I’ve found so far, and
the variety of workouts available ensures that I never get bored.Also, I appreciate not having to come
up with my own plyometric routine or set of exercises.They’re all there for you in 15-60
minute workouts. Pros: High intensity workouts with RESULTS,
fairly inexpensive, world-wide streaming, nice to use whether traveling OR home Cons: unless you purchase a
program, only a few workouts per program are available at your club
membership rate.Also, some have
equipment required (see below for lightweight bands).
offers tons of free video tutorials of
plyometrics and bodyweight exercises that can be used in combination with one another to create
a routine.I’m less inclined to
choose this option as it requires a little more knowledge and experience
combining muscle groups and knowing the number of reps appropriate for one’s
unique body and goals, BUT it’s a good place to visit for ideas or to mix up your
routine in a gym.
Pros: Free, well-made
instructional videos Cons: Lots of work before you
even get to the workout
Social Media
Ah, the beauty of the
Interwebs.So many trainers are
able to get their work out there and available to you for free.If you’re willing to wade through the
hours of instructional videos on YouTube,
or you find a few good channels (FitnessBlender has hours of free videos) with
instructional videos, it’s a great resource. Also, you can follow accounts on Instagram (@thesquatguide,
@femalefitnesstips, @fithealthyworkouts) for short exercise videos or training
tips. Just type in "workouts" on Pinterestand a
veritable sea of six-packs and airbrushed booties covered by short
instructional workouts will greet you.Seriously, Pinterest is my playground.If you can’t find ideas there, you won’t be able to find
them anywhere. Some trainers and gyms also have Facebook fan pages where they’ll post
great meal prep ideas, workouts, and tips. Pros: They’re all free resources,
and they seem to never end Cons: There’s a LOT out there,
and you really have to take the time to weed through the good and the not so
good material
Travel Equipment
Unless you're traveling by car, it’s rare that you can pack an arsenal of free weights and a yoga mat. Here I offer you a few lightweight standbys that
go a long way:
They’re extra lightweight, super-absorbent
(great for hot yoga), and can be used as a regular towel.Brands like Gaim and Manduka make good
performance towels, and they can be used over top of a mat for friction or to
absorb sweat.
Exercise Bands
Resistance bands are your
alternative to freeweights and kettlebells, and they’re light and easy to
pack.A must for strength training
when you travel!You can find good
ones on Amazon, just read reviews. Some are tube-shaped and come with handels and door attachments, others will be simple bands like you get from a physical therapist. You should plan to pay anywhere from $30-150 for a good set, but it’s
worth the investment.
photo: leanitup.com
Do you have any other helpful workout travel tips to share? What are your favorite ways of getting around not using a gym? Happy fit-getting, Hotel Workout Gurus!
We're in Matsumoto, Japan for the month while my husband sings with the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival. So far, I've loved every minute in this quiet, clean city surrounded by lush mountains and natural springs and spas ("onsen") at the base of the Japanese Alps. I'll skip to the good part.
Giant. Surprise. Street. Festival. Dance. Party.
Right outside my hotel room window.
The Matsumoto Bon Bon Festival happens the first Saturday of every August, and while I'm still researching the origin of the song, according to the City of Matsumoto website, it's "part parade, part dance, part party and part carnival as each group sports its own costume, and parades through the downtown streets while dancing to the catchy Matsumoto Bon-Bon tune [which plays over loud speakers piped throughout the city]." They aren't lying about any of it. Holy kimono fashion show, street food & cold cold beer fiesta, family-friendly explosion, Batman. If you're ever in the Nagano prefecture in August, don't miss it. I'm talking 20-30,000 attendants, the best grilled steak kebob I've ever eaten, and the entire city center blocked for the party. Who cares if it's hot?!
As a career performing artist with many creative passions and a tumbleweed lifestyle, I wanted a place to provide an honest, unique, and entertaining reflection of my tastes and travels.
In an effort to stay connected, explore unknowns, and share experiences, discoveries, inspiration, mistakes, and interesting findings through my lens, (life as an opera singer is never boring) I'll discuss everything from green smoothie recipes to DIY wedding ideas, to new artists, fitness trends, or recipes, to fun discoveries made on the road (Think: local restaurant, festival and fashion features, or "The 10 most important phrases to learn when visiting a foreign country").
Please feel free to comment, question, and share. You can reach me at hailey@sunshinesurvivalguide.com or leave a comment below any post. Thanks for visiting!
