Touring Nagano, Japan

A friendly cat mama who was an absolute temple whore. She wandered from temple to temple with zero loyalty.

A Google Maps screenshot from our car rental – YES they drive on the left side of the road in Japan, but having access to a car in Nagano is really great. We drove there from Tokyo. Imagine if our car was really to scale though?

Grabbing candy in a little town en route to Nagano. That’s a baguette made of cotton candy btw, not bread. I suppose you’ll want to drag the name of this city out of me!

I told you this was a city known for its candy. Beats me what the name of it was. I’m sure I could find it, if pressed.

Maiko in the town where we got candy. Maiko are geisha in training, here without their hair and makeup fully done, still outshining everyone else. Look how they protect their skin from UVs with umbrellas. Don’t we look dumb for not doing the same?

Convenience store wares, in case you wonder if you could still get your Cheetos overseas.

A sample lunch somewhere we stopped – we just pulled off the road somewhere. Couldn’t tell you where.

Our son outside Zengo-Ji temple at Sammon Gate, in Nagano

I got swindled out of some money by this adorable cat-themed marketing campaign. The cookies were nothing to write home about, but how could I resist? It wasn’t the first ill-advised purchase and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

Random storefront in Nagano. If pressed I would say they sold “weird stuff.”

Sneaking out of our ryokan. Kidding – it’s not like they hold you hostage!

If you’re tall, watch your giant forehead in the doorways!

A chubby birb (yes) who tried to steal our pastry. The plot twist is that we gave it some anyway. It was either a Snow White moment or us being “ugly Americans.” Maybe both.

Ladies’ onsen at Matsuya Ryokan. YES, you had to be fully naked in here. Please grow up.

The temple across the street from our ryokan. It has a name of course, but it was all in Japanese characters and I’m not the one taking a Japanese language class so I can’t be expected to translate it for you. It was so beautiful at night!

Say what you will about Starbucks but at least they open bright and early. Don’t hate me for hitting up the only place available!

Zengo-Ji temple, a very short walk from our ryokan. I know it’s not always about me, but sheesh, the humidity will kill all hair volume.

Inside beautiful Zengo-Ji temple. The Buddhist emblem resembling a swastika predates any Nazi use of course, but is still controversial today.

The orange cat who guards Zengo-Ji temple. I half wonder if he fathered the babies born to the black-and-white cat, above. If so, he seemed to take zero responsibility.

Important-looking temple figurines, some draped more lovingly than others. In my mind the unadorned ones are jealous of the decorated ones.

Kinda feel sorry for the plain guy next to the one with the big red pom pom

Wishes drawn on fox figurines, for luck. If only this worked!

Wild hydrangeas, which make you feel like a pretty terrible gardener, depending.

Buddhist figures at Zengo-Ji temple. Wish we had someone in this photo for scale because they were huge, but then the person would’ve ruined the picture. Use your imagination!

The Buddha outside our ryokan. Is it me, or did this sculptor copy the Zengo-Ji temple Buddhas, like, exactly? I guess nobody cares about plagiarism here.

Cooling off with a beer, at a shop across from our ryokan. The artwork on the can was cuter than it tasted, if that makes sense.

The same mama cat from the top, whom we saw over a series of days. Despite our growing bond, she refused to show us a single one of her babies.

We went to see some very chill “snow” monkeys, and they didn’t hoard their babies at all. They also didn’t care if it was winter or summertime – they still totally turned up (and turned OUT).

You may call them “mangy,” but remember, this is their summer coat. Their winter coats are much more plush!

Inspecting bugs, which was a highlight per usual.

The hike to the monkeys. Seconds after this photo was taken, my son playfully pushed me and theoretically, I could’ve fallen down all these stairs to the bottom.

No comment, except that this photo is how it felt to be a new mother 🙁

If I could give a “Best Dressed” award, this gentleman would get it. Look at that coat!

Precious baby, even with ears out of all proportion

I’m told this ramen looked much better than it tasted, much like my chicken wrap.

Best ice cream we’ve ever tasted though! Apple-flavored, at the same place as above, near the monkeys.

A non-western toilet at the monkey park. I love the photo of the monkey, as if you might forget where you are, or need inspiration in there.

Canyoneering in Nagano. Can you see the fear on my face in the background? We had to slide down that waterfall, which was honestly a dumb idea.

Zip-lining, whether you like it or not. (He did. I didn’t.)

In the river rapids, lucky to be alive. Check out the video below if you’re interested in adrenaline rushes.