8-bitDesign

We’re on the move again. Travel itinerary? 1 hour bullet-train from Kyoto to Nagoya, then 4 hours on an elevated train through the countryside to Nagano, the prefecture’s capitol, and from there, a (hopefully) quick drive out to Nakano, Reynolds’ home here.

I’m on the train right now from Nagoya to Nagano, the heart of Nagano Prefecture (something between a state and a county).

We’re currently winding our way through mountains and cities, and the beauty of the Japanese countryside is absolutely breathtaking. To think that there are farms, forests, and mountain communities outside of the neon glow of Tokyo is surprising, but then again, that’s why we’re here.

The further we get from the cities, the more we’re seeing of the real Japan. The tourist density in Kyoto was a bit depressing, and thus far we’ve been relatively coddled by some two of Japan’s more international cities. Here we’re in the heart of the land, and well away from the typical tourist stops.

Let’s see how this goes.