We picked up our rental car in Nagano and drove to Matsumoto today. Driving on the left side of the road is always a challenge, particularly when you have a manual transmission. Americans must have an International Drivers Permit to drive in Japan, which must be issued prior to departure. An IDP is simply your American driver’s license translated into 10 languages.
Fall in Japan can be rainy and humid due to typhoon season, but the sun is finally shining and the weather is gorgeous! We toured Matsumoto Castle, which is one of Japan’s famous castles. Matsumoto is on the edge of the Japanese Alps, where we are headed tomorrow.