Jazz and the Groovy Snow Monkeys

We'd been staying In Nagano for a couple of days - Not too much there - though a v nice temple to see (as there is everywhere in Japan).  We'd found a fantastic little Jazz bar czlled "Groovy" that we both fell in love with at first sight.  It was like walking into someones front room. There was a bar at one end, a large square table big enough for about a dozen people to sit around, and tucked into the corners were a drum kit and a beautiful little baby grand.  It's one of those place that only gets to have "that" colour of walls and ceilings after years of concerted efforts from numerous chain smokers, bravely sacrificing their lungs for a colour that dulux just can't match. But it's a place that needs to be that colour, and that smokey - it just wouldn't be right without it. Just as it needs the  owners collection of crazy trinkets and toys on the bar and the dust that they collect. First time in there, we walked into a jam session and got talking to the various musicians in between songs.  They were so welcoming and interested in our trip and what we thought of Japan. Needless to say we went back at every opportunity and had several very groovy drinking sessions with some local guitar heroes and even some Beetles songs dedicated to us. Seriously groovy.

One night however there was no accomodation available, so we took the opportunity to go visit the Snow Monkeys in Yudanaka. its the only place in the world where monkeys onson (bath in the hot springs). There were over 100 of the little blighters running around wild, and they could get quite viscious with each other too. But as long as you didn't bother them they left people alone.  But they would get very close - just brush past your legs. We got some cool piccies which we will try and upload as soon as we can.

Local guitar heroes

Then we headed back to Groovy with a monkey bottle opener to add to the barmans collection of toys.