RtG Japan Daily Dispatch - day00 - Flipbook - Page 29
Day 14: Karuizawa to Nagano, 2 October 2025
An extended period away from the cars followed, when
the crews arrived at the Time Control at the Enza Café.
Time had been factored in to visit the Jigokudani Monkey
Park, where the Japanese macaques have made their
home, sitting out the freezing winters in the hot springs.
Unfortunately, today was a little too warm and, save for
three young males lounging on a rock, the bathing pools
were empty. Instead the crews enjoyed an extended lunch
of salad and pizza back at the cafe.
The afternoon brought an echo of the Aomori Apple
orchards en-route to the Kamikijima Regularity. From here
the landscape took on an alpine flavour, complete with ski
resorts, ski jumps, and a glimpse of the Japan Ski Museum
in Nozawaonsen. The rally was then marshalled into
number order at a Passage Control at the Hokuryu Lake
Hotel and small groups released to make their way to the
next Time Control in Satomiya at the Shinto Kosuge Shrine.
Established around 1,380 years ago during the reign of
Emperor Jomei, this was once a training ground for a sect
of reclusive and ascetic monks known as the Yamabushi.
Today we were honoured to have Shida-san, a Shinto priest,
bless our cars with a thumping soundtrack provided by an
ensemble of Taiko drummers high on a hill above the temple.
A brightly coloured Tengu made a surprise appearance from
the trees and the crews were able to pick up the drumsticks
to join in with the powerful rhythm section.
Rejoining their cars, it was time to strike out towards
Nagano and the night halt. It had been a memorable day
and, over dinner at the night halt in the Hotel Kokusai, the
feeling was, whilst the monkeys had let us down slightly,
the monks had definitely come through.
Tomorrow we say hello to a new crew member, Nathalie
Levy, who will replace her sister, Josefina, as the navigator
in their father Hernan’s Mercedes.
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
www.rallytheglobe.com
