It took no less than 10 people to help me get on the right Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagano, but I made it. The station during rush hour was insane, but I loved being in the middle of it and not having a clue where to go.
I wanted to backpack across Japan...but I'm a weakling. I'm also tenacious (or stubborn!), so I'm "diet" backpacking. I tucked my suitcase into a koala locker at the train station and have an overnight pack on my back.
I'm staying at a ryokan near the the Jigokidani Snow Monkey Park, and for once in my life I'm hoping for it to be cold so the monkeys are in their hot spring looking adorable.
Watch out monkeys, here I come!