Right After the Matsutake Lunch: Disaster Strikes
Stuffed with matsutake and happiness, we returned to the car saying, “That was perfect.” Then the plot twist appeared.
The sunglasses. Were gone.
“Wait… where are my sunglasses?”
“No way. Did you leave them back at the restaurant?”
“…So we’re turning around?”
And just like that, U-turn.
Thirty minutes lost to the Sunglasses Quest.
But honestly, the entire drive was just us roasting each other:
“This is all part of the journey.”
“Yeah, a journey with WAY too much flavor.”
Somehow, these little detours always feel like the true spice of a road trip.
Unno-juku: Quiet Streets and Picture-Perfect Everything
We regathered what was left of our dignity and headed to Unno-juku. When we arrived, it was practically empty thanks to the weekday timing.
“This place looks incredible.”
“It’s like someone built a movie set and forgot to charge admission.”
“This is going to be so photogenic.”
Every corner was photobook material.
We snapped photos like tourists possessed,
soaking in the calm air and cool autumn breeze.
Stopping by Suwa Shrine for a Goshuin
In the middle of the street sat Suwa Shrine, so we stopped for a goshuin. The shrine was surrounded by trees, quiet enough to make the earlier chaos feel like a hallucination.
“Should we make a wish?”
“Yeah. Maybe… ‘Hope we can come again.’”
“Shouldn’t you wish for another matsutake jackpot year?”
“Your greed is showing.”
Light teasing. Calm atmosphere. Brain finally rebooting.
Konnyaku Park: The Moment We Realized It’s Not Happening
By the time we left Unno-juku, we were fully satisfied. Then we checked the time.
“…Konnyaku Park is impossible now, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Absolutely impossible.”
“I wanted to go though…”
A tiny pang of regret.
But also a convenient reframing:
“Well, that just means we saved something fun for next time.”
Honestly, a road trip with a few “missed spots” is usually the best kind.
Rest Stop: Otoginosato and the Irresistible Chestnut Soft Serve
On the way back, we stopped by Otoginosato (Ueda City). In the car, the topic of the hour returned:
“Why is Mont Blanc so ridiculously good?”
“Chestnuts are basically legends.”
“Conclusion: autumn belongs to chestnuts.”
Then we spotted the words Chestnut Soft Serve at the shop.
Destiny.
It was rich, fragrant, and went down easy despite the matsutake feast earlier.
Soft serve ignores stomach capacity. It has its own laws.
“The second-stomach theory is real.”
“No, humans probably have four.”
Thus began our philosophical ice-cream debate.
Final Stop: Tsuruya
The grand finale was Tsuruya (near Ueda Interchange). There is no such thing as going into Tsuruya and staying calm.
Fresh vegetables? “So cheap!”
Row of jams? “Everything looks amazing!”
Karin-to snacks? “Yes. Buying.”
The shopping basket grew heavier with zero resistance.
Back at the car, everyone wore the same satisfied grin.
“Today was amazing.”
We Didn’t See Everything, but That’s the Beauty of It
We didn’t check off every stop on the plan. But that let us enjoy each place slowly.
Travel really is:
- Make a plan (but keep it breathable)
- Have backup ideas (missed spots become future plans)
- Stay flexible (rushing helps no one)
Even when chaos hits and schedules fall apart,
it all becomes part of the story.
That’s the charm of a free-spirited grown-up road trip.
And now we’ve got new destinations waiting for the next round.
The “places to visit someday” list just keeps growing.
A good day off should feel like this.
👉Read Part 1
👉Read the Planning Chapter
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