A colleague here in my new workplace looked at the picture of the snow-capped mountains I posted previously and asked me with a blank face: why did you choose to live in a rural place like that?

At the mention of Japan, you could imagine the bustling Tokyo area, or the ever alive Osaka, full of bling lights and all or the eye-piercing lights at downtown Akihabara where thousands of shops selling every technological gadget you can imagine. Busy subways, millions of people on the streets. But mountains? and an almost solitary valley with some agricultural area? That was not the Japan that was in his mind.

Matsumoto is surrounded by mountains acclaimed for its beautiful views. People come to this city in crowds to get away from the hideously hot and humid urban summer. They get into trouble with the traffic and expensive hotels just to get a slice of cozy laid back life and there was I living in the heart of the place they desire!

Matsumoto boasts of very clean air, several historic cultures with the Matsumoto castle, a national treasure just 15 minutes drive from home, calm climate and abundant onsens (hot springs) that not only warms the body but also the soul!

Matsumoto Castle – one of Japan’s national treasure

This blog intends to write things about my new conquest, Dubai but I am reminiscing my beloved Japan.

Dubai is a heavy urban area with all the annoying details that comes with most cosmopolitan city. Heavy traffic and lots and lots of people and occassional crime. While big-city people hide behind triple-locked doors and fight commuter stampedes, there’s a lot to be said for life in the slow lane in rural Matsumoto and I can’t wait to visit there again.