Hi all! I have a trip planned for 18 – 24 Feb, wondering whether I can get away with bringing one pair of shoes!
**Option 1:** high top waterproof hiking shoes, use for everything including Togakushi.
**Option 2:** winter/snow boots for Togakushi, and one pair casual trainers for walking round town.
**Option 3:** cancel Togakushi, wear low top hiking shoes only.
Currently the idea is to do Togakushi (bus-Chusha-Okusha) as a day trip from Matsumoto. But if it’s the *only* place requiring snow boots then (given it’s also bit long to travel from Matsumoto) one option is save it for another time, if I ever visit Nagano City. (If so, any other nature-y walks in Matsumoto to recommend?)
Or am I mistaken, and snow boots are required for the other places besides Togakushi Shrine?
My itinerary is: 2 nights Matsumoto, 1 night Shibu Onsen (snow monkeys before check-in), 1 night Karuizawa, 1 night Tokyo. (My 24 hrs in Karuizawa will include a walk to the Usui Pass and a stargazing tour at Picchio Visitor Centre, in case that changes your advice on shoes.)
From what I’ve read, people recommend snowshoes for Togakushi but I don’t want to buy lots of unnecessary things. There also seem to be people online who’ve done it in hiking shoes so I’m finding it hard to tell what the snow is likely to be in mid-Feb.
Grateful for any feedback!
by yuenyuentan
