Travel: Japan - General
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Starlight1968, the food was so good, I don't dare to weigh myself since I got back! :yikes:
Part 3:
Day 5: Kanazawa to Shirakawago.
We took an early bus(8.10am) to Shirakawago this morning. There is no train to Shirakawago as it is a mountainous area. But the bus was very comfortable. The same bus stops at Shirakawago before going to Takayama.
We arrived Shirakawago around 9.30am and was able to check in to our Minshuku. This is a 5 rooms home stay. We took 4 rooms and had the whole place to ourselves. There was no other guest that day. The owner section and guest sections are separated. The guest share common toilet and 2 Japanese style bath. It is one of the old houses within the UNESCO World heritage site. We booked this through the tourism office of Shirakawago. Dinner and breakfast was also part of the package here.
Minshuku Koemon (anti-clockwise: welcome tea and sweet cakes, our room, Kaiseki dinner and the corridor to the rooms)
![](\"http://i62.tinypic.com/2v0kb4y.jpg\")
http://i62.tinypic.com/2v0kb4y.jpg\">
The Minshuku was fantastic and provided us with snow boots/wellingtons, which was very much appreciated as snow was falling heavily. It was a start of a snow storm in Shirakawago. The next morning, the whole place was covered in deep deep snow! We were glad we arrived a day earlier. A friend was there 2 days before us and from his photo, there was hardly any snow.
The village of Shirakawago, photo from the bridge:
![](\"http://i62.tinypic.com/293dls4.jpg\")
We deposited our bags and went to the GASSHO VILLAGE open air museum. In the museum, there is a sample of the inside of the old houses that you can visit. After walking around the \"museum\" which is really an outdoor walk around the houses and surroundings, we had lunch in the village. This is the Hida beef region. Hida beef is better than the wagyu we know and cannot be exported outside Japan. Our lunch was Hida beef soba and skewers of grilled Hida beef which are to die for! :please:
After lunch we took a bus from the village to SHIROYAMA TENSHUKAKU VIEWPOINT to have a Birdseye view of the village. We were lucky to be there just 15 mins early and had a great view of the village. Within 15 mins, the snow storm came and we could not see anything after that!
Shirakawago:
![](\"http://i58.tinypic.com/2mgnrxv.jpg\")
WADA HOUSE and MYOZEN-JI TEMPLE & MUSEUM are places which we wanted to visit after the view point, but because of the heavy snow, we were freezing and decided to give them a miss. Wanda house is suppose to be give a view of the inside of a typical house in Shirakawago. But we were already staying in one :).
With the snow storm outside, we were glad we were able to enjoy a hot bath before our delicious dinner.
Day 6: Shirakawago to Takayama
After a sumptuous breakfast, we checked out at 9am to catch the 9.30am bus to Takayama. It is the same bus that travels from Kanazawa to Shirakawago to Takayama that we took the day before. The bus ride was just short of an hour.
On arrival at Takayama, we checked into our Ryokan and went for a walk at Takayama old town. It was still snowing but not as heavy as in Shirakawago. There is a shop in the old town selling takeaway aburi Hida beef sushi. The queue is long but so worth it! I'm salivating just thinking about it now!
Takayama Old Town:
![](\"http://i61.tinypic.com/w7hm2s.jpg\")
After the walk and some shopping around old town, we went to Ajikura Tengoku for lunch. This restaurant is near the bus station and serves delicious 5th grade (the best grade) Hida beef! It was the best meal we had the whole trip. The beef melts in your mouth and price is very reasonable. Cheaper than what you get in Singapore and so much better! Must try if you visit Takayama. DH was just saying that he wants to go Takayama again just to be able to eat at Ajikura again!
Lunch at Ajikura:
![](\"http://i58.tinypic.com/f6g5f.jpg\")
After lunch, we took a bus to the Teddy bear Eco Village. Frankly for adults or older kids, it is a waste of time. Small place. But the 2 girls (6 and
loved it. We tried to do some thing for everyone in the group on this trip since our ages range from. 6 to 74!
Teddy Bear Eco-Village:
![](\"http://i62.tinypic.com/2ko35w.jpg\")
We had yet another great Kaiseki dinner at our Ryokan tonight. There was of course Hida beef, eaten shabu shabu style or on the hot plate.
![](\"http://i59.tinypic.com/mtnpzk.jpg\")
To be continued..... -
Hi Dnls_mum
The photo of the village of Shirakawago is similar to what I have seen in the guide-books.
My time of travel isn't the time for snow and yours was just perfect timing.
The travelling part isn't easy with bus ride into the mountainous area.
Congrats and you have done it!
With kaiseiki dinner almost every night, maybe it is better not to think about your weight
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starlight1968sg:
Hi Starlight1968, thanks! Traveling by bus definitely was not easy. We saw people with big luggages having trouble at Shirakawago as the thick snow meant they cannot roll the bags. We actually sent our large luggages via TA-Q-Bin from Nagoya airport to Kanazawa. When we arrived at the airport. We had prior to departure packed small cabin bags for our first 2 nights. Makes train travel easier. Then at Kanazawa, when we got our big bags, repacked for the next 5 nights and sent our bags from Kanazawa to Tokyo. This way when we were travelled by bus to Shirakawago, Takayama, Shibu Onsen, etc, it was much easier. There are no luggage space in the buses for short distance travel too. I definitely recommend using TA-Q-Bin to deliver big luggages between the big cities and just take small cabin bags for bus travel. It made our travel much easier!Hi Dnls_mum
The photo of the village of Shirakawago is similar to what I have seen in the guide-books.
My time of travel isn't the time for snow and yours was just perfect timing.
The travelling part isn't easy with bus ride into the mountainous area.
Congrats and you have done it!
With kaiseiki dinner almost every night, maybe it is better not to think about your weight -
Haha, Shibu Onsen in Yudanaka?
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starlight1968sg:
Haha, Shibu Onsen in Yudanaka?
Yup! To enjoy the onsen and see the snow monkeys! Will get to that soon. -
Dnls_mum:
OMG, one of our most memorable experiences but some years ago. That posh ryokan and its kaiseiki dinner, plus the lonely walk to Snow Monkey Park...starlight1968sg:
Haha, Shibu Onsen in Yudanaka?
Yup! To enjoy the onsen and see the snow monkeys! Will get to that soon.
I can't wait to read your trip to revive my memory.
My dh always rem the price paid on top of the unique experience. -
starlight1968sg:
OMG, one of our most memorable experiences but some years ago. That posh ryokan and its kaiseiki dinner, plus the lonely walk to Snow Monkey Park...Dnls_mum:
[quote=\"starlight1968sg\"]Haha, Shibu Onsen in Yudanaka?
Yup! To enjoy the onsen and see the snow monkeys! Will get to that soon.
I can't wait to read your trip to revive my memory.
My dh always rem the price paid on top of the unique experience.[/quote] :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
It was our most expensive accommodation too! I wished I stayed there for more than 1 night....... -
Part 4:
Day 7: Takayama to Murakami (Shin-Hotaka)
This morning, after breakfast we went to MIYAGAWA MORNING MARKET at Takayama Old Town. We were lucky and the sun came out in the late morning and we took beautiful pictures of the temple near our ryokan.
The common breakfast dish in this area is a sweet miso heated over fire together with spring onions or mushrooms and onions. It is then mixed with rice. Simply delicious!
![](\"http://i61.tinypic.com/21v2ag.jpg\")
MIYAGAWA MORNING MARKET and the temple.
![](\"http://i57.tinypic.com/fc7gd0.jpg\")
After this, we took a bus to Murakami where our ryokan for the night is located. The same bus goes to Shin-Hokata Ropeway but we dropped at our Ryokan first to deposit our bags, and took the next bus to Shin-Hotaka Ropeway.
Sunset early in Winter and by the time we were able to catch some sunset lighting.![](\"http://i60.tinypic.com/24luams.jpg\")
It was extremely cold (-13 degrees) in the mountain (Japan Alps). We were able to walk around the deserted path which had meter deep snow at the sides. It was absolutely beautiful!
After that we went back to our ryokan to enjoy our private ensuite onsen that night!
![](\"http://i59.tinypic.com/2gxjuv5.jpg\")
Then it was yet another delicious Kaiseiki dinner of Hida beef! This time it was steamed and was very very tender and again melts in your mouth. We actually ate around a fire place and fish and rice cakes were skewered and cook in the fireplace.
![](\"http://i59.tinypic.com/ng544y.jpg\")
The speciality sake in this region is with a fish soaked in it. I didn't like it. Too fishy for me.
![](\"http://i58.tinypic.com/11uu7mp.jpg\")
To be continued...... -
Part 5:
Day 8: Murakami - Shibu Onsen
This is a day of traveling. Taking buses and trains to get to our next destination, Shibu Onsen. We had another soak in our private onsen in our room, then set off after yet another good Japanese breakfast.
We took a short bus ride from Murakami to Hirayu Onsen where we caught a longer distance bus to Matsumoto. From Matsumoto, we took a train to Nagano. At Nagano station we took the express electric train (40 mins) to Yudanaka. At Yudanaka station. We called our ryokan and they came to pick us up. It's a 5-10 mins drive from Yudanaka station to Shibu Onsen. By the time we arrived at Shibu onsen it was already about 4pm. Just enough time to take some night time pictures of this onsen town, then have a soak in the onsen before dinner.
View of the street of Shibu Onsen![](\"http://i58.tinypic.com/30kcdmu.jpg\")
Our ryokan has 8 different onsen from different springs with different temperature. 3 for men and 3 for women. At 9pm at night, they switch the men and women to let everyone have a chance to try the different onsen. The last 2 onsens were available for private use. Just need to book them for a specific one hour slot and the door to the onsen could be locked from the inside. Some onsens are indoor, some outdoor. I always enjoy outdoor onsen especially in winter. It is so comfortable with your body in the hot pool while the surround is cold. The feeling of snow falling on you as you soak in the hot onsen water is great!
There are 9 public onsen in town available free for use for guests of the various ryokans. We were given key to the public onsens which are locked to prevent non-overnight guests of the Shibu Onsen from using them. DH and DS2 went onsen hopping after dinner!
Our Kaiseki dinner that night. We had to try the special sake here too- Snow monkey sake!
![](\"http://i61.tinypic.com/16ascg3.jpg\")
Day 9: Shibu Onsen (snow monkey) to Nagoya
Breakfast this morning included onsen eggs. They run the onsen water over a basket of eggs constantly. The cooked eggs are delicious.
![](\"http://i62.tinypic.com/28v80sk.jpg\")
After breakfast, our hotel drop us off at the snow monkey park. The park itself is 1.8km from the entrance. We had to trek along a snow covered path to get to the park. Due to the cold weather, these monkeys soak themselves in the hot onsen pool to keep warm. It started as a natural phenomenon during winter, then slowly, as tourists start visiting this place to see monkeys in onsen, they started using food to lure the monkeys into the onsen even during the hotter summer months. The good time to visit this place is definitely in winter.
Snow Monkey:
![](\"http://i57.tinypic.com/2lar6ns.jpg\")
After this, we took a bus to Yudanaka station to catch our train to Nagano. Our ryokan had a fantastic service. They had sent our luggages before hand to a cafe at Yudanaka station. The cafe hold the bags for us. Save us the trouble of having to go back to our ryokan to pick up our bags.
From Nagano station, we took a train back to Nagoya. The train ride from Nagano to Nagoya was 3 hours. My sister's family and my parents are going home after Nagoya while we were going to Tokyo. On hindsight, we should have split with them at Nagano and take the Shinkansen to Tokyo from Nagano. I had left the planning of this trip to my sister and so it was all booked already before we noted the long train ride. Anyway, the plan was to go orange picking the next day at Nagoya and I thought the kids may like that. By the time we got to Nagoya, it was around 6plus in the evening.
Day 10: Nagoya (Gamagori) to Tokyo
This morning we took a train to Gamagori to go to the orange farm to pick oranges.
Gamagori orange farm
![](\"http://i62.tinypic.com/1zfsxsi.jpg\")
You can eat as much oranges as you pick. Then each one gets to take home a 1kg bag of oranges. It was snowing when we arrived. Definitely unexpected as the weather forecast had predicted a clear day. The snow fall overnight was extremely heavy and unexpected and actually caused many train delays that day and some roads were affected too.
After orange picking, we took the train back to Nagoya, pick up our bags from our hotel which is near the train station and took the Shinkansen to Tokyo.
Arrived in Tokyo at around 4plus, checked in to our hotel just by Tokyo station and after a short rest, then went to the World Trade Center for dinner and also catch the nighttime view of the city and Tokyo tower from the observation deck.
Night view of Tokyo tower and the city:![](\"http://i60.tinypic.com/szhkxy.jpg\")
To be continued...... -
Such an enjoyable journal and beautiful photos…
Thanks for sharing!!
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