Japan TR (include JL & CX F review)

[boomy]

Takayama
The cold weather hit us when we arrived. Temperature outside was -2 degrees and it was snowing. We weren't dressed properly so we walked as fast as we could with our luggage to the Ryokan. Lucky it's a small town and it was only a short 7 minutes walk.
The entrance.

The "lobby".

Our room.

Well this looks a bit different from the suite we had last night where is the bed?
While we were checking in they arranged our dinner in the room, it looked stunning! Was looking forward to try proper Kaiseki on this trip.

 

[TomVexille]

That looks fantastic.

 

[Dalescott]

I questioned the head waiter at the time and he was at first a little unwilling to tell me what it was. But in the end, said it was whale meat.

 

[mimishat]

Enjoying your trip report boomy! mmm okonomiyaki!

 

[outbackowner]

Great trip report Boomy, I wish that Japanese cuisine was in my taste.

 

[PLANT]

That whale did you get a green piece ?

 

[boomy]

After that big meal we had to take a walk outside. It was cold but everything looked beautiful covered in snow.



After cooling down outside we were ready to try out the Onsen in our Ryokan. There was no one inside so could take a quick photo.

Coming back to the room and the bed was ready, just on time

 

[boomy]

Day 12
Takayama
Latest time for breakfast was 8am which was a good thing in a way because it forced us to get up early.
(Japanese) breakfast of champions.

It was cols outside but at least sunny so took a walk in the town.
Interesting creatures they have here.


Not many people around, very peaceful.

We stopped for local sake tasting on the way.

 

[diningdecadence]

great TR. i feel sorry for whoever the dishwasher is in these kitchens - so many different bowls and plates!

 

[bPeteb]

Fantastic TR. Takes me back to our trip in the July after the tsunami. Westerners were very few and far between. Many of your photos boomy have been taken within feet of where we took photos. It's a bit like walking down the streets again

 

[boomy]

Some more photos we took in the town.



For lunch we had premium Hida Beef plate.


This local beef is one of the leading wagyu brands in Japan. Similar quality to Kobe Beef but much cheaper. We payed for our 300gr plate ~$60. Just to compare, 100gr of Matsuzaka Beef in Tokyo cost ~$100!

 

[boomy]

After lunch we went to check out Hida Folk Village. We could choose between taking the bus or 25 minute walk.
It was sunny outside so we chose to walk.

It turned out to be bad decision. After 10 minutes it start snowing, mildly at first but then became heavy.

We left our umbrellas in the room and weren't properly dressed either.
Almost there.

When we finally arrived we were glad to see they rent umbrellas for free in the Village. Lucky, because it kept snowing all afternoon.
In the village we saw different traditional houses that were all mobilised from near by villages to one place for preservation.

Most of these old houses didn't survive the modernisation period Japan went through. Many villages were sacrificed and sank when huge dams were built in the area and old traditions gave away to modern life. Major changes happened between 1959-1960 when the "three miracles" appeared: TV sets, washing machines and fridges. People began leaving their towns and move to cities.
The architecture is very different from the rest of Japan. Most houses have pointed roofs to allow rain and snow to drop faster.

 

[boomy]

Some of the houses are open to visit with all kinds of exhibitions that showed how people used to live back then. Basically, the main source of life in the house was fire, which was burning non-stop in the middle of the room.


Different types of houses from the region.

 

[amaroo]

This TR is just getting better and better

 

[lakeman]

Thanks for your great report.☺
Toasting it now with a fine japanese whiskey

 

[boomy]

By the time we finished our tour in the village it was still snowing so we took the bus back to town.
When we arrived back to the Ryokan our meal was being prepared.

Last dinner in Takayama.

We were glad to get different dishes from last night and try more verities of Japanese food. We even got lucky to eat Hida beef for the second time today.

 

[boomy]

Day 13
Woke up at 6am, It was -5 degrees outside. We are going to start this day in Ryokan high in the Japanese alps and finish it in a glitzy hotel in Hong Kong. On the way we will travel on regional train, then on the super express Shinkansen Nozomi (fasted train in Japan), then fly F with CX to HKG.
I love traveling and changing environments and this is one of those days when I wake up excited, knowing it's going to be a fun day.

 

[boomy]

Breakfast in the room before check out.

Saying goodbye to Takayama.

The 2.5 hours train ride back to Nagoya offers some great views. Most of the way done next to rivers and small towns. Interesting to see the change in scenery and transfer from winter climate back to spring.


Apologise for photos quality, moving trains and wet windows don't make the best pics.

 

[boomy]

In Nagoya we transferred to the super fast train Nozomi which will take us to Tokyo, then one more transfer for Haneda airport.
All these train rides and transfers may sound inconvenient, especially with luggage but in reality it was very easy journey and we didn't have any trouble finding space for our bags on the trains. It took us close to 5 hours to reach HND but none of us felt tired. Rail travel in Japan is so comfortable, I wish we would have something like that in Australia one day (at least between major cities) but I don't believe it will happen in my life time.
Managed to take some shots of Mount Fuji in the Nozomi, not bad pics taken at 300 km/h.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Holy Cow ... what a great trip and report ! Love Japan