Takayama... and surrounds


This was our second trip in Golden week. Making the most of our last holidays before we return to Australia in June. Our plan was to see the World Heritage Grasso Huts in Shirakawa-go then stay overnight in the historic town of Takayama then return home via a National Park that Jan had recommended.

After the trip I must say that the mountains are by FAR the most beautiful part of Japan. Especially coming from somewhere such as Victoria where everything is fairly flat, the mountains, snow and alpine streams were stunning and a great contrast to the industrial concrete mess that is normal in Japanese cities.

Ogimachi town - Shirakawa-go valley

I had already been to Shirakawa go (photos here) but it was Pam's first visit. One of the most spectacular parts of the visit is the winding drive to the town following the river with the mountains above you.


Views of Shirakawa from the viewing point. The fantastic views of the town were even more impressive with the snow capped mountains in the background.


Views of Shirakawa from the viewing point. The Huts are rethatched every 20 years or so. You can see one (Kanda House) that has just been rethatched.


There was an incredible number of tulips all over the area.


A shot from Shirakawa go


There are two parts to the town of Ogimachi. The historic town on one side of the river and a museum on the other side. The museum is made up of buildings moved from other towns when the nearby hydro-electric dam was being built.


We couldn't get over the contrasts of colours in the area.


THe huts had multiple levels and were not just living quarters, but also workplaces. The upper levels were usually used for silk worm farming


Pretty waterfall


Manhole cover depicting the gasso houses.


Many of the huts now are either museums, bed and breakfast's or restaurants.

More Photos of Ogimachi from 2007

Michael visited Ogimachi in June 2007, See here for the photos from that trip.




Takayama Town

After leaving the valley we headed on to Takayama. The Lonely Planet recommended that we visit Hida Folk Village but we did not concur. A fairly small and dull open air museum was a recreation of what we had seen for real that very morning. We did not stay long.

Instead we headed into town and checked in to our hotel.


Michael enjoying a nip of sake at one of the many sake houses. In the historic section of town.

This was not our first trip to Takayama so see the box below for photos of the town

More Photos of Takayama from 2006/2007

This is not our first trip to Takayama, so we wandered and didn't take many photos. Takayama is pretty and full of knick-knack shops.
, See here for the photos from the earlier trips.


Morning Market
We also visited Takayama's morning market. We must have got a bad day because there were about a dozen stalls most of which were selling pickled vegetables. Again we did not spend long.


Oyado Koto No Yume -Ryokan/Hotel

One of the things we really wanted to do in Japan was spend a night in a traditional ryokan (guest house). Ryokan's are known for their traditional Japanese service, onsens and their food. We ended up at a very fancy place for our one and only experience and taste of the Ryokan lifestyle. (Tip many places in Japan are priced per person, not per room, always check).

We stayed at probably the fanciest place we have ever stayed. The Kota no Yume Ryokan provided us with a wonderful experience. The service was unfaultable, no stressful tipping and active proactive assistance. The rooms were all pretty with all the latest gadgets but styled for nostalgia and quite intimate. You did not feel like being in a Hotel, rather like being in a luxury Bed and Breakfast.


View of Koto no Yume from the street. - Fairly nondescript front.


The room was much larger than we expected.


The beds made a welcome change from the futons at Koyasan!

Dinner
To give you an idea. There were 13 courses/dishes for dinner. The food was stunningly presented, included a variety of Japanese foods such as whole fish, Mizo soup, sashimi etc etc. Breakfast was the same.

The dining room though had about 12-18 small tables in it. Tatami floors, and paneled walls. Service was in kimonos and there was a low happy buzz and no overpowering smoky smell. The feeling was intimate and exclusive.


Service
Service is one of the things that made staying at a ryokan different to any other hotel. The staff seemed to be always there when you needed them but never intrusive. The managed to create a quiet, calm and welcoming atmosphere. Although we were advised that no one spoke English, they made every effort to speak to us in English and make us feel as comfortable as possible. Although it was one of the most expensive night's accommodation we have ever booked, you can't leave Japan without experiencing a night at a ryokan.


Shinhotaka Ropeway

After breakfast we headed off into the mountains. About an hour out of Takayama (halfway to Matsumoto) we arrived at the shinhotaka ropeway. Guide Pamphlet in English here.

To give an idea it was deep into the mountains and in May (one month from summer) the peaks were covered in snow. Again, the drive was like what I imagine it would be like driving through the Alps in Europe. The peaks soared around us. The Ropeway was on the side of Hotakadake, a mountain nearly 1000m higher than the tallest mountain in Australia.

Mountain Meters
Mount Kosciuszko 2228
Mt. Fuji 3776
Ropeway station on Hotakadake 2156
Hotakadake 3190

The guidebook gave us the impression that we were going to be taken up the mountain in carriages hundreds of meters in the air. That was not the case. We traveled up but were never more than 10-20 meters off the ground.


The ropeway is taken in two stages. The first takes 4mins and takes you to 1,305m.


The views are ok at the start


Still ok.


But, as you get higher, the landscape is breathtaking. This was taken in the second stage as we traveled to 2,156m


May 2nd and there is still snow on the ground.


The viewing point and everyone was lining up to get their photo taken.
Hotakadake mountain in the background


There was more than one line for getting your photo!
Hotakadake mountain in the background again


On the way down.


Another double-decker gondola taking people on the way up (holds up to 121 people).

The ropeway was expensive and annoying that it only left once an hour. We spent quite a bit of time in the queues. It was definitely worth it. Really I suppose it was the drive into the mountains that was the key thing. It was really worth doing.


And home to Nagoya.


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