Sat 17 Oct 15 – Takayama
Forecast Takayana 24 and sunny.
I woke up before the alarm went off this morning and when I looked outside it was very misty.
After breakfast I went downstairs and stepped outside and it was also very chilly BUT we are in the mountains. The fleece jacket might be needed this morning.
We all met in the foyer prior to our 0900 departure.
We travelled via the expressway,
passing through tunnels, towns, villages
and beautiful scenery, to Gokayama,
about an hour and half from Takayama, famous for its 'Washi' paper. No need for the fleece jacket, as the sun was shining again.
First up we watched a short video about the whole Washi paper making process. The paper is made from a mixture of Kozo (paper mulberry) fibers and Tororo Aoi (hollyhock). Gokayama Washi paper has been a success for over 1200 years. It is commonly used in Origami. There are 11 processes to go through, to make the paper.
and shake the excess moisture out etc and then we did it ourselves. We had already chosen some decorations to put on the postcard, with our names attached, so at the end, we knew what belonged to whom.
It was interesting watching the final processes of the paper making. AND it was pointed out to us that the only 'rice paper' in Japan is used in the food industry
While we were waiting for our postcards to dry, there was some shopping done in the shop there, plus there was a small textile exhibit upstairs, that a number of us went to see.
From Gokayama, which we departed from at 11:45, we then headed back towards Takayama, visiting Shirakawago. The Shirakawa-go and neighboring Gokayama regions, line the Shogawa River Valley in the remote mountains that span from Gifu to Toyama Prefecture. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, they are famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukuri means "constructed like hands in prayer", as the farmhouses' steep thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer. The architectural style developed over many generations and is designed to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that falls in the region during winter. The roofs, made without nails, provided a large attic space used for cultivating silkworms. Ogimachi, Shirakawa-go's largest village, is the one we visited.
We arrived at 12:15 and after walking across the suspension bridge from the parking area to the village, we then had free time until 2pm, when we met up with Saki and then walked up to the observation lookout, to get a great view of the village.
We then visited one of the houses, the Wada House. Apparently the family still live in some of the rooms that are not open to the public. About 5 rooms are on display.
We were back on the bus shortly after 3:30 and continued back to the hotel, where we arrived sometime before 5pm.
A few of us agreed to meet, to catch the hotel shuttle bus back to downtown Takayama, so we could have a walk around there and have a bite to eat. Well, we did quite a bit of walking but most of the restaurants that we checked out couldn't accommodate our group of 7.
In the end, we found a place directly opposite the railway station, (where we had to catch the shuttle bus from), that had room for us. I had Ramen noodles & a beer and couldn't finish all the meal.
We caught the 8:30pm shuttle, which had us back at the hotel at 8:40.
Tomorrow we head to Hiroshima via local train and bullet train. We need to pack the overnight bag for a 2 night stay, as the main luggage will go straight to our Kyoto hotel but we don't get there until Tuesday. And it's an early departure at 8am
Forecast Takayana 24 and sunny.
I woke up before the alarm went off this morning and when I looked outside it was very misty.
After breakfast I went downstairs and stepped outside and it was also very chilly BUT we are in the mountains. The fleece jacket might be needed this morning.
We all met in the foyer prior to our 0900 departure.
We travelled via the expressway,
passing through tunnels, towns, villages
and beautiful scenery, to Gokayama,
about an hour and half from Takayama, famous for its 'Washi' paper. No need for the fleece jacket, as the sun was shining again.
First up we watched a short video about the whole Washi paper making process. The paper is made from a mixture of Kozo (paper mulberry) fibers and Tororo Aoi (hollyhock). Gokayama Washi paper has been a success for over 1200 years. It is commonly used in Origami. There are 11 processes to go through, to make the paper.
After the video, we then went into another room and were invited to make 3 post cards for ourselves. We watched one of the men demonstrate the correct way to gather the liquid into the mounds
and shake the excess moisture out etc and then we did it ourselves. We had already chosen some decorations to put on the postcard, with our names attached, so at the end, we knew what belonged to whom.
It was interesting watching the final processes of the paper making. AND it was pointed out to us that the only 'rice paper' in Japan is used in the food industry
While we were waiting for our postcards to dry, there was some shopping done in the shop there, plus there was a small textile exhibit upstairs, that a number of us went to see.
From Gokayama, which we departed from at 11:45, we then headed back towards Takayama, visiting Shirakawago. The Shirakawa-go and neighboring Gokayama regions, line the Shogawa River Valley in the remote mountains that span from Gifu to Toyama Prefecture. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, they are famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukuri means "constructed like hands in prayer", as the farmhouses' steep thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer. The architectural style developed over many generations and is designed to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that falls in the region during winter. The roofs, made without nails, provided a large attic space used for cultivating silkworms. Ogimachi, Shirakawa-go's largest village, is the one we visited.
We arrived at 12:15 and after walking across the suspension bridge from the parking area to the village, we then had free time until 2pm, when we met up with Saki and then walked up to the observation lookout, to get a great view of the village.
We then visited one of the houses, the Wada House. Apparently the family still live in some of the rooms that are not open to the public. About 5 rooms are on display.
We were back on the bus shortly after 3:30 and continued back to the hotel, where we arrived sometime before 5pm.
A few of us agreed to meet, to catch the hotel shuttle bus back to downtown Takayama, so we could have a walk around there and have a bite to eat. Well, we did quite a bit of walking but most of the restaurants that we checked out couldn't accommodate our group of 7.
In the end, we found a place directly opposite the railway station, (where we had to catch the shuttle bus from), that had room for us. I had Ramen noodles & a beer and couldn't finish all the meal.
We caught the 8:30pm shuttle, which had us back at the hotel at 8:40.
Tomorrow we head to Hiroshima via local train and bullet train. We need to pack the overnight bag for a 2 night stay, as the main luggage will go straight to our Kyoto hotel but we don't get there until Tuesday. And it's an early departure at 8am
16 Oct 15 – Hakone – Takayama
I woke up this morning and it was raining. We were so fortunate with the weather for Mt. Fuji yesterday. It's mainly a travel day today, so the rain won't affect us this morning. It might not be raining by the time we get to Takayama.
Once we arrived in Takayama, we were picked up by another coach, taken to the bus parking station and then walked to and did a tour of the Takayama Jinya, which is a former government outpost that was established in order to bring the Hida Province under the direct control of the Shogunate. It would have been nice to have been able to explore the streets that house the old inns and shops but by then it was after 4pm and we were due to check into the hotel at 4pm.
We arrived at the hotel around 4:20 and were very quickly checked in. Unfortunately it is not within easy waking distance of the old town. There is a shuttle bus into town from the hotel but I decided to explore the hotel and then have an early night. While I was down in the shop on the ground floor, I ran into Libby and Heather and we ended up going to a traditional Japanese restaurant on the 6th floor, in the spa wing of the hotel and had a very tasty, tender beef box set. The beef was sliced very thinly and there was plenty of it and almost melt in the mouth.
I woke up this morning and it was raining. We were so fortunate with the weather for Mt. Fuji yesterday. It's mainly a travel day today, so the rain won't affect us this morning. It might not be raining by the time we get to Takayama.
A few bullet trains went through the station while we were waiting for ours but I wasn't quick enough to get a video of one. Hopefully there will be other opportunities. Our train pulled in at about 10:07 and departed at 10:09. A very quick turnaround. It is due to reach Nagoya at 11:19.
The journey was very fast and as I didn't have a window seat, I didn't have too much of a view outside. The seating was 3 x 2 and I was on the aisle of a 3 row.
By the time we reached Nagoya, the sun was shining and not a cloud was in the sky. A huge change from a couple of hours ago.
This part of the train trip was very scenic. Beautiful mountainous countryside, villages with some gorgeous gardens in front of some homes. Many solar panels on houses and in at least one town, there was what appeared to be a reasonable sized solar farm. A dam wall, with the water behind it being a very deep aqua green colour. Rivers, forests and brilliant sunshine. I noticed at one point that an area of fencing along one side of the railway line was electrified. There appeared to be only forest behind that.
Once we arrived in Takayama, we were picked up by another coach, taken to the bus parking station and then walked to and did a tour of the Takayama Jinya, which is a former government outpost that was established in order to bring the Hida Province under the direct control of the Shogunate. It would have been nice to have been able to explore the streets that house the old inns and shops but by then it was after 4pm and we were due to check into the hotel at 4pm.
We arrived at the hotel around 4:20 and were very quickly checked in. Unfortunately it is not within easy waking distance of the old town. There is a shuttle bus into town from the hotel but I decided to explore the hotel and then have an early night. While I was down in the shop on the ground floor, I ran into Libby and Heather and we ended up going to a traditional Japanese restaurant on the 6th floor, in the spa wing of the hotel and had a very tasty, tender beef box set. The beef was sliced very thinly and there was plenty of it and almost melt in the mouth.
15 Oct 15 – Mt Fuji Escursion
Forecast: I don't know what the forecast is but it is bright and sunny, with some cloud about,when I got up this morning.
As we were driving back I could see that the mountain is still shrouded in cloud. Lake Ashi is where the gondola starts from. As we ascended, you could see Mt. Fuji in the distance, raising her head above the clouds. Once up the top, it was easier to get some photos. I think morning would be the best time of the day for great photos. Not very much snow on the mountain so far this year.
Dinner in the hotel again tonight and it was another meal of many small entree type courses.
Forecast: I don't know what the forecast is but it is bright and sunny, with some cloud about,when I got up this morning.
I'm looking forward to today's excursion to Mount Fuji and hope that the weather angels are kind to us, with a view of the mighty mountain.
Hakone, in Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park west of Tokyo, is a mountainous town known for hot springs resorts and Mt. Fuji views. It also encompasses Hakone Jinja, a Shinto shrine with a red “torii” gate; Lake Ashi, which can be toured by boat; and the boiling sulphur springs of Owakudani valley, seen from the Hakone Ropeway cable car.
The Autumn colours are looking lovely.
As we were driving back I could see that the mountain is still shrouded in cloud. Lake Ashi is where the gondola starts from. As we ascended, you could see Mt. Fuji in the distance, raising her head above the clouds. Once up the top, it was easier to get some photos. I think morning would be the best time of the day for great photos. Not very much snow on the mountain so far this year.
Dinner in the hotel again tonight and it was another meal of many small entree type courses.
We have to pack an overnight back for tomorrow night as the main luggage will be transferred to Takayama via coach and we don't see it again until Saturday. The bullet trains don't have room for big suitcases.
Even though it was chilly up at the 5th station on Mt. Fuji, for the rest of the time, the weather was again warm. More cloud around today than others.
14 Oct 15 – Tokyo – Hakone
We got away on time at 0900 and Saki gave us a nice talk about another side to Japanese culture, past & present. We arrived at the Hamarikyu Gardens at 0930 and spent an hour there, walking through the gardens. This was the family garden on the Tokugawa Shogun, which functioned as an outer fort for Edo castle. The gardens retain a tidal pool of seawater drawn from the bay and 2 duck hunting blinds. Many lovely black pines and a few tea houses plus a lovely old wisteria walkway across one part of the lake.
We departed there at 1040, heading to Kamakura, visiting Tsurugaoka Hachimangu on the way. Kamakura is a seaside Japanese city just south of Tokyo. The political center of medieval Japan, modern-day Kamakura is a prominent resort town with dozens of Buddhist Zen temples and Shinto shrines. Its most recognizable landmark is the Kotoku-in Temple’s Great Buddha, a roughly 13m-high bronze statue still standing after a 15th-century tsunami. Yuigahama Beach on Sagami Bay is a popular surfing spot.
After visiting there, we departed at 1500, heading to Hakone. Most of the drive was with the ocean on the left and towns on the right. Passed some young guys trying to surf but there wasn't much of a swell.
We arrived at the hotel around 1615. Wifi only available at reception. This hotel is a traditional ryokan, so I need to go and change into my yukata.
I decided to try the public bath or "Onsen". Went down to the bath and found a few of the other ladies from the tour had made the same decision. All up I think there were about 7 or 8 of us taking a bath. The water was from very warm to hot and extremely bouyant but it was so relaxing. We even ventured to the outside bath and though the air was cool, I really didn’t notice, as the water was so warm. Back to my room to get ready for our in house dinner at 1830.
My room in day mode.
and ready for bed.
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