Wednesday 13 August 2014

Travel: Japan 2014 Day 6 // Takayama // Stay: Sumiyoshi Ryokan // Eat: Sumiyoshi Ryokan // Walk: Hida no Sato, Teddy Bear Eco Village, Forest of the Seven Lucky Gods

This morning we left Nodaniya and the beautiful Ogimachi after a filling breakfast - especially memorable was the hoba miso, grilled on top of magnolia leaves. Eat it anyway you want - but best enjoyed with the rice as it added so much flavor.

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We boarded the Takayama Nohi Bus that took us straight to Takayama station (booking for the reserved bus - where you will be assigned seat numbers so you don't need to worry standing in packed bus can be done at the tourist information kiosk at Shirakawa-Go the day before). We will be staying in this charming town of Takayama for the next couple of days.

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Our accommodation for the next couple of days is just an easy 10 minutes walk from Takayama station: Sumiyoshi Ryokan (booking can be made via their email or through their website).
Cost of our lodging for two nights is JPY 47520 and this is inclusive of one dinner & breakfast.
Sumiyoshi Ryokan is so awesomely located, just by the Miyagawa river side. It is also really easy to go out and do some sightseeing - either by going to the station to take the local bus, or just walk your way around.
Our room also come with ensuite (toilet & bath), but the public bath is also great and if you want privacy, you just need to lock the door.


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As soon as we arrived, refreshment was served, and we were very impressed to see our luggages already waiting in our room. Takkyubin service is awesome!


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our big luggages were already waiting in our room

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view outside our window
This place is decorated with a lot of antiques.

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And of course the in-house yukata for Sumiyoshi Ryokan... .


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For today we boarded the Sarubobo bus to the southern area of this town as tomorrow we plan to do the longer walk on the northern part of the river. Return ticket is JPY 930 per person.

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We alighted at Hida no Sato bus stop - to visit the open air museum of Hida Folk Village. Admission is JPY 700 per person.

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unmanned posts selling animal food. Buyers need to deposit their 30 yen to the provided basket. It's completely based on honesty system

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There are some workshops around, where for a small fee, you can participate in different kind of activities... well, 1/2heart chose something that had to do with food... .

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Rest of the details of Hida No Sato...

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Straw sandal workshop

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yikes!

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Yes, F** you too

Then we walked downhill, where we visited Teddy Bear Eco Village - a small museum dedicated to the much loved plushy. Admission costed JPY 600 per person.

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Feeling hungry, before headed to the next destination, we stopped for a street-side snack... .

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Then we visited the Forest of Seven Lucky Gods. The three places ( Hida no Sato, the Teddy Bear Eco Village, and the Forest of Seven Lucky Gods) are quite close to each other, so if you have time, do give all of them a visit.
Admission was JPY 540 per person.

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Heading back to Sumiyoshi for dinner that I have booked for tonight, we passed a small shrine where we bought an ema for 1/2heart. Well, because he's born in the year of the horse and this shrine seemed to have their shrine goods based on horses...

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Somehow they got his name's first letter wrong T_T

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As I have mentioned briefly before, I booked for one night dinner at Sumiyoshi Ryokan. As ryokans are generally well known for different specialty in cuisine, each one will probably have their own unique 'taste', I made an effort to book for a meal for at least once at every ryokan we stayed and will be staying at.

Sumiyoshi ryokan's dinner was elaborate, beautifully presented, and also has specialty of the region - the hida beef - sukiyaki style.


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Not much of a fan of the tempura though. Somehow they arrived kinda cold and not crispy anymore :(

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look at those beautiful marbling of fatty beef.

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Afterwards, we walked to settle down our food (always overeat...) to the night market held at Takayama Jinja Shrine. Despite the limited space, everyone had fun and very much into spirit of summer - donning yukata of various colors (unfortunately I did not wear mine :( )

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And so, first day in Takayama is coming to an end, and we shall see what tomorrow brings... .


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