Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 5

Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😄

7 November 2018 (Takayama-Shinhotaka Ropeway-Kamikochi)

Departed from Takayama early to our 1st main activity of the day - Shinhotaka Ropeway!

 ^ Bus combo coupon for Takayama → Shinhotaka Ropeway → Matsumoto
(can be used within 3 days)

To get to Shinhotaka Ropeway, we had to take the bus from Takayama to Hirayu Onsen (which is like a bus terminal station) and wait for another bus to the ropeway. 

At Hirayu Onsen, there are luggage lockers available to store them away so we could travel fuss-free and enjoy without thinking about the baggages. 

A public foot bath available for use while waiting for the bus @ Hirayu Onsen

Just look at the steam emitting from this precious onsen ♥ 

(personally, I felt my legs were cooking in there but its a kind of tormenting bliss, if you get what I mean)

View en route to Shinhotaka Ropeway

Shinhotaka Ropeway
Map: 710-58 Okuhida Onsengō Kansaka, Takayama, Gifu 506-1421, Japan

Let the pictures speak for themselves... ♡

Every angle, every turn... everything was simply picturesque.

 Mandatory shots of my travel buddies...

Lunch @ Shinhotaka Ropeway. 
All that needs to be done: buy a coupon for whatever you want, hand it over to the staff, and wait for food to be ready. (I really love these machines ❣ )

Curry & Rice with Hamburg~! 

Hida Beef Croquette

Kamikochi
Map: Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1520, Japan

Every single second is so precious when faced with beauty like these.... 🎔

Nishi-itoya Mountain Lodge
Map: Kamikochi-4469-1 Azumi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1516, Japan

Upon checking in, we were warmly welcomed by the reception staff who enlightened us on the rules of the lodge, our meal timings (there are specific timings to choose from) and a rough introduction on what we could do around the area.

Japanese-style Room: Futons are kept in the day and are being set up while you're having dinner

We thought... being in the mountains, there was a chance we might get hungry (I mean, you probably cant find food in the mountains right), but, how wrong were we: 

We were too full... TOO FULL, to have any kind of supper.

An early night for a full day of hike the next day~☆

Next post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 6
Previous post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 4

Photo credits: S9 Galaxy & my travel pals @Jole @mx

Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 4

Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😄

6 November 2018 (Takayama)

Streamer Coffee Company
Map: 5 Chome Hanasatomachi, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture 506-0026, Japan

Starting the day right with a good breakfast (p.s. it was raining 😅)

Streets of Takayama

Miyagawa Morning Market
Map: Shimosannomachi, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture 506-0841, Japan

It was quite a small street (imo) but we did chanced upon a shop that sells varying types of miso paste here!

Takayama Showa-kan Museum
Map: 6 Shimoichinomachi, Takayama-shi, Gifu-ken 506-0843, Japan

Just a short walk from the Miyagawa Morning Market... the Showa-kan Museum!
p.s. This was where the fun began (for me). 😍

Picture/Selfie worthy spots at every corner. 😆

We had a go at the Pachinko Machines in the museum (for free), and we now understand why people can sit in front of one and go on for hours. I didn't have much luck with it, but my friends sure did (they wanted to be done with their tokens but they keep getting more of it back from winning 😂). 

After more than an hour and a half in there - taking pictures, posing, drawing (in the classroom), playing with the video game & pachinko machines...  

Our next stop: Takayama Old Town Musuem
Map: 1-19 Shimosannomachi, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture 506-0841, Japan

Yes, we made a detour to visit this museum - reason being, we got the combo price for these two museums when we were at Showa-kan Museum. 

Upon entering, there was an exhibition of paintings available for viewing... but I wasn't quite sure if I was allowed to take pictures of them, so I didn't. 

Left our marks on this journal... "シンガポールから来ました" 

The view of the old streets of Takayama from the Museum 

We spent about half an hour touring this museum and by the time we stepped out it was already nearing 1 pm (+9 GMT). Knowing that time wasn't really on our side, we decided to settle our lunch through grabbing small bites through the old streets of Takayama.  

Stall: Mitarashi Dango 

 Hida Beef Bun

(Hida Beef is one of Takayama's specialties, you'll see it everywhere)

Puff pastries containing an assortment of fillings (custard, chocolate.. etc..)

Hida no Sato (Hida Folk Village)
Map: 1 Chome-1-590 Kamiokamotomachi, Takayama-shi, Gifu-ken 506-0031, Japan

Situated on the other side of Takayama Station... we took about 30~40 mins on foot.

The autumn colours were simply... mesmerising. 😍

Hida no Sato was quite similar to Shirakawa-go in our opinions, less the crowd.

My memory is failing me, but i strongly believe we took the bus back down to the station.
For more information on how to get there via bus, click here.


i-Cafe Takayama
Map: 1 Chome-22-2 Showamachi, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture 506-0053, Japan

Break time back at the JR Station from all that walking...

Dinner at 飛騨そば 小舟
Map: 6 Chome-6-9 Hanasatomachi, Takayama-shi, Gifu-ken 506-0026, Japan

Ended the night with dinner at this cozy place which served soba & teishoku meals... and how could we leave without trying their Hida Beef on sticks.

Next post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 5
Previous post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 3

Photo credits: S9 Galaxy & my travel pals @Jole @mx