Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 3

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

5 November 2018 (Kanazawa-Shirakawago-Takayama)

Our original plan for the day was to head out early from Kanazawa to spend the morning at Shirakawago (UNESCO site) and arrive in Takayama by mid to late afternoon, BUT... the Kanazawa-Shirakawago route was so popular that by the time we got to the bus ticketing counter (and I mean immediately after we arrived in Kanazawa), the earliest timing of departure was 12:40. 😔 

Checked-out and left our baggage with the concierge while we went to Omicho Market to grab breakfast

Got a couple of Mochi as travel snacks... p.s. the side Noto Beef stall wasn't opened... 😭

Lunch @ Go Go Curry
Map: Kanazawa Station Hyakubangai

 Kanazawa Curry which is much darker version than the globalised Japanese Curry... (imo, you either like or dislike it)

Once again, admiring the station design structure before we leave...

And... off to Shirakawa-go. 😍
[the view en route to the famous site was amazing]

Day Trip: Shirakawago (UNESCO site)
Map: Shirakawa, Ono District, Gifu Prefecture 501-5600, Japan

Luggage storage service at Shirakawa-go!

I've seen so many beautiful pictures of this site (esp. snow filled ones), but hey, autumn colours are great too! 😍

Our 2nd Base: Takayama

"Where is everybody?", "Why are all the shops closed", "Google Maps isn't accurate in this town!!!".
... 😅😂

Found myself exclaiming about how dead the town was at 6.30pm (+9 GMT)... and how dead we were trying to find a dinner place to settle our stomach.

The places which Google maps had listed as open, were mostly closed. There were quite a few on winter schedule and had lesser operational days. 😂

Dinner @ Chitose
Map: ６丁目-19 Hanasatomachi, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture 506-0026, Japan

After walking around for about half an hour, we settled down at Chitose for Yakisoba~! By then, they had a limited menu as they were near closing hours.

Were we the last customers for the day...(?) 

Empty streets... 

Went to another bridge prior to this and was greeted with darkness...  😆

Relax Hostel Takayama St. 
Map: Japan, 〒506-0026 岐阜県高山市 花里町５丁目１４番地２ 駅前新ト一ビル２階

(I just realised that I didn't take a picture of the entrance to the hostel... 😅 Its on the 2nd floor so you'll have to lug the luggage up the steps. Apart from that, it is really close to the station & really convenient!)

Next post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 4
Previous post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 2

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

Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 2

Writers' note: Happy Lunar New Year! Took me an entire month to get back and continue my Japan Travel Log Series. 😅
Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! 😄

4 November 2018 (A day of sightseeing in Kanazawa City)

1st stop: Omicho Market
Map: 50 Kamiomicho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-0905, Japan

 Our hotel was just diagonally opposite the market so it was extremely convenient to get to. 

Oden store in the Market (with a side beef cart)

 THIS, MY FRIENDS... is NOTO GYU (beef) - 100g at 2000円. ***A MUST TRY***

I rarely ever eat beef like that (steak form) - but THIS... have got me craving like. damn.
*self-note: I am definitely coming back to Kanazawa*


Next stop: Kanazawa Castle Park 
Map: 1番1号 Marunouchi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-0937, Japan

There's just something about castles that are fascinating... look at all these attention to details! 

*note: steep steps (within the castle building)*

Living the tai tai life for a short moment... Great tea, great dessert, great view, great company.

*note to self: the gold plated vanilla (or was it milk) ice-cream just tasted like vanilla ice-cream 😅

3rd stop: Kenrokuen Garden (just next to Kanazawa Castle)
Map: 1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-0936, Japan

Next stop: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Map: １丁目-2-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-8509, Japan

There were little trumpet looking installations around the area (quite like those science-sound experiments where speaking through one trumpet will be heard from another trumpet elsewhere)...

There was an oji-san that went "konnichiwa" and kept waving at us and we said hi back. It was so cute. hahahha.

 There was some kind of a food festival held over the Sunday that we went but they were already closing/closed

Last stop: Dinner @ Menyataiga 
Map: 6-3 Horikawamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-0847, Japan

There was a bit of a queue despite the slight drizzle but the staff were so kind.. they brought out umbrellas for their queuing customers! 💘

Just look at it... Mmmmmmmmm

Bonus: Admiring the Station

Next post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 3
Previous post: Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 1

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