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Welcome to Just Play & Live Life. (^-^)/ I am ใ‚คใƒผใ‚ธใƒณ, the author of this blog.  Disclaimer : This blog is just my haven for recording my m...

Monday, March 18, 2019

Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 4

Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! ๐Ÿ˜„

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 ๐Ÿ˜…)




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). ๐Ÿ˜


Picture/Selfie worthy spots at every corner. ๐Ÿ˜†













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 ๐Ÿ˜‚)

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... "ใ‚ทใƒณใ‚ฌใƒใƒผใƒซใ‹ใ‚‰ๆฅใพใ—ใŸ" 








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. ๐Ÿ˜



















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 ้ฃ›้จจใใฐ ๅฐ่ˆŸ
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

Friday, March 1, 2019

Travel Log - Japan 2018 Day 3

Click here to read from the 1st post of this travel log! ๐Ÿ˜„

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. ๐Ÿ˜” 


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... ๐Ÿ˜ญ


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. ๐Ÿ˜
[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! ๐Ÿ˜









Our 2nd Base: Takayama

"Where is everybody?", "Why are all the shops closed", "Google Maps isn't accurate in this town!!!".
... ๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜‚

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. ๐Ÿ˜‚



Dinner @ Chitose
Map: ๏ผ–ไธ็›ฎ-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...  ๐Ÿ˜†




Relax Hostel Takayama St. 
Map: Japan, 〒506-0026 ๅฒ้˜œ็œŒ้ซ˜ๅฑฑๅธ‚ ่Šฑ้‡Œ็”บ๏ผ•ไธ็›ฎ๏ผ‘๏ผ”็•ชๅœฐ๏ผ’ ้ง…ๅ‰ๆ–ฐใƒˆไธ€ใƒ“ใƒซ๏ผ’้šŽ

(I just realised that I didn't take a picture of the entrance to the hostel... ๐Ÿ˜… 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