2geonomads

Day 9 – 4th April 2017
Takayama/Shirakawa-go
Superb breakfast taken on the 16th floor of the hotel on a clear sunny day and then it’s off by coach to the delightful town of Takayama situated southeast of Kanazawa.
We are allowed plenty of free time to stroll through the town which, by virtue of its isolation, has been able to preserve so many of its Edo period streets, tiny shops and museums. There is also no shortage of eating places, be they restaurants, cafes or take-away stalls.

  
All of these quaint streets and also the market are contained in a small area to the east of the Miyagawa River.
We manage to buy a couple of Hida Beef Manju ( Bun) from a stall and although the amount of beef in the bun falls somewhat short of that shown on the advert outside the shop it still makes for a very tasty lunch snack. Moreover, we come across an elegant coffee lounge with excellent coffee. The fact that Keith, our resident barista and self-declared coffee snob, is already sitting in there is something of an endorsement.

We next travel north-west through a very scenic area of snow- covered hills and mountains to the picturesque small village of Shirakawago Ogimachi, nestled among the mountains on the Sho River.

This village and area are best known for the gassho-zukuri thatched style of house and these houses are the reason why Ogimachi is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

We are able to visit one of the houses for a nominal price of 300 yen and we are amazed at the number of floors the house comprises.

Once again we see the familiar sight of both Shinto and Buddhist altars in close proximity and Chiaki points out that the Shinto altar is always higher than the Buddhist. On the ground floor there there is also a shrine dedicated to deceased members of the family.

Chiaki explains that the house was originally involved in sericulture ( manufacture of silk) and,somewhat incongruously, gunpowder.

There is also still some evidence of the recent heavy snowfall throughout the area and village but this is expected to disappear within a short period.

On a rather bizarre note the entertainment for the day is provided by a rather large man ( seemingly of east European origin) and his wife. He is ranting and raving at his wife in a very loud voice and seems to be on the verge of flattening her at some point. The last time we see them she is heading off in one direction and he in another, maybe off to start another Balkan War!
Dinner back in Kanazawa is in an Italian restaurant which offers fine fare although we have all become well adjusted to Japanese food.
A most enjoyable day in some glorious weather and mountain scenery.

Cheers
The Obese Ferret.