ExploreJapan

Nowadays, like Japanese food, Matcha is regarded as a healthy item around the world.  If you would like to experience a cup of Matcha in Takayaka, there is a perfect place for you.  No worry it is not so super formal.  

If you don’t have a car,  you need to take a *SARUBOBO circulation bus <single trip 200yen> from the bus stop near TAKAYAMA JR station. Get off at CHANOYU NO MORI(茶の湯の森) station.

After you pass through this entrance at Chanoyunomori, originally located in the middle of the forest, you can enter the building.  You take off your shoes, then you register at the reception on your right hand side.

A staff will take you to the room where the drink is served.  

Upon arriving at the room, Japanese sweets, called Wagashi, are served first. In the Japanese Tea ceremony, sweets are eaten before you drink a cup of tea unlike cakes eaten with tea or coffee. To fully enjoy a cup of  macha green tea, the sweetness of a Japanese confection will help soften the bitterness of the tea. The roll of sweets are rather supportive.  

Japanese confections please not only your palate but also your eyes. Items change every season. I think you can them ” Edible Art”.

 Served with a Hagi cup.

Staff decide the cup for Matcha green tea. Mine was served with a bit ragged cup which gave me a manly impression. Your host decide the choice tea cups too. Enjoy the essence of Japanese hospitality here.    

After you finish your drink, you can stroll around the Japanese garden.

While you are in Takaoka, this place also help you enhance the quality of your journey. Experiece a cup of Matcha Green Tea!!    

CHANOYUNOMORI 茶の湯の森　Official Website

http://www.nakada-net.jp/chanoyu/english/index.html

●Green Tea served at the table room (1000 yen) 

●Served at the Tatami mattress hall (1500 yen) *my recommendation

If you would like to visit the museum, extra admission fee will be charged.   

*SARUBOBO circulation bus

One day Pass is also available for 600 yen (Child: 300yen). 2 routes are available, but please take note that only one route goes to Chanoyunomori. Please make sure the bus you take go to the right place.

Explore Japan!

Takayama, located in the center of Japan, is one of the most popular sightseeing spots where you can’t miss during your trip in Japan. During the 16th century, this castle town started to develop its own culture, supported by the Kanamori clan. This place still preserves very unique traditional aspects of Japanese culture in the old days.

First of all, you can stroll in the preservation area where you see the old private houses. The streets are lined with antique shops, restaurants, cafes and more. You can spend your half-day exploring this area. And surprisingly some people still live here as well.

Why don’t you get a map of Takayama here so that it helps you walk around more efficiently. I have attached the map which I took photos at the end of the story below. Feel free to download them even though I am not an official tourist infomation office   

When you get tired, you can have a drink at some of the cute cafes with a Japanese twist. You see the Japanese tourists buying a wide variety of locally grown vegetables. You won’t get bored walking around this area.

In the winter period, this place is covered with lots of snow. So if you are a shopping lover, I would suggest that you come here in the different season.

Most of the tourists walk around the area in the daytime. But I suggest that you come back here again in the nighttime after all shops close, which brings you back to the old century when the Samurai lords exist.

There, cool breeze prevailed last night and, by contrast with the hustle and bustle daytime, the ambiance was very calm and quiet.  You may find some local people in Yukata clothing which gives you the sense of Japan. You will be impressed

This not the end of Takayama story, still goes on..  Anyway Takayama is the very nice place I can strongly recommend.　

【Hida Takayama website】

http://www.hida.jp/english/index.htm

Explore Japan!

This is the Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go & Gokayama. Shirakawa-go Historic Village comprises 59 preserved gassho-zukuri houses in Ogimachi village, Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture. Along with 20 houses in Ainokura village and nine houses in Suganuma village in Gokayama, neighbouring Toyama Prefecture, they were collectively inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995. The photo above is the one at Ainokura village.

These two are the photos of Suganuma village of Gokayama area in Toyama prefecture as well. The flower of cosmos was in full-bloom when I visited there last autumn.

It takes about 30 minutes by car or bus to reach the other world heritage in Shirakawa-go area, Gifu prefecture. This place is more famous than Gokayama as this area ranked 3 stars listed on French tour guide book of Michelin Voyager Pratique Japon.

The most striking aspect of the exterior of these houses is their thatched roofs. Rice straw and Pampas grass are used for their materials. Those materials absorb sound, which makes the inside keep quite. It also serves as a material to repel the rain.  

When I visited here last time, I saw a man shavelling snow from the roof. In spite of their steep roofs, those who live there have to get rid of lots of snow during the winter time, which is very tough!

Shirakawago area is more popular than Gokayama area. If you would like to know the detail history of these villages, I would recommend to go Gokayama where is less people.

For more details, please visit the website below!

http://www.gokayama.jp/english/index.html

http://shirakawa-go.org/english/index.html   

Explore rural Japan!