We started out in the morning by taking the subway from my in-law's area to Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.
Shortly after the above photo was taken, a number of commuters crammed onto the train at the next stop. And then at the following stop, no one got off but even more people piled in. We were literally pressed against one another. And then more people pushed themselves in at subsequent stops.
Kai was not happy. Well, actually no one was happy, but Kai was the only one expressing their sentiments out loud on the train.
"How do you say 'There is no more room' in Japanese?" he asked repeatedly.
I can't say that I disagreed with his sentiments but I wish he could learn not to loudly speak everything that is on his mind. I was never happier to get off a train.
We then made our way across the street to the bus station. After getting in late after the fireworks the night before and waking up early on this morning, Kai was tired and fell asleep almost as soon as the bus started to move.
The journey to Takayama would take about six hours. Once we left the Tokyo area, we were in rural areas the rest of the way. We saw a lot of rice fields...
And later came to mountain areas (including near Nagano where the Winter Olympics were held in 1998).
In the mountain areas, the road got very narrow and winded around. There were several tunnels that were especially narrow.
We were amazed whenever two large buses crossed paths as there was just barely enough room, no more than a few inches in some places. The drivers had to be very skillful.
At one point, we passed an accident (not in a tunnel) where two cars apparently had a head-on collision. I'd be surprised if this doesn't happen fairly often as the narrow, winding road seems very challenging to drive.
We finally reached Takayama and headed out to walk around. This is the bell tower at a shrine.
And here we are on one of the streets of the old town section. This is how the town looked back in the Edo Period (1600-1868).
One of the things this region is most known for is their beef. Americans are probably more familiar with Kobe beef, but Hida is also renown as a magnificently tender and high-quality wagyu beef. We found a place that was selling Hida beef sushi and we had to try it.
Mmmm, very delicious.
At one point on our walk we found a shop selling Pokemon plush toys. A couple of blocks after we left the shop, Kai said that he wanted to take a picture of the plushes on the way back. I told him that the shop might be closed by the time we returned so he should go back now and take his picture. We would wait for him.
He did not want to go without anyone accompanying him. It was again hot, and I didn't want to walk the extra blocks to go and come back just for pictures of plush toys that he can get off the internet. If he wanted to go, we would wait, but we wouldn't go with him. It's not like he was a little kid anymore.
And so he didn't go, but instead made the rest of our walk miserable by complaining the whole time. I probably should have saved myself the agony and just gone with him to take the stupid photo, but I was stubborn and wanted to make my point.
Later, we did get back to the shop and it hadn't closed yet. Kai was able to take his photo and returned to being happy.
We then found a spot in the river where you are allowed to take a dip. It further cooled Kai off.
For dinner, we had to have more of the Hida beef. We went to a yakiniku restaurant where you grill your own meats and vegetables at the table.
It was very yummy! The best meal of the trip so far.
The main differences of Hida beef from other wagyu can be found in its muscle and marbling. While all branded A5 varieties feature intense marbling, Hida beef is considered by many to be the ideal wagyu. That’s because the snowlike mesh of marbling not only permeates the tender steaks cut from the loin but is also woven throughout other cuts as well, including the shoulder (chuck), hindquarter (flank), and rear leg (round), which gives Hida beef its distinctive juiciness.
Tomorrow we will see more of the area.
Another great day. That beef sounded delicious. I very much love the old towns of Japan. I especially love it in the countryside. I will always remember the smell of wood fires burning, and in the houses and temples, the fragrance of Joss sticks burning.
ReplyDeleteI am very much enjoying reading of your adventures in Japan. I felt for you when Kai wanted his photo. I sometimes go through the same thing with my wife. I sometimes must make a point...and the same thing usually follows. :)
The beef was among the best I've ever had.
DeleteThis old town was very nice. I wish we could have enjoyed in a more relaxed way.