Jackie's World: 2016: Day 2 Central Japan (Nagoya, Takayama & Toyama)

Good morning, Nagoya!

1.Breakfast was inclusive with the price of the room at the Tokyu Rei Hotel that we were staying in ~

They have a variety of breakfast, a combination of Western (e.g. croissant, spaghetti) and Japanese style (Tempura chicken/pork, miso soup, Natto beans, cold noodles)~

Seaweed and Miso soup (top left),
some Porridge (top right) eaten with tamago egg and Mackerel fish by sprinkling some yummilicious dried Japanese seasoning powder (somehow like an appetising Ajinomoto flavouring) known as Furikake. Eating porridge is known to be for the sick ppl as it helps to ease digestion faster than other hard solid food. However, in general, one could eat porridge at any other normal days even though one is not sick. ;)
Fermented food containing tofu, konbu and other pickled vege (bottom) that is served as a prebiotic food to our body's intestinal system (feeds the microflora) which helps to maintain the system orderly.

The medium sized and classy environment of the hotel cafe.

2. Departed from Nagoya to Takayama and our bus ride took us 3 hours to reach the mountainous highway which is at 1050 meter above sea level. Pastby Shokawa Valley.

Stopping by the Parking Area (rest area) along the highway. The toilet area were pristine clean and dry with automatic bidet. I fancy that most of the toilets are equipped with automatic bidet which are also surprisingly fully maintained and cleaned, except for certain crowded areas. Probably there were just 1-2% of errors spotted in the malfunctioned bidet and dirty toilets (as compared to all the toilets i've entered in my whole journey).
The pristine clean toilets are comparable to Hong Kong, although Hong Kong doesn't use automatic bidet, however, their toilets/ loos environment are super clean and with a nice fragrant smell (not that I love to smell the toilets though. LMAO~). They have a cleaner who is stationed inside the area at almost everytime just to clean the dirty cubicle!
How responsible they are. I love such attitude. That's the way we all could move the world. Lacking such attitude in every individual may hamper the country into progressing further.
Anyway, it was raining cats and dogs while we were traveling in our bus. Luckily, it didn't hamper any of our journey. The bus driver drove us all the way safely and he was very courteous too.

The outskirt of Japan.
Paddy plant (green coloured field), mountains, fogginess and villages (known as kampung in Malay language).
Their kampung houses don't really look like kampung as most of the houses look solid. Looks a bit like the European countryside with its cold weather too, however, it looks slightly packed. The Asian style of countryside. hehe ;)
I also fancy that although this is at an outskirt area, the traffic lights, road signs are all placed and drawn clearly and easily seen.
Back home and in certain countries, the traffic lights and road signs on the road are already faint, and still the authority didn't bother to redraw the sign properly.
I think urban, suburban and outskirts area should be taken care of seriously. Motorists and pedestrians need to follow those sign every single day and minute in order to avoid any consequences.

This is Sarubobo, introduced by the tour guide.

It is known as a lucky charm that resemble a baby monkey and thus it is named Sarubobo in Jap. Whenever one looks at it, one will feel happy.

It is a craft doll by the traditional folks, from the HIDA area, in which we will be dropping by later.

3. We've reached Takayama (Kao San) town and old government building place @ Gifu Prefecture.

The Takayama town area. We were walking around. It was drizzling. Luckily, the rain wasn't that heavy. We only took our ponchos (raincoats) along.

More of the town. Not that congested.

The Old historical government building in the 17th-18th century which is also known as Takayama Jinya @ Gifu Prefecture (district/state).

The area where they boiled their water for tea. So cute with the fishy handle bar.

The rabbit nail head concealer. It is the ornamental metal fixtures. It is believed that rabbit brings happiness to people. Thus, there area around 152 rabbits in this old building.

Part of the exterior view.

The old styled squatting loo made of wood. I wonder how did they clean it properly. I'm pretty sure that some "businesses" did definitely seep through the wooden frame though.

The old styled loo for the men. Actually, the modern days toilets didn't evolve much as compared to the olden days. They are just being beautified to accommodate into the current technology. :D

The garden view from inside.

After that, we walked out and roamed around the town. We were introduced to this famous Beef Sushi stall at Takayama town. Damnnn, so good imma tell u! But the queue was horrendous. Need to wait for around 30min. Thank god, the tour guide auntie queued up fr me!

The Beef sushi @ Hida Kotte Ushi stall. They have only a few beef sushi selection. I wish I could try them all, however, I had to leave some space in the tummy for my lunch later too.

Medium rare Beef sushi (2 flavours: soy sauce & black pepper salt) with a rice cracker (bottom surface) priced at 600 yen.
Me eating sushi in Japan and it was epic! haha~
First, it was too good to be true. Second, it was quite expensive to be honest as it was equivalent to around 6 pounds. ;P

Even those pooches are waiting for their snacks. Spotted a Poodle and a Golden Retriever.

There are quite a number of snacks available at this town. Feel free to roam around while observing traditional wooden buildings and the decorations.

One of the decorations at outside the stall.

A stall solely selling freshly prepared rice cracker upon ordering at 250yen per piece. Other varieties of crackers are being sold too.

Soy sauce rice cracker with a big sheet of seaweed.

One of the sake/ wine shops.

Sake time sampling. woot woot~

Gold sake.Wow~

After drinking this, one would have lots of gold growing inside the tummy. Lol~

4. Next stop was lunch @ Hida Earth Wisdom Center

Felt like it was a touristy place, as one would be able to shop at their ground floor after lunch.

The exterior look of the restaurant and attached shop.

Sumptuous meal and some overeating! LOL~
Japanese cuisine: hotpan with porkmeat and beansprouts (from top right to left: anticlockwise), prawn and white fish, tempura vegetables, a bowl of cold servings (a mixed of prawn, tamago, mochis, green peas, brinjals), rice, chawanmushi and mushroom soup.

A bowl of cold servings (a mixed of prawn, tamago, mochis, green peas, brinjals).

The interior of the restaurant.

5. Shirakawago @ Takayama which is selected as the Unesco Heritage Building. Also known as the Shokawa Valley.

The map of Shirakawago village. Let's walk slowly and observe the breathtaking village view and air . :)

One of the lil' Unesco village houses.

More of the other Unesco village houses with Gassho-style (farm house type with unique architectural characteristics).

Me at Shirakawago village!

We hiked up to the Shirayama Observation Point to get the overview of the whole Unesco village building.

The breathtaking view from the Shirayama Observation Point overlooking the Shirakawago, the whole Unesco village building and mountains.

Beautiful flowers

The Unesco village area and one of its arches.

The village road area.

6. We departed to Toyama Prefecture (Hokuriku) which took us around 1 hour bus ride. Prefecture is like a state or district in Japan. There, we had our dinner at one of the BBQ buffet restaurants. It was just a decent buffet.