The Japanese Alps/Don't Fall Off Your Bicycle

Takayama

We took the 2.5 hour bus to Takayama from Matsumoto to experience the old town in the lower Japanese Alps, and to take in the sights and sounds of rural Japan. The town is full of bikers, trekkers and beef lovers.  It is the home of the famous Hida beef, one of the best of wagyu. In the afternoon we joined the queues of Japanese for Hida beef sushi, a truly amazing delicacy (vegetarians, look away now!).

We stayed in the Asunaro Ryokan, another traditional ryokan in the middle of the town. Though not as nice as our spa in Matsumoto, the dinners were large and memorable. We are still stumbling through our kaiseki dinners, but are no longer so intimidated by what we don't recognise.  Since there are always so many courses (12?) you can always just taste and leave a few things. Of course, in this part of the world, there is always a lot of fantastic beef!

The next day was our cycling tour in Hida Furukawa.  We were supposed to go on a four hour bike ride but unfortunately two hours in, I braked too hard and flew off the front of the bicycle. Two minor fractured ribs and a dislodged tooth resulted from accident and I experienced the Japanese coming to the rescue!  Our guide drove us around for five hours and translated, the local dentist opened his surgery during the bank holiday and the hospital was very efficient. Nothing was too much trouble and I was given all the care for almost nothing. Same again in Kanazawa.

By the way, there is this most amazing x-ray machine.  You step in front of this mirror, fully clothed with jewellery, etc, and you see your insides there and then. I have never seen anything like it.  It saves a lot of waiting around.

Shirakawago

We drove through the World Heritage sight Shirakawago the following morning en route to Kanazawa.

Beautiful as this area is, our trip coincided with the arrival of the typhoon in Japan, so we only briefly stopped here.

Kanazawa

Hotel Nikko is the tallest hotel in the city with a bar on the top floor with good views. Also, it is well situated near the train station. (Train stations in Japan are just bursting with restaurants, shopping malls, and are generally a good starting point to go anywhere in town).

Kanazawa city was one of the old feudal towns of Japan, under the Maedas, the second largest clan of Japan.  Enter samurai, ninja, geisha into the equation plus one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan and a world class modern art museum and it becomes worth visiting.

Ninja Temple

 Kenroku-en Gardens

 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

This piece of art on top of one of the buildings in the museum, The Man Who Measures Clouds, is absolutely brilliant!

We are on our way to Kyoto tomorrow and I shall close on this note.  Why does this toy mascot appear absolutely everywhere?  I find it slightly disconcerting, especially when they are life size. I prefer Hello Kitty, frankly.