Shin-Hotaka

Early 7am, Ryokan Hozanso auto alarm is very loud. It is morning call to wake you up. I woke up and take onsen dip again. After that, I went down to have my breakfast. After breakfast, it's time to check out and I proceed to Shin-Hotaka by bus. I bought Takayama-Shin Hotaka 2 day open ticket so I can use this ticket to Shin-Hotaka.

Ryokan Hozanso

Ryokan Hozanso main entrance

Too cold, waited inside bus stop

The bus stop is just opposite Ryokan Hozanso, so it is very convenient for you to go Shin-Hotaka. It is just around 30 minutes bus ride.

Shin-Hotaka ropeway

Once you reach Shin-Hotaka ropeway, go to the station and buy the return ticket to the observation deck.

The observation deck

You can post postcard from here

The help you take pictures for free

There's someone at the observation deck helps you take pictures for free, you can pass them your handphone and camera and they also take your pictures and print out for a fees (1500yen).

The hiking trail start here

You can hike to the mountains starting from the second ropeway. Normally the hike start from late June to September.

I spend around 1 1/2 hours here before I take my bus ride back to Takayama.

Once back to Takayama , I bought my ticket to Shinjuku Tokyo, walk around Takayama before my bus ride back to Tokyo.

Shirakawa-go and Takayama

I've book my bus ticket at 9.05am and it takes 1 1/12 hours to reach Shirakawa-go.

Bus lane no 2

Bus arrive on time

Most of the transportation in Japan, they arrived on time.I reach Shirakawa-go at 1030am. Once reach Shirakawa-go bus station, I go to the ticket counter to buy returning bus ticket to Takayama. I wanted to buy 1450 bus ticket it is only for reserved ticket and so I bought 15:15 unreserved bus ticket back to Takayama.

Scenery along the way

Takayama is a very small village which you can explore by foot. You can get the village map at the information counter.

Bus stop station

There is coin locker and washroom at Shirakawa-go bus station. Coin locker is limited, you can out your luggage at the information counter at a fees.

The house

On my way up to viewing station

Viewing point

I use 2 1/2 hours to finish walking and viewing the whole village. This 2 hours include slowly walking taking pictures because I know I have plenty of time but I do not enter any museum in Shirakawa-go, (I bought 15:15 returning ticket) There's not much activity to do so I decided to walk back down via a short cut  trail back to Shirakawa-go bus station to ask for exchange time of bus ticket. I reach the bus station at 1310 and manage to exchange to 1315 bus ticket back to Takayama.

The short cut trail which is 10 minutes walking from top viewing point to the ground area

And that's my Shirakawa-go journey. I took an hour bus to Takayama from Shirakawa-go.

Hot menu at Takayama bus station

You can have a hot meal at Takayama bus station. Once reach the bus station, I proceed to information counter to buy Takayama-Shin Hotaka 2 day open ticket because I stay at ryokan Hozanso which is 1 1/2 hours bus ride from Takayama. Information available here

Too hungry and not going to have vending machine hot menu, I walk to opposite road and look for restaurant.

Hida beef is takayama signature dish

Self service

My meal

The restaurant

You can differentiate the area by bridge colour

Takayama street

Bought sake at brewery

Bought some snack back to my ryokan

 After exploring Takayama old street for about 2 hours, I board my last bus to my ryokan Hozanso which is 1 1/2 bus ride from Takayama. I book this ryokan via agoda..com

Some of the ryokan pictures. I didn't take much photos because I am too tired.

Futon, you need to make the bed yourself

Table inside your room

Some toiletries and yukata

My room no

The family grandson

Once reach the ryoka, my first thing to do is go to their private onsen first before I had my dinner.

Lovely private onsen

After I had my dip, I proceed to have my dinner. I book a fullboard plan which is include dinner and breakfast. 

Pickles

Hida beef

There is one more fish which is wrap with leaf, I  am too hungry and didn't bother to take pictures. I am very satisfied with this meal and it is very nice. The family of Hozanso ryokan is very friendly even though less English is spoken. There is no shops (no family mart) surrounding this ryokan, basically there is nothing for you to walk around this area. After I finish my dinner, I went back to my room (enjoy some onsen dip again) and with the sake and some snack I bought at Takayama, I treat it as my supper snack before snoozing off.

Kanazawa, Japan

Today my trip is to Kanazawa. My original plan is go Kanazawa castle, Ninjadera temple and Omicho market.

From Kyoto, I took Limited Express Thunderbird to Kanazawa. It took 131 minutes to to reach Kanazawa.

Kanazawa Station school event

Once I reach Kanazawa station, I realise there's a school event going on. Once I reach the station, I straight go to Information Counter and ask for Nouhibus ticket counter to buy tomorrow's bus ticket to Shirakawa-go. They are 2 different type of bus tickets available, reserved and unreserved bus ticket. Unreserved bus ticket is at 9.05am and I bought 2 tickets. Nouhi bus --- Bus timetable

I also bought Kanazawa Loop Bus (one day ticket at 500 yen). Below is the Kanazawa Loop bus route map:
Kanazawa Loop Bus Route Map

Once I'm finished with my bus ticket, I walk my way to my hotel to drop my luggage from Kanazawa station. It's a 5 minutes walking distance from the station.

Filling up check in details

I stay in Kanazawa Castle inn because it is near Kanazawa station. Since Ninjadera temple need to make reservation to go in, I ask the reception to book a place for me. After that, I walk back to the station to board the loop bus.

I plan to go Kanazawa castle and Kenrokuen garden until the bus stop at Higashi Chaya district. Almost all the people inside this bus going down at this station, I also go down to take a look. Basically, I never really do my homework on what to see and to do in Kanazawa.

Loop Bus route

Full bloom at Higashi Chaya

Wedding couple

Higashi chaya 

The couple again

Kanazawa loop bus

And that is Higashi Chaya district. And I continue to Kanazawa Castle Park

Entrance fees to Kanazawa Castle Park is free this week due to Sakura season.

Hanami time

Kanazawa Castle

Cherry Blossom full bloom

After that, I go to Kenrokuen garden which is opposite the entrance of Kanazawa Castle park.

Bonzai shaping

Nice garden

Once come out from the garden, I buy some snack to fill up my tummy.

Snack stall

Oden

I take a rest with some snack while enjoy the cherry blossom viewing. Weather is nice and with slow wind.

I suppose to go Ninjadera temple at 3pm but it's too late so I cancel my plan and went to Omicho market instead.

Sea urchin

Sea urchin

Scallop

Octopus

And I had my dinner at Sushi Zanmai located beside Omicho market.

This is my set along with a small bottle of sake. After my dinner, I stroll along the shopping mall opposite sushi zanmai before going back to my hotel.