Japan 2019 Trip Day 6: Hida-Takayama, Hida-Furukawa, and “Your Name” location spots
Overseeing Hida-Furukawa Station
Hida-Furukawa
[Introduction]
Today we will be doing a day trip to both Hida-Takayama and Hida-Furukawa, and we quickly realised (and regretted) that 1 day is not enough time to do proper sightseeing for both. Definitely, we will be coming back in future for a full day for each city!
[Trip Report]
Day 1: Explore around Nagano
Day 2: Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Day 3: Matsumoto Castle, Nakamachi District, Matsumoto City Museum of Art and night exploring around Nagano
Day 4: Nagano Zenkoji Temple and Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District
Day 5: Shirakawago
Day 6: Hida-Takayama, Hida-Furukawa, and “Your Name” location spots [current post]
Day 7: Kanazawa Omicho Market, Kenrokuen Garden, and Kanazawa Castle Park
Day 8: Explore around Osaka
Day 9: Osaka Shinsekai, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Glion Museum, and Cosmo Tower Observatory
Day 10: Osaka Castle, Gozabune Boat, HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, and Kuchu Teien Observatory
Day 11: Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkakuji, and Yasaka Shrine
Day 12: Osaka Dotonbori, Kaiyukan, and Shinsekai
Day 13: Kyoto Fushimi Inari, Ginkakuji, and Arashiyama
Day 14: Okayama Korakuen, Okayama Castle, and Kojima Jeans Street
Day 15: Miyajima
Day 16: Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, Peace Memorial Museum
Day 17: Yufuin
Day 18: Hakata Ohori Park, Fukuoka Castle Ruins, and Fukuoka Tower
Day 19: Nanzoin Temple
[Travel Date]
2019-10-27 to 2019-11-14
Onboard the Limited Express Wide View Hida
Toyama
[Main Content]
As the quickest way to travel to Hida-Takayama from Kanazawa is taking the Limited Express trains from Toyama, so we got on a Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Toyama and then transfer to the Limited Express. (We have JR Pass, so both types of train are covered.)
There is a unique feature of this Limited Express “Wide View Hida”, which it has expansive windows that offers a panoramic view of the passing countryside on route to your destination station.
I forgot to take the train window itself to show you guys the wide windows, but only took the view that I could look out from the window.
[Personal Advice]
I know most people won’t read through to the end of this blog post, but based on our experience to these 2 cities, this is our recommendations.
Both Hida-Takayama and Hida-Furukawa is worth 1 full day each to explore on a relaxing pace.
If you only want to visit Hida-Takayama:
Stay 1 night at Hida-Takayama, next day morning start your exploring with Miyagawa Morning Market, as they start operating around 7am or 8am (depends on the season). Because (let’s say you are travelling to Hida-Takayama from Kanazawa) the earliest you will reach Hida-Takayama is 9.30am even you take the earliest trains (just use Hyperdia for your trains connecting schedules). You will miss most of the action of the morning market like us.
You can do the rest as per your preference and their opening/closing time.
Do try their Hida Wagyu Beef, you can see my review of Maruaki below. So you can compare it to other popular wagyu beef. For us Hida Wagyu is relatively more affordable wagyu beef, but still super yummy!
If you want to visit both Hida-Takayama and Hida-Furukawa:
Stay 2 nights at Hida-Takayama, follow the above for 2nd day.
3rd day morning go straight to Hida-Furukawa and explore.
If you want to do a “Your Name” anime pilgrimage, we have a detailed post on a few location spots for Hida-Furukawa here.
End of the day, you can travel to your next destination, most likely will need to go Toyama to take the main Shinkansen lines to major cities. As usual, just use Hyperdia for your train timing and connecting schedules.
Front view of the train
Toyama
Cabin view
Toyama
Countryside
Toyama
Hida-Takayama Station
Hida-Takayama
Something about the riverside?
Hida-Takayama
The starting point of Miyagawa Morning Market
Hida-Takayama
[Miyagawa Morning Market 宮川朝市]
Upon alighting at Hida-Takayama Station, we make our way to our first spot, which is the Miyagawa Morning Market 宮川朝市.
Miyagawa Morning Market has numerous stalls selling local vegetables, fruits, pickles, spices, dried food, and also freshly cooked food and snacks.
For more general tourism information on Hida-Takayama, you can visit their tourism site here.
Welcome signboard of Miyagawa Morning Market
Hida-Takayama
Big cabbage!
Hida-Takayama
Daikon (Radish)
Hida-Takayama
Turnip
Hida-Takayama
Yam
Hida-Takayama
Dried chili
Hida-Takayama
Boxes of apples
Hida-Takayama
One of the vendors folding and throwing paper airplane
Hida-Takayama
Koi fishes and ducks at the riverside
Hida-Takayama
Pigeons too
Hida-Takayama
Dried wasabi fish snack
Hida-Takayama
We bought a pack after trying the sample, very yummy! I was asking my wife whether we should buy more, but she confidently said one pack is enough.
But…during the later part of our trip, she regretted the decision of not buying more cause she loves it haha! So, please don’t do the same mistake as her, if you like what you are trying it from the sample, do get more!
Owara Tamaten おわら玉天
Hida-Takayama
Owara Tamaten おわら玉天
Hida-Takayama
Owara Tamaten おわら玉天 is like a fried sugary egg dessert, rather crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Made up of eggs, sugar, and agar (jelly).
Hello Kitty Sarubobo
Hida-Takayama
“I have visited” photo at Miyagawa Morning Market
Hida-Takayama
Street snaps
Hida-Takayama
Buildings in Furui-Machinami (Old Township)
Hida-Takayama
Buildings in Furui-Machinami (Old Township)
Hida-Takayama
Saw this snow tractor when we went for a quick toilet break
Hida-Takayama
Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine 櫻山八幡宮 is in sight
Hida-Takayama
1st Torii of Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine 櫻山八幡宮
Hida-Takayama
[Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine 櫻山八幡宮]
You know you have reached the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine 櫻山八幡宮 when you see the 1st Torii of the shrine.
Something interesting I feel is that this shrine has 2 Torii and both are made of different materials. The 1st Torii is made of wood, and the 2nd Torii is made of stone.
2nd Torii of Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine 櫻山八幡宮
Hida-Takayama
Oishi Step 大石段 leading to the Worship Hall
Hida-Takayama
Worship Hall of Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine 櫻山八幡宮
Hida-Takayama
Logo
Hida-Takayama
Praying/blessing ritual for a believer?
Hida-Takayama
Wife having a break
Hida-Takayama
Snap of a staff going on his day
Hida-Takayama
Cloth flag
Hida-Takayama
More sarubobo!
Hida-Takayama
Sououin 相応院
Hida-Takayama
Shiba Inu outside a house
Hida-Takayama
Starting to see more of the autumn colours
Hida-Takayama
Relaxing stroll in the Furui-Machinami (Old Township) area
Hida-Takayama
Relaxing stroll in the Furui-Machinami (Old Township) area
Hida-Takayama
More sights of Furui-Machinami (Old Township) area
Hida-Takayama
More sights of Furui-Machinami (Old Township) area
Hida-Takayama
Maruaki
Hida-Takayama
Maruaki
Hida-Takayama
[Lunch at Maruaki]
Our long awaited lunch at Maruaki for A5 Hida wagyu beef! Probably one of the best meals of our trip!
Do click on the link for the detailed review and full of yummy photos.
3-storied pagoda at Hida Kokubunji Temple 飛騨国分寺
Hida-Takayama
1250+ year old ginkgo tree at Hida Kokubunji Temple 飛騨国分寺
Hida-Takayama
[Hida Kokubunji Temple 飛騨国分寺]
Hida Kokubunji Temple 飛騨国分寺 which is famous (at least during our research prior to the trip) for it’s 3-stories pagoda and the giant 1250+ year old ginkgo tree!
It is quite majestic seeing that tall ginkgo tree in person, it is approximately 28m tall in height as per their official site.
You can also find the past years information and images of when the ginkgo tree full bloom and when it falls on their official site, you will need to scroll down quite a bit.
It is also said that when the leaves of the ginkgo tree started falling, it will start snowing.
Parent and child Jizo placed on the ginkgo tree
Hida-Takayama
Main Hall of Hida Kokubunji Temple
Hida-Takayama
Starbucks Coffee Takayama Okamoto
Hida-Takayama
We made a quick (more like rushing) detour to the Starbucks Coffee Takayama Okamoto branch prior to our next train ride to Hida-Furukawa, trying our luck whether the limited edition mug is still available.
Backstory: During our trip, one my close co-worker friend messaged me an article on Starbucks Japan regional limited edition series called “JIMOTO”, where the mugs are only available on sale in those specific cities, and I’m also actually travelling to a few of those cities too.
The article here, for Hida-Takayama limited edition it will be a lacquered wooden mug. Just being positive me, I just wanted to give it a go, but obviously it has long sold out when we reached there since that article was written in March 2019, and we visited in November 2019.
For those who are interested, the full “JIMOTO” series lineup on Starbucks Japan official site.
But I digress, would love to have a cuppa and chill at this Starbucks if we have the time.
Countryside view on route to Hida-Furukawa
Hida-Takayama
Reenacting the scene of Miki and Tsukasa excited with the mascot in the station, and Taki in the foreground
Hida-Furukawa
[Hida-Furukawa and “Your Name” location spots]
Our main reason for going to Hida-Furukawa will be a pilgrimage to “Your Name” spots as it has quite a number of scenes in this city. But of course, initially we also planned to visit a few attractions over here.
But…as mentioned at the start of this post, we regretted not buffering a full day each to both Hida-Takayama and Hida-Furukawa. Because we have no time to explore at all, it was literally spent to visit, doing reenactment/capture at the “Your Name” spots. Furthermore, day time is short since we are in autumn season.
On the bright side, we managed to see some nature scenery and shrines while on route to those spots.
For full details and writeup of the “Your Name” location spots and reenactment do check it over here which I have dedicated a page specially for it, as it will be too long winded here.
One of the most iconic scene in the movie, overhead view of the Limited Express Wide View Hida arriving at Hida-Furukawa Station
Hida-Furukawa
Reenacting the scene of Taki asking a taxi driver for location (from his drawn art) at the taxi rank outside of Hida-Furukawa Station, with Miki and Tsukasa observing in the background
Hida-Furukawa
Koi fishes in the canals along the old town
Hida-Furukawa
One of the interesting sights of Hida-Furukawa, they have long canal throughout the old town with koi fishes living in it. That said, the water must be super clean and pure for the fishes to live in.
Cute tree!
Hida-Furukawa
Ajidokoro Furukawa
Hida-Furukawa
Gohei Mochi
Hida-Furukawa
Gohei Mochi is one of the signature dishes of Gifu prefecture. It is a grilled skewered rice cake accompanied by shoyu and/or miso sauce.
Reenacting the scene of Miki and Tsukasa eating Gohei Mochi
Hida-Furukawa
Does this sake bottle look familiar to you?
Hida-Furukawa
Wife looking at the buildings in the old town
Hida-Furukawa
Reflections of sky
Hida-Furukawa
Evening sights over the riverside
Hida-Furukawa
Light rays and clouds
Hida-Furukawa
Hida-Furukawa City Library, part of the “Your Name” location spots
Hida-Furukawa
Hida-Furukawa Station signboard
Hida-Furukawa
Boarding the Wide View Hida back to Kanazawa with a transfer at Toyama
Hida-Furukawa
Menya Taiga
Kanazawa
Menya Taiga
Kanazawa
[Dinner at Menya Taiga]
Once back at Kanazawa, we went for dinner immediately, too hungry!
If you followed our Japan 2019 Trip blog posts closely, you will know that we ate this for yesterday’s supper.
As we found that it wasn’t as good (actually only the meat is kinda off for us, everything else is great), but the ratings are very high on Tabelog and super hyped. So we decided to give it a second change right on the next day but at an earlier time.
Do view the full review of the 2 visits to Menya Taiga over here.
[Closing]
Although we managed to do our partial “Your Name” anime pilgrimage, but truly regretted not buffering one full day each for these 2 places. Just feel kind of rushed and neither here nor there feeling.
I guess that’s why a future trip to correct this is warranted!
Tomorrow (day 7) we will be spending a full day in Kanazawa itself.
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