On the first day, after 8 hours on the bus, we finally got to Unazuki 宇奈月 in Toyama 富山 prefecture. After a short walk around the little village and refuelled with some sushi-type things and freshly steamed manju from this lovely lady (who gave all 4 of us free daifukus!), we got on a little train ride around the famous Kurobe Gorge 黒部峡谷, saw the dam, saw a few red autumn leaves just starting to appear.. it was beautiful. This was especially special after a weekend in Tokyo, surrounded by buildings, shops, technology, and several thousand perfectly decked-out youngsters roaming the bustling streets of Shibuya or Ginza. The contrast in this country is incredible, yet never uncomfortable or awkward.
After that, we were chauffeured off to our hotel in Tonami 砺波 (still in Toyama prefecture).
Day 2, again an early morning set off to Shirakawago 白川郷 in Gifu prefecture 岐阜県. This place is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and I'm glad it is. Although a few too many tourists, tour buses and souvenir shops about, its serenity and outback/rural/valley-village-ness was still (kind of) there. The perfect weather helped as well. We really want to come back in the winter, to see the traditional houses in several feet of snow; surrounded snow-capped hills and what were once rice fields.
Then Takayama 高山 also in Gifu. Apparently it looks like a mini-Kyoto, with old shops/restaurants/booze stalls along the narrow streets. Again, tourist overflow, but still fun trying Soya Sauce Ice Cream; beef sushi; roast beef on a stick...which lined our stomachs for the 9-hour bus ride home...
Right. I'm tired of typing.
No comments:
Post a Comment