Takayama to Kanazawa

After that amazing dinner it was back to the trough in the morning for a kaiseki breakfast served in our room - fortunately there were only 8 dishes this time.

The feature was a specialty local dish, hoba miso, processed soybeans and onions cooked on a magnolia leaf.

We then headed out to the Hiba Folk Village. An assembly of 30 odd period houses relocated from the Hiba district and set in a pine forest around a large pond. The houses range from the 1600s to 1800s and included exhibits of artifacts and daily life from the period.

It gave real insights into how the people lived through that period. Old granaries..

...decoratively gabled houses..

...ema paintings, pictures of horses presented to temples, done on wood or handmade paper...

..weaving..

..paper balloon kites..

...kids skiing equipment..

...and even a modern day wood carver.

After this it was back to town to sample the treats of San-machi suji, the Edo period tourist draw card area of Takayama.

First it was a queue for Hida beef sushi...

Then hot Hida beef buns..

Then goheimochi, mashed rice roasted in a sweet and sour miso sauce..

That washed down with tastings of about 10 different sakes..

Then hot grilled rice crackers in a sweet sauce and seaweed wrapper..

Then frozen mandarin on a stick...

We thought that was enough until we saw this line of people eating Hida beef skewers. How could we resist...

Fully sated, we left Takayama and headed or Kanazawa.

We left through flat plains with rice paddies scattered through the houses...

Then ventured through the northern alps with endless tunnels and bridges. Quite an engineering feat.

We arrived at Kanazawa's impressive railway station..

..with signs made with little water jets...

...and headed for a complete change, a modern hotel..

..with a great view..

...a very ordinary room, but with a bed...

..and had hamburgers and chips for dinner!!