Days 7 & 8, Takayama & Kanazawa bliss

My alarm was set for 5:30a.m because I wanted to catch the setting up of the morning market. When I woke up, I realised this idea was just madness from the wave of Takayama excitement I had yesterday and in fact I just needed to see the market and not it’s setting up.

So I snoozed my way impressively from 5:30a.m to 08:00a.m which given it is on 10 minutes snooze is pretty impressive! When I eventually got up and showered, I did make my way to the famous morning market.

The market was by the river and had loads of stalls that sold food, sweets and crafts. I was on the hunt for my one-mega weird purchase today it has to be said but I was not going to find it in this market. I did buy some homemade fruit sweets, which were wicked.

On the weird purchase front, every time I go away I like to make an extravagant, slightly weird purchase if possible. I still do not know how I managed to get my Thailand and Egypt purchases home! I had a nightmare today, I was walking through these really cool shops and I thought I found my purchase. It was in Takayama (which I have already said I loved) and it was perfect for my place. It was that horrible decision like on The Voice when they have one place left but do they turn or wait for something better (with no guarantees it will come along). I decided to pass, mainly because it was electrical and that shouts B & Q to me rather than a one off piece.

So after the market and trekking through the cool little shops, I headed to see some traditional Japanese houses in the streets. After that I headed for the Takayama main event, the Hida Folk Village and it did not disappoint!

Again, I chose to walk miles rather than the £2 bus and I stopped at the Teddy Bear Eco Village to have a snack and a drink (both of which were bear themed). I set off up to the folk village where I was expecting a traditional Japanese village with all the houses and little stores etc.

It is hard to describe what the Hida Folk Village is like. You can wander through people’s houses (the names of who’s house it is outside with a description of their social standing etc) and you can visit the unbelievable wood carver and lacquer art guy and their shops.   All of this, plus the scenery up the hills/mountain is just amazing.

I was totally blown away by this place and it easily straight in the Top 3 (in no particular order) of things I have seen/experienced so far, along with the Samurai lesson and the Nagoya Castle festival I stumbled upon.   Seeing how they live, with the fires in the middle of these wooden houses, set places for family members, the way they sleep and the gardens they keep was amazing.

After the folk village I headed BY BUS to the town again and pottered about for a short while and ended back in that shop again tempted by this item. I swerved it again and made my way to this rather famous restaurant, which did amazing Soba and Udon noodles apparently.

When I got there, it was rammo’d which was a good sign, and the ladies who work the shop were unbelievably good at providing excellent service while not dawdling. I got sat down (after taking my shoes off) at a traditional Japanese table, with a cushion, no table and chairs for me today!

I struggled big time with my knees and back down there but I soldiered on. It was quite funny seeing all the Westerns squirm on the floor and constantly shuffling about and stretching etc. I ordered the chicken udon noodles and a Japanese soda.

During the wait, a lady come over and handed me an origami crane gift, which was cool. Shortly after, my noodles arrived and they were unbelievable Jeff! The noodles and broth was top notch, even if the Japanese chicken was a bit like scabby goat. That was my first time eating (slurping – you’re supposed to) Udon noodles and they did not disappoint.   I ordered a Soba pudding for dessert, which was not very sweet, but it was decent. I don’t think I could get used to green tea ice cream or these Soba desserts if I lived in Japan – get me a big, juicy, chocolate cake!

After eating, I decided to head back to the hotel and do some preparation for my interview tomorrow before heading back on the train towards my next stop, Kanazawa. The preparation did get done but I did cram in some Dragons Den in between the prep too.

I met a Spanish couple at the train station and was coincidentally reserved next to the girl. So got chatting to her about their travels etc on the way, and they were from the town where that bullfight happens in the street (Northern Spain).

The train journey was so picturesque, from Takayama to Kanazawa next to the river pretty much all the way, which was lovely. I was starting to get a bit knackered though and the whole journey was around 2 and a quarter hours (changed trains at a station beginning with T which I cannot remember).

When I got to Kanazawa I made my way to the hotel, which was really close and dumped my stuff off. I didn’t fancy going exploring tonight so I ate at the restaurant, which was really good. I had Pork Cutlet in Miso with a Frieg Egg, Rice, Miso Soup and pickled vegetables. The Port Cutlet miso was another on the list so was chuffed to tick that off. I watched a bit of Japanese Baseball and went to bed; I have high hopes for Kanazawa tomorrow.

I had a bit of a lie in again this morning on Day 8 because I only had a couple of things on my Kanazawa list and I did not want to be knackered for my interview tonight (10:30pm).

I headed straight Kanazawa Castle and park. I absolutely love castles anyway, so the Japanese ones are just spectacular. The grounds the castle was in and the castle itself was phenomenal. I got to go inside the castle and see where they dropped boulders and shot arrows from when the castle was attacked etc. Some of the steps in there were crazy steep, it would be a miracle if the people guarding it didn’t break their necks before even firing an arrow.

Next door to the castle and its grounds was Kenroku-en Park, which is easily the best Japanese gardens I have seen so far. The grounds, the water, the monuments and everything about it is proper amazing. It made me decide when I get my next place; I will be paying a landscape gardener to create a Zen Japanese garden for me. Even with tourists knocking about, it still somehow manages to be peaceful.

I burnt loads of hours in the Castle, castle grounds and gardens and apart from go into a coffee shop and look in the many gift shops I did not do much else so I headed back to the hotel.

I kind of had an idea what I wanted to get for my major purchase today but I could not find such a thing. Unfortunately, quite close to my hotel, I found myself in a Japanese pen shop, which is always dangerous for me. I could not resist unfortunately and I came out with a gift for myself, which I could really have done without buying!

Once I got back to the hotel, I did some preparation for tonight’s interview and then just chilled out. I am now on the train from Kanazawa to Osaka, which I will be using as a base for 4 nights (which will be nice). Still some travelling to do though as I will be day tripping to Nara, Himeji and Kobe (BBEEEEEEEF) in that time. Really looking forward to this part of the trip to be honest, there’s some great places coming up (and I have not even mentioned Koyasan yet – stayed tuned!)

One weird thing in Japan is they have a sound on loop at the stations. I don’t know if it is to scare birds of tramps off but it drives me mental! I love the massively long Japanese jingles they play when a train arrives or an announcement comes on though.

English marketing of the day – BEER. On the can it says ‘Sheer refreshment! Open up the smooth taste that goes perfectly with good times.’

I arrived in Osaka and picked up a quick bit of dinner and headed for my hotel ready for the interview. The hotel I am in is class, it has a Japanese washing machine and dryer! I need to get involved in that. Just walking from Osaka station to the hotel made me think I am going to prefer this city to Tokyo, it is looking cool. I can’t wait to tick Hard Rock Café, Osaka off the list too!

Well I have just finished a telephone interview at 11:30pm. I am concerned I will lose my 100% interview success rate to be honest. The client was excellent, somebody I would love to work with but given all the other candidates interviewed face to face, I am not hopeful. Fingers crossed for me, I will find out Monday. Must try and get it out of my head now and enjoy the next few days. It will be hard not to enjoy them to be fair, because I have Nara, Kobe/Himeji day trips planned from my 5 day Osaka stint. Bring on Dotonburi and the madness that comes with it.