Documenting Lovely Moments
Takayama and Shirakawago, A Charming Village Rich in Cultural Heritage
Shirakawago village is famous for its traditional farmhouses with slanted rooftops. In addition, it was listed as one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1995. We had a blast during our day trip from Takayama to Shirakawa-go. Especially because we visited on a snowy day, which made us feel like we were inside a snow globe.
Getting to Takayama and Shirakawago
We left Kyoto in the morning and took the Hikari train on the Tokaido Line to Nagoya. Afterward, we transferred to the JR Hida Limited Express from Nagoya to Takayama. It took us approximately 3 hours to get from Kyoto to Takayama. However, the trip was a pleasant and comfortable ride that let us have a glimpse of Japan’s countryside.
Takayama Green Hotel in Hida Takayama
After we arrived in Takayama, it was time to check into our hotel, Takayama Green Hotel, which we booked through Japanican.com. Because we wanted to get a taste of Japanese culture, we booked the hybrid Western/Japanese-style room with Hida Beef Kaiseki dinner package. The room was spacious and more adorable than we expected, and was by far our favorite room throughout our stay in Japan.
Since we booked a hybrid Western/Japanese style room, one side of the room had two regular beds with frames, and the other side had a Japanese-style setup. The Japanese side had a dining/teatime table and floor-level chairs set up on a traditional tatami (woven-straw) mat flooring. Next to the dining area was a closet for the TV and safe, and another closet for the Japanese-style futon beddings.
Moreover, in another closet next to the entry door, the hotel provided yucatas (kimono-style robes) and slippers, with multiple sizing options. Talk about great hospitality! We wore these for lounging around and for going to the hotel’s natural onsen (hot springs bath).
Hida Beef Kaiseki Dinner Experience
The Hida Beef Kaiseki dinner was hosted in a traditional floor-seating dining room with rustic folk-house style. The food seemingly never stopped coming and everything was delicious, fresh, and authentic.
We tasted the popular local Hida beef steak and shabushabu, and they were flavorful with excellent textures. They also served local foods such as assorted sashimi, salt-grilled sweet fish, steamed dish, miso soup, appetizers, fruits, and green tea pudding. The children menu included sukiyaki, assorted sushi and tempura, deep fried prawn, buckwheat noodle, hida beef croquette, and egg pudding.
Back to the Room
With happy tummies, we came back to our room to find a nice surprise. The staff converted the dining area in our room into a cozy bedroom while we were at dinner. They moved the table and chairs to the side and set up the futon beddings on the tatami floor. The kids were quick to claim these beds over the Western style framed beds on the other side of the room.
Day Trip to Shirakawago Village
In the morning, we were excited for our day trip to Shirakawa-go. We rode the Takayama Nohi Bus, which took us to the village in approximately 50 minutes.
Shirakawago – Ogimachi Village
When we arrived in Shirakawa-go, it felt like we just took a time machine back to the past. The snow was falling that day, making us feel like we were inside a classic snow globe.
Slanted Rooftops
Shirakawa-go, particularly the Ogimachi Village, is famous for their distinct farmhouses (Gassho) with slanted rooftops. These slanted rooftops were meant to withstand the heavy snow during the winter season. Some also say that the rooftop shape resembles a Buddhist monk’s prayer hands.
We continued walking around the village, treating ourselves with delicious street food such as the warm Hida beef croquette that was served through a window. Before we left, we also stopped at this lovely Coffee Shop Hina, and enjoyed their strong coffee and delectable chocolate cake.
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I'm a happily-married mom of two. Our family enjoys an active lifestyle and spending quality time together. We love creating memories through travel, learning about different cultures around the world.
