Friday 6 December 2019

Top things to do in Takayama, Japan

Top things to do in Takayama, Japan
Takayama is is filled with interesting sights. It is also the gateway to the hiking paradise of the Japan Alps and Shirakawa-go, a Unesco-listed thatch-roof village. Here is the list of attractions in and around Takayama.

Sanmachi Street

Sanmachi Street
Sanmachi Street is where you will probably head first. This is the Takayama Old Town and definitely the most popular place to visit in Takayama thanks to the street being lined with Traditional Wooden Buildings that have been very well-preserved.

The best time to visit Sanmachi Street is in the morning when it is quieter, in the morning you can really take in the beauty of the buildings. With that being said, many of the shops and cafes are closed early in the morning not seeming to open until about 10:00 am and seeing these open, tasting the food they have to offer and seeing the buzz of Sanmachi Street, later on, is also very good. If you want to do some shopping in Takayama for local and traditional Japanese products, this is where to go.

Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall

Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall
Held annually in the spring on April 14 and 15 and in the autumn on October 9 and 10, the Takayama Matsuri festival is one of the great festivals of Japan. During the festival, 11 lavishly decorated floats are pulled through the town. Some of the floats have small stages on which intricate marionettes are made to dance by incredibly complicated arrangements of strings manipulated by expert puppeteers.

Of course, most people are not lucky enough to visit when the festival is being held. But, do not despair, you can check out some of the floats and see videos of the festival at the fine Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition hall. This attraction is easily paired with the nearby Sakayama Hachimangu Shrine.

Shiroyama Park

Shiroyama Park
If you want to get into nature within a 5-minute walk from the busy street of Sanmachi head into Shiroyama Park.

This was perhaps my favourite part of the city. There are many Temples in the park and many footpaths to take. It was also so quiet up here in the park even on a busy Saturday in town so you can walk and hike here.

Hida no Sato (Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village)

Hida no Sato (Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village)
About 2km west of Takayama Station is Hida no Sato, a collection of traditional thatch-roof houses taken from around central Japan and carefully reconstructed here. The houses are spread around park with a central pond. You can enter many of the houses and marvel at the beams and construction techniques. Hida no Sato is too far from the station to walk. A taxi from the station will cost around ¥1,100. Or, you can take the “Sarubobo” bus that leaves from in front of the station.

Street Food

Street Food
The street food of Takayama is mainly along Sanmachi Street and there are quite a few things on offer from Ice Cream, Mochi, Dango, Rice Crackers to Buns, Sushi, Sushi with Hida Beef.

If you do want to go for a good meal in Takayama, Sanmachi Street is a great place to eat in Takayama as not only does it have Street Food it also has some nice Cafes and Restaurants too.

See more: Top 5 popular Christmas dishes in Japan
Source Internet

Thursday 25 October 2018

7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

The old towns usually have unique beauties and stunning architectures, various culture and special cuisines. Here are the 7 Old towns that are famous in Asia.

7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

1. Malacca, Malaysia

7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

Malacca is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Malacca. Malacca (or Melaka in Malay) is a sleepy old city with a quaint colonial town center and is a great place to spend a few days on a trip to Malaysia. Malacca can easily be overlooked as a place to stop in Southeast Asia. Travelers will find some of the best food in Malaysia, unique cafes, timeworn architecture and well preserved historical sites in Malacca. Don’t miss it on your next trip to Malaysia.

2. Takayama, Japan

7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

Takayama's old town has been beautifully preserved with many buildings and whole streets of houses dating from the Edo Period when the city thrived as a wealthy town of merchants. Several homes in the old town open their doors to the public. They provide a glimpse behind the facade into the former living quarters of the local merchants and exhibit traditional household goods and local arts and crafts.

3. Hoi An, Vietnam

7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

Graceful, historic Hoi An is Vietnam’s most atmospheric and delightful town. Once a major port, it boasts the grand architecture and beguiling riverside setting that befits its heritage, and the 21st-century curses of traffic and pollution are almost entirely absent.

4. Vigan, Philippines

7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

With many villas for thousands of years, Vigan is a truly a witness of what used to be a royal city. With a Spanish-inspired architecture, it makes the old town of Vigan more unique. There are more than 200 ancient works are preserved in Vigan. It is where the Ilocos region’s rich culture and history are crafted in ornate architecture, furniture, and detailed ornaments. For this reason, Vigan Heritage Village was considered a UNESCO Heritage Site to preserve the cultural past of the Ilocandia region.

5. Bukcheon, Korea

7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

Surrounded by Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village is home to hundreds of traditional houses, called hanok, that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. The name Bukchon, which literally translates to "northern village," came about as the neighborhood lies north of two significant Seoul landmarks, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. Today, many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants, and tea houses, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience, learn and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture.

6. Tunxi, China

7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

Tunxi Ancient Street is situated in the center of Tunxi District, the location of Huangshan City Government. Shops standing on both sides are generally of two or three floors, which feature the local Anhui style of stone base, brick construction, and tile roof. The layout of these buildings commonly takes on the appearance of shops in front while houses and workshops are to the rear. Once a professor from America was amazed by it and he said he had found an Oriental Ancient Rome. Nowadays Tunxi Ancient Street is also used as a natural studio for films and TV series.

7. Luang Prabang, Laos

7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

Walk the streets with picturesque traditional houses, colonial-style villas, and Lao Buddhist temples at Old Quarter Luang Prabang, part of a bustling UNESCO-protected city area packed with history and culture. A night market, many shops, and restaurants set in pleasant two-story houses on clean, quiet streets give a totally different feel from the madness of other large Asian cities. Check out many temples with practicing monks praying or burning incense, or mingle with locals during their coffee breaks in the street. The nearby Mekong River surrounding this peninsula quarter, as well as abundant frangipani trees, add to the overall charm of the place. For travelers who use our online itinerary creator, Luang Prabang holidays become easier to arrange, with trips to the Old Quarter.

Source Internet