Onsen: A New Found Love

Getting ready for my first outdoor “hot spring” bath, I found myself in a room filled with women of all ages, some soaking in the (indoor) pool and others seated on stools going about the bathing rituals.

I found an empty seat. Observing their rituals, I started washing and scrubbing until I felt clean enough to share a pool with them (the onsen etiquette dictates that one must be scrubbed clean before entering any pools). The room was warm but because winter was on its way, the weather has turned cold and windy outside. I hesitated and soaked in the pool while I mustered the courage to brave the cold, windy afternoon.

With only a hand towel in tow, my friend Stella and I walked into unfamiliar territory. Outside the bathing room were several (geothermal) pools spread around a gorgeous Japanese garden. As I felt the gush of wind blow straight into my bones, I went straight into the nearest pool. Unbeknown to us at that time, it was the pool that the source of the spring pours into. Wrong move. The farther away the pools are from the source, the gentler (to the body) it becomes. We settled on alternating between the third and the fourth pool. The heat can be unbearable at first, but once the body acclimatized, it was soothing, palliative even. The diversity of minerals relieves a multitude of ailments, they say. It was the perfect remedy to my sore muscles at least. Despite a 10°C windy evening, I felt warm to the bones from the hot spring. When it snowed on the second night, it was surreal.

Hirayu. It is a town surrounded by mountains and active volcanoes on all sides, a town known for its more than 30 natural source hot springs or what is known in Japan as “onsen”. The oldest and largest of Okuhida’s “onsen towns” is also the region’s transportation hub making it a marvelous base for wandering through nearby areas like Kamikochi, Norikura, Matsumoto, Shin Hotaka and the Hirayu-Otaki waterfalls – famous for its illuminated display of a frozen waterfall during the winter.

Our home for 2 nights, Hirayu No Mori, is conveniently located near the bus terminal.

This hot spring resort, primarily a bathhouse, boasts of beautiful grounds, comfortable rooms

and a restaurant serving central Japanese dishes such as Hida Beef and Hoba Miso.

It has 3 bath facilities (2 segregated and 1 mix gender) and a total of 16 pools altogether.

And for two nights under the stars, I soothed my exhaustion away in several of the pools and soaked up as much of this quintessential Japanese experience to take home with me.

Useful Info:

There are several rules of etiquette to keep in mind when visiting a onsen. Click here to know what these are.

Hirayu No Mori

763-1 Hirayu Okuhidaosengo,

Takayama, Gifu Prefecture

Contact: 0578-89-3338

Posted on July 20, 2013July 22, 2013 by Jenn 7

Shirakawa-go

Gassho-zukuri. We’re not done talking about it yet because there are still some that can be found in typical farming villages, some ordinary folks still call it home, this 250-year old special farmhouses.

These villages still exist, and one is just 50 minutes away by bus from Takayama.

The UNESCO declared World Cultural Heritage Site, Shirakawa-go and its neighboring region Gokayama has been slowly attracting visitor since it was inscribed in 1995.

Ogimachi is Shirakawa-go’s largest community. A charming village, albeit a slightly “touristy” oriented one, lining the Shogowa River valley.

Its beauty lies not only in the scenery, resplendent in shades of autumn at the time of visit, but as well as in its community. Ogimachi has 2 medical clinics, a primary school and a junior high school.

Many still live in a Gassho-zukuri, but many of the well-preserved farmhouses have become museums, restaurants and there are 20 or so of it that has been made into Minshuku (bed and breakfast) guesthouses.

Time permitting; spending a night there would have been glorious. Instead, we contented ourselves to a nice hot soba meal before heading back to Takayama.

Ogimachi-crossing-the-shogawa-river

Across the bridge, near the bus stop is a well-constructed outdoor heritage museum.

The Gassho-zukuri Minkaen features 25 preserved farmhouses.

Like Hida-No-Sato, it was relocated and rebuilt to emulate a traditional village in the countryside, scenery and landscape of which is simply superb with the mountains lending the perfect backdrop.

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Jenn 1

A Feast for the Eyes and Soul

Credits: Template by K Pertiet (Bears Life)

I love how the Gassho-Zukuri farmhouses stand out against the warm hues of autumn – a stunning contrast, really. This tall (possibly 3-4 stories high) coffee-colored A-shaped thatched roof farmhouses were first built during the Edo period.

Lush woodland with hints of fall reflects on the stillness of the pond like a mirror. It reminds me of a Monet artwork except that the setting isn’t France. This is the first thing your eyes will wander to once you enter Hida No Sato, sometimes also called Hida Folk Village.

And this is where those Gassho houses were relocated. It resembles a village of old Japan – it has around 30 well-preserved traditional houses, storehouses and other structures with farming tools and everyday utensils displayed in each house.

This outdoor museum of sort, aside from preserving the structures, strives to keep the culture alive by offering hands-on lessons on the traditional way of life like rice cropping, straw-work and stitching, cypress carving to even storytelling using the local dialect.

A few hours here will boost your appreciation on how life was back then for farmers and craftsmen of the Hida region.

Life isn’t easy for these people as winter is harsh in this part of Japan. The steep slanting roof was said to be for the purpose of rain and snow. It allows both to fall straight off, preventing water from seeping through the roof or heavy snow collapsing the roof. It also eases the work of cleaning. Isn’t it amazing how a practical need has led to a fascinating and unique style of architecture?

So when in Takayama, you must go visit this place. It’s just a 30-minute walk from town or a 10-minute bus ride from the Takayama Station. It will be a feast for the eyes and the soul.

Useful Info

Hida No Sato

1-590 Kamiokamoto-machi, Takayama City

Opens 7 days a week from 8:30am – 5:00pm

Admission: ¥700

How to get there from Takayama:

Take a 10-minute bus ride from the Takayama Station (bus runs every hour); get off at the Hida No Sato bus stop.

Posted on May 26, 2013May 27, 2013 by Jenn 8

Takayama Morning Markets

It was cold. The warmth of the comforter and the futon was extremely inviting, but I was determined not to give in to the temptation because we are going to the market today.

Jinya-scenic-walk-4

So at exactly 6am, we ambled to the morning market nearer to the ryokan, watching the city wake up along the way.

At the Jinya-mae market, we watched it come to life one stall at a time.

Jinya-morning-market

I expected to see a much bigger market than the neighborhood market it really is.

More of a farmer’s market, it sells a lot of foodstuff and produce from gigantic, gorgeous but expensive fresh fruits and vegetables to rice cakes and

pickled vegetables all wanting to be purchased, begging to be noticed at the least. We eventually gave in to this corn – the sweetest and crunchiest I’ve ever had, and that is not an exaggeration.

If we weren’t heading back to the ryokan for breakfast, I would have feasted on a few more.

Thank God for good judgement as breakfast was lavish in Hakuun!

There are two morning markets (Asa-ichi) in Takayama that takes place daily from 6am till noon. The Jinya-mae morning market can be found in front of Takayama Jinya, a historical office building from the Edo Period said to be the only remaining building of its kind.

Not far from the Sanmachi district is Miyagawa morning market.

This market situated along the east bank of the Miyagawa River is bigger and I believe geared more towards the tourists.

Stalls selling crafts of wood or fabric, souvenirs, street foods are spotted alongside fruits and vegetables stands.

Interesting bites that had us so full but wanting more. So with these bites in tow, we explored the market.

Here, tourists abound or maybe it was the time of the day – when the city was already fully awake and vibrant with life. Here, the lure to buy is much, much greater. Here, I looked, I tried some, I got a few to take home.

Posted on May 23, 2013May 24, 2013 by Jenn 2

Missing In Action

So I’ve been missing in action. Yes, I’ve been away, to a land overflowing with exoticism, and I’m still struggling to get back to the rhythm of my everyday. Oh how I wish I could spend more days soaking up the vibe of Morocco while sipping mint tea in some quaint cafe.

Check out an article I wrote for Exquise Magazine on “Five Things You Must Do When in Morocco” here and get a glimpse of what has kept me busy while I was away.

In the meantime, I will struggle to get back to the grind… more of exotic Morocco after I’m done telling you about Japan.

Posted on May 22, 2013May 23, 2013 by Jenn 2

Old Town Splendor

It was close to lunch when we hailed a taxi at the Takayama Station to take us to Futurishizuka Hakuun, our Ryokan. Not exactly at the center of town but Takayama is small enough to go around on foot anyway. A leisurely walk to town took us about 15 minutes to Le Midi,

a French bistro recommended by the Ryokan, for an excellent Hida beef meal.

Lesser known internationally, the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture breeds top quality black cattle. As a mater of fact, it was given the highest prize by the same award giving body that made Kobe beef what it is today. And when in Takayama and the surrounding areas around the Hida region, a Hida beef meal should be high on your list.

But more than Hida beef, Takayama is visited for its famous historic townscape.

At the center of town, old wooden houses from the Edo period line both sides of the streets of Sanmachi imparting an atmosphere straight from the 19th century.

Most of these are still private homes while a few are now shops, inns, and restaurants.

Many museums, galleries, and even sake breweries likewise coexist with the old private houses in that quarter. The three narrow streets that form Sanmachi are “Nationally Recognized Important Historical Preservation Areas”.

Takayama was the center of Japan’s timber industry and was known for its expertise in carpentry. It is believed that carpenters from this town worked on palaces and temples in Kyoto and Nara hence the well-preserved quarter.

The striking black luster of the buildings were the result of rich merchants back then trying to hide the use of the best but prohibited wood by painting their houses with soot, which in my opinion gave the city its character in the end.

The old town is where the action is; just a short distance from each other is where most of the attractions are.

And for the remaining portion of the day, we walked around town not exactly aimless but with a loose agenda, and this was where our meanderings took us:

Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan

Ranked as one of Japan’s most beautiful festival, the Takayama Matsuri Festival always attracts a large number of spectators. Magnificent floats are pulled through the streets of Takayama’s old town during the festival held every spring and autumn.

The Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan or the Festival Floats Exhibition Hall displays on rotation four of the eleven floats used in the festival. Many of the floats that date back from the 17th century are of gilded wood intricately carved with detailed decorative metalwork. If not displayed in the hall, they are stored in tall storehouses called yatai-gura scattered quite noticeably around the town. And these elaborately crafted floats are excellent showcases of the special skills the Hida-Takayama craftsmen are known for.

Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine

Just across the exit of the exhibition hall is the shrine where the Matsuri Festival is held every year. It was built during the time of Emperor Nintoku and later made bigger than the original under Lord Kanamori. It was officially established to protect a part of Takayama,

Sakurayama Nikko Kan

The Nikko Toshogu is a Shinto shrine in Nikko Tochigi Prefecture dedicated to the first shogun of the Edo Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Shogunate spent a fortune and took 15 years to reconstruct the Toshogu.

The entrance fee of the Matsuri Yatai Kaikan includes the Sakurayama Nikko Kan, a hall displaying the impressive one-tenth scale replica of the Nikko Toshogu.

The replica, after the war, was shown in the United States and in a few decades later, in Japan. Today, it has found its home at the Sakurayama Nikko Kan complete with a computerized lighting system programmed to alternate sunrise to sunset. It is a beautiful exhibit not to be missed.

Yoshijma Heritage House

Built by master carpenter Nishida Isaburo in 1907. The Yoshijima family was a prosperous merchant engaged in money lending and the production of sake in Takayama. And it once had a building where sake once brewed and plastered storehouses where sake was stored before being sold. Unfortunately, most of the structure has been torn down with only a small part remaining.

Well maintained, the house has posts and beams polished and smoothened through the years to a rich brown tone delivering a sense of sophistication to an already beautiful old house. Another a must see.

As we continue to explore the town, we decided on an early dinner of Tonkatsu.

Unlike the ordinary Tonkatsu we know, this deep-fried breaded pork fillet is placed on top of a magnolia leaf with the sweet sauce heating on a dish with fire underneath. Tender and juicy, this meal was the perfect way to end the exploration.

Back in our Ryokan, we reveled at our ante room, put our feet up, and sipped our green teas. We were in good spirits.

I wasn’t planning to, but the hot tub was calling out to me.

Nestled on a hill, Futurishizuka Hakuun is favored with a wonderful view of the city and mountain. It has in some rooms a private hot bath. And our tub has that view – beats having a massage any day.

hot-bath

As I lay down in the tub, I see steam all around, and I feel heat melting the weariness from all the walking done the past few days. Knowing that there will be more, I welcome this tonight. And maybe tomorrow too.

Useful Info:

Yoshijima Heritage House

Hours: 9:00AM to 5:00PM (Mar – Nov); 9:00AM to 4:30PM (Dec – Feb)

Closed on Tues (Dec – Feb, when Tue falls on a national holiday, it is open and is closed the following day)

Admission: ¥500

Festival Floats Exhibition Hall & Sakurayama Nikko Kan

Hours: 8:30AM to 5:00PM (Mar – Nov); 9:00AM to 4:30AM (Dec – Feb)

Admission: ¥820

Posted on May 16, 2013May 23, 2013 by Jenn 8

Nishiki Market

Kyoto has a kitchen in a vibrant retail market specializing in all things related to food –

fresh seafood, fresh produce, fresh fruits, sweets, knives, cookware, etc. – 5 blocks long, lined with more than one hundred shops and restaurants. This is where to find Kyoto’s specialties and many seasonal foods.

Located in central Kyoto, this narrow market has supplied Kyoto’s residents with high quality traditional ingredients for centuries. The history extends some 400 years ago, and many shops are still operated by their founding families.

nishiki-market

A walk down Nishiki-koji will give you a sense of what Kyoto is all about. This may not appeal to just any visitor, but this can be pure heaven to lovers of food and the kitchen.

In the narrow alleys of the market, the stalls are filled with food items of any kind – some already prepared while others yet to be cooked. A great place to eat too, with so many intriguing eateries to choose from and we could have, but they close at 5.

Local markets, I believe, reflects the culture and economy of a place and visiting these markets is one of my joys in traveling. Whenever you can on your next trip, go hit the market. It usually is a plethora of everyday stuff that characterizes a city.

Useful Info

Getting There: From JR Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Subway to the Shijo Station. It is a 5 mins walk to the market. The market is parallel to Shijo Ave., connected to the Teramachi Shopping arcade.

Nishiki Market

Nishikikōji-dōri between Teramachi & Takakura

Opens daily except Wednesday from 9am – 5pm

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Jenn 2

East of Kyoto: Of Geishas and Wagyu

Their world a mystery to me, my fascination with Geishas is one reason I am walking the streets of Gion.

To catch a Gion Odori (a geisha dance performance) at the Gion Kaikan Theater was high on my list of priorities but the timing was off. So the next best thing is to take the streets where they frequent.

Filled with shops, restaurants and ochoyas (teahouses), Gion is Kyoto’s most celebrated geisha district, Hanami-koji being the most popular.

The street and side alleys are lined with beautifully preserved traditional wooden townhouses called machiyo. Many of which have become expensive restaurants, serving Kyoto-style kaiseki ryori (Japanese haute cuisine), some even extend to dance performances by real maiko dancers.

The number of geishas has significantly declined in the last one hundred years and to catch a glimpse, of either a geisha, or a maiko is scarce today. But despite the dwindling lot, the present “women of art” still practice her skill with the same diligence as those before her.

More than my fascination with geishas, my obsession with food brought me to Gion. The best way to get acquainted with the places I visit (in my opinion) is to immerse in the local cuisine. Japanese food is no exception even if it is arguably among the top in the international cuisine scene these days. In fact, as I ventured into its different cuisine, I went home with a deeper appreciation and understanding of its food.

The cobbled-stoned Shinbanshi St. is a traditional building preservation area in Gion Shinbanshi.

The street runs along the Shirakawa canal lined with willow trees, making it one beautiful, scenic stroll.

On top of that, it is a restaurant row, most of which overlooks the canal. We walked the strip of high-end restaurants and teahouses partly in search for a place to dine that evening.

Pontocho restaurants overlooking the river transform into a spectacular view at night.

Across the Kamogawa river is Pontocho, said to be home to many geisha houses and traditional teahouses.

The alley that runs parallel to the Kamo River, once a leading geisha district, is also one of Kyoto’s most atmospheric dining areas. It is packed with a range of dining options, including affordable Yakitori, traditional Kyoto cuisines and private establishments.

In this small alleyway, we found Kyoshikian – a well-appointed teppanyaki-style restaurant that had us at Wagyu.

So relieved that we opted to share, as I could only take so much of the beef sirloin due to its intense marbling.

A side of grilled vegetables and seared tuna was perfect to tone down the richness.

Walking back to Shoji-dori, Gion’s main street, after a truly filling dinner, a woman totally made up and in full kimono regalia walked pass me.

Shoji-dori at night

“There’s a geisha”, I whispered to my friends. “She could also be a maiko”, one whispered back.

Useful Info:

Gion Kaikan Theater

Address: 323 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

Tel: +81 75 561 0160

Transport: Gion Shijo Station

Kyoshikian

Address: 227 Nabeyamachi, Pontocho Shijo-dori Agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto

Schedules: click here

Posted on March 4, 2013March 7, 2013 by Jenn 5

East of Kyoto: Southern Higashiyama Neighborhood Walk

Credits: Papers by Designs by Tater from ScrapMatter’s Life’s Little Surprises Kit.

The guesthouse took sometime to find. Tucked away in a street where cars aren’t allowed. The driver of our shuttle service eventually found it; he led us into a narrow residential street.

The house is charming, even at night. A young man let us in, cheerfully welcoming us at 10 in the evening. The real owners of Yamato Guesthouse are his parents, Kenzo and Nagako.

He was there for the weekend, I figured. I noticed a group was enjoying some drinks at a corner so I asked if they served dinner — we were hungry, arriving straight from Kansai International Airport. Of course, they only serve breakfast but they accommodated our request and prepared something simple after seeing our hungry faces. The other group, it turned out, are friends visiting hence the beer and the snacks – I felt a bit embarrassed about our dinner request. 😯 Such is the hospitality of the Japanese and of our host.

Nagako served quite an exquisite breakfast and for 2 days I felt very pampered

The former capital of Japan is famous for its temples and shrines, a beautiful city with tradition and culture filled to the brim. Kyoto is one of the oldest cities and there is so much to see. Even just zooming in on an area – the east side – we still barely scratched the surface. Two whole days is obviously not enough but that was all we had. We were merely passing through and we made the most of it.

Yamato, I estimate, is a good 10 minutes stroll away from Kiyomizu Temple — actually, it could be 20 if you window shop and ogle at everything interesting along the way.

The neighborhood consists of many interesting stores, delightful cafe and food stalls, which actually make for a pleasant stroll to the temple.

The street of our guesthouse comes out to Chawan-zaka, it actually leads to the temple but we chose instead to turn into a complex that has several flights of stairs,

A map of Asahizaka complex

stores and cafes line the way leading to Kiyomizu-zaka, where we chanced on more stores and tourists.

Kiyomizu-zaka from the temple

If you turn right, you will end up in Kiyomizu Temple.

Inside the temple, the tourists escalated in unbelievable proportion.

Half way through the temple, we gave up and settled for a much-needed coffee break and cream puffs.

Kiyomizu-dera is perhaps the most beloved of Kyoto’s temples.

It is a famous hilltop temple offering sweeping views of the old capital.

Popular with tourist and pilgrims, the temple is part of the Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The narrow cobbled street of Kiyomizu-zaka (if you walk away from the temple) will lead to Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka, a restored neighborhood oozing with old world charm.

Both streets are lined with old wooden houses, traditional shops and restaurants. It is a good example of the old Kyoto, the Kyoto everyone imagines. Despite the drizzle, it was a wonderful walk, quite uplifting I must say.

Following the route suggested by Lonely Planet, we found the street the guidebook described as “the most beautiful street in Kyoto”, Ishibei-koji. It is a quiet alley lined with high-end restaurants and ryokans. I saw a photographer taking shots of the street at the end of the stone-paved road. I went to where he stood and this was what came out.

Have to admit that this quiet street has character with its own stories to tell perhaps but to be identified as “the most” beautiful street puts too much pressure don’t you think? Beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder. Developed primarily as an area for luxurious rental homes, it is presently a favorite site to shoot TV dramas, movies and TV commercials.

At this point, it was already more than drizzling and it didn’t look like it would let up. We decided it was time for lunch.

Useful Info:

Guest House Yamato

6-539-23 Gojohashihigashi,

Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

Kiyomizu Temple

1-294 Kiyomizu

Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

Posted on February 15, 2013February 28, 2013 by Jenn 11

East Africa

It actually stretches from the northern arid deserts of Ethiopia to the tropical forests of Mozambique and Madagascar, with 19 countries in between. While my East African adventure in 2006 only spanned 3 countries, the experience it yielded were quite diverse – from the usual Safari adventures to tracking Chimpanzees to the more extreme, whitewater rafting. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, territories that were formerly under British control and each hold common thread yet bear its own unique character.

Highlights:

Catching sight of the Big Five – Lions, African Elephants, Cape Buffalos, Leopards, and Rhinoceroses.

The Big Five aside, Zebras along with giraffes have become favorites.

Witnessing not quite the migration but the start of it. From July to October, one could witness the great migration where wildebeest and zebra travel to and from the Serengeti National Park to the greener pastures of the Masai Mara National Reserves.

It is perhaps the most breathtaking event in animal kingdom and the whole point of our visit to this continent. To see them gather together, sometimes in a line is more than thrilling.

Witnessing a gathering of Flamingos. Absolutely a sight to behold, this sea of pink covering a large part of Lake Nakuru. One of the Rift Valley soda lakes that attract vast quantity of flamingos that feed on the lake’s abundant algae.

Being in beautiful Ngorongoro Crater. It is the world’s largest intact unflooded volcanic caldera and is home to over 300,000 animals including the rare Black Rhinos.

An absolutely beautiful place to be on a safari, the crater makes for a stunning backdrop to rich grazing grounds.

Chilling in Zanzibar. A semi-autonomous island separated from the Tanzanian mainland.

Although just a short distance from the Tanzanian coast, it is at the crossroad of Africa, the Middle East and Asia resulting in a culture of diverse ethnicities, more Middle Eastern in its feel than African. Likewise with local dishes, the rich fragrance of cinnamon, ginger, cumin, pepper and cardamom is synonymous with Zanzibar, also known as the Spice Island. The streets of Stone’s Town – the capital’s old quarter – is full of the bustle of back street markets and local flavor.

The charm lies in its labyrinth alleyways and faded buildings redolent of the glories of the old Islāmic empire.

Rafting the White Nile. Stretching 31km from just below the Bujugali Falls in Jinja, experiencing the Nile at its source is by far the best heart-pounding whitewater ride of my life.

Getting lost in Uganda. On a wrong bus, we went the other way and ended up not quite where we wanted to be.

Best known for Idi Amin or Joseph Koney, getting lost could be frightening but this mishap gave us a taste of the local flare and the kindness of its people. We eventually found our way but not without the help of the people we didn’t know from Adam. An impression indelibly marked in my heart.

It is by far one of the best trip I’ve had – a wonderful surprise, considering that it was not even on the priority. I will be back Africa, sooner than you know.

Posted on January 29, 2013January 29, 2013 by Jenn 19

my adventure odyssey

travel tales, gustatory delights and beyond

my adventure odyssey

Tag: Top Picks

Onsen: A New Found Love

Useful Info:

Shirakawa-go

A Feast for the Eyes and Soul

Credits: Template by K Pertiet (Bears Life)

Useful Info

Takayama Morning Markets

Missing In Action

Old Town Splendor

Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan

Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine

Sakurayama Nikko Kan

Yoshijma Heritage House

Useful Info:

Nishiki Market

Useful Info

East of Kyoto: Of Geishas and Wagyu

Pontocho restaurants overlooking the river transform into a spectacular view at night.

Shoji-dori at night

Useful Info:

East of Kyoto: Southern Higashiyama Neighborhood Walk

Credits: Papers by Designs by Tater from ScrapMatter’s Life’s Little Surprises Kit.

Useful Info:

East Africa

Highlights: