Day 8 Hakone to Takayama

Up early again, at breakfast buffet when they opened at 7am!  Good brekkie actually, Western and Japanese fare.

Saw Indian couple who were on their way to #Kyoto, we are with Aussie couple, the hubbie suffering the ill effects of too much to drink last night!

Met our guide who took several groups to the #Odawara train station where we caught the #Shinkansen (bullet train), 200mph!  Changed to regular express train to #Takayama where we met up with two other couples, one from Quebec and one from East Finchley (London) – small world!

Walked around typical traditional style village, went into the Kusakabe Folk Museum, built in 1878, the big fire of 1875 burnt the entire village down.  Kasakabe is a family name of an ancient successful merchant who funded the rebuilding project. Also as it was the Festival for Girls, we were able to see the doll exhibit.

#japan

Hinamatsuri: Japanese Doll Festival

Then we went to the Festival Float Exhibition museum which houses the floats used in the bi-annual autumn and spring festivals.

Continued to the Sakurayama Nikkokan

Festival Floats

Had early dinner of beef and noodles with Aussie couple, James and Maryam and headed back to hotel to work on blog – after a hot bath to get warm!

Finally realized why so many people wear masks – cedar pollen allergies! Our wonderful guide Keiko shed light on this yesterday!

Up early again, at breakfast buffet when they opened at 7am!  Good brekkie actually, Western and Japanese fare.

Saw Indian couple who were on their way to Kyoto, we are with Aussie couple, the hubbie suffering the ill effects of too much to drink last night!

Met our guide who took several groups to the Odawara train station where we caught the Shinkansen (bullet train), 200mph!  Changed to regular express train to Takayama where we met up with two other couples, one from Quebec and one from East Finchley (London) – small world!

Walked around typical traditional style village, went into the Kusakabe Folk Museum, built in 1878, the big fire of 1875 burnt the entire village down.  The Kasakabe family  and wnt to the Festival Float Exhibition museum which houses the floats used in the bi-annual autumn and spring festivals.

Had early dinner of beef and noodles with Aussie couple, James and Maryam and headed back to hotel to work on blog – after a hot bath to get warm!

Finally realized why so many people wear masks – cedar pollen allergies! Our wonderful guide Keiko shed light on this yesterday!