Don't miss the firework festival this summer!!

Summer has finally arrived here and it is the time to wear yukata (traditional summer clothes in japan) and enjoy the firework in Takayama and Hida Furukawa.

Don't forget to enjoy Japanese snacks during the festival!!

Below are the details:

57th Hida Takayama Firework Festival

Wed, July 29

 

Many fireworks including rockets and special effects illuminate the night sky in Hida Takayama.

Time
※19:30-20:45（In case of rain, the event will be on the next day.)

Venue

Miyagawa Riverbank Park

Access

10 minutes on foot from the JR Takayama Station

Hida Takayama Tezutsu (hand-held) Firework Display

Sunday, August 9

 

A temporary platform is built on the river bed of the Miyagawa River. Fireworks are set off bamboo cylinders handheld by “shooters”, who get showers of sparks from the fireworks, creating extremely exciting scenes.

Time
19:30-21:00

Venue

Downstream of Yayoi-bashi Bridge on the Miyagawa River

Access

15 minutes on foot from the JR Takayama Station

Hida Furukawa Firework Festival

Thu, August 13

Many fireworks including rockets and special effects illuminate the night sky in Hida Furukawa.

Time

20:00

Venue

Matsubara Chiyo Park

Access

15 minutes on foot from JR Hida Furukawa Station  

 

Amanohashidate, Ine and Miyama

Have you heard about the above places before?  It sounds not familiar to me as well.  By conducting a tour to Kansai in March, I visited all of them in 2 days.  Amanohashidate is counted among Japan's three most scenic views alongside Miyajima and Matsushima.  We arrived the top of the Kasamatsu park by the cable car and a breath-taking view is in front of us.  I tried to turn back, bending over and observe the view between my legs as this position is famous for viewing the exact scenery as if we are standing.  I find it interesting to view by this position.  If you have an opportunity to visit Amanhashidate, don’t miss it! 

We visited Ine, a fish village with 250 boat houses (Funayas). The first level of the boat house is to store the boats whereas the second level is for residential purpose.  It is a quiet village with reputable sake brewery and lovely scenery.

                                

   

Shirakawago has become a very popular tourist spot nowadays because of the gassho houses.  It is getting a bit crowded with tourists.  However, about 30 km north of Kyoto, Miyama is a rural area with 39 thatched-roof houses which is a valuable place to experience the authentic feel of rural Japan.  Strolling around the village while drinking Miyama-made coffee made us has a real taste of Miyama.  Miyama has only a few of shops where tourists can buy the fresh vegetables and dairy products.  In winter, Miyama becomes a snowy world where could be a recommended place of making lovely snow man and snow flight! 

Shirakawago Light Up in Winter

Being a new comer of Takayama, I was looking forward to my first winter in Takayama and Shirakawago.  When I visited Shirakawago in April last year, I luckily visited the village at the times with the cherry (Sakura) blossom.  I was impressed with the scenery with the snow mountain and sakura trees.

Winter brings a new look of Shirakawago.  Heavy snow in Shirakawago makes the roofs, bridges, trees etc all covered in white.  When January comes, the nights of Shirakawago get busier than usual.  The village was lighted up during some weekends in January and February.  I was surprised with the stunning views from the observation point and also in every part in the village.  No wonder Shirakawgo light up event becomes such a popular must-see event in life time!

Although the light up evenｔ has been over, I also recommend you to visit the village in day time.  Do you believe you can see the snowy wonderland in reality?

J-hop tour provides morning and afternoon tour every day.  Please check it out in our website:

http://tour.j-hoppers.com/

Bus Tour of Doboroku Matsuri Festival in Shirakawago

Doburoku festival is an annual Shinto event taking place at Shirakawa-go.  Doburoku is a milky white, unrefined sake made from rice, rice malt, and water.  Doburoku is brewed from January through October, we can drink the NEW doburoku on the first day!!  Once you buy the glass provided by the festival, you can drink as much as you can for FREE.  Except drinking, there are also traditional dance such as lion dance(Shishimai), folk song performance and local food stalls.  The tour will also bring you to the observation point of Shirakawa-go to capture the excellent view of village(Ogimachi).  Do not miss this valuable chance to experience the biggest festival of Shirakawa-go!  Bus tour will be organized for the festival, details are as follows:

Date: 14th –15th October, 2014(Tuesday and Wednesday)

Departure time: 13:40 p.m.

Meeting point: bus stop in front of JR Takayama Station

http://tour.j-hoppers.com/touroverview/#meeting-point

(NOT Nohi public Bus Terminal)

Tour Fee: 4,000 yen per person / 3,800 yen per person(J-hopper Takayama Guesthouse Guests only)

Fee includes:  -Round-trip bus tickets between Takayama and Shirakawago (50 mintues by bus)

- English-speaking tour guide

Schedule:

Itinerary at a glance(Times may be subject to change)
13:40	Depart Takayama station
14:30	Arrive Shirakawa-go
14:30-14:50	Observation point
15:00-17:00	Walk around the village Duburoku Festival
17:00	Depart Shirakawa-go
18:00	Arrive Takayama station

Enrollment and inquiries: email to tour@j-hoppers.com or call 0577-62-9545.

2014白川鄉濁酒節特色巴士之旅

2014白川鄉濁酒節特色巴士之旅

白川鄉在秋天會舉辦一年一度的濁酒節，節日期間會請普通觀光者喝上由1月開始釀製混有米飯的白濁酒，只要買上大會的指定的酒柸，你便可盡情暢飲!在會場之一的白川八幡神社，會舉行各式各樣的節日慶祝活動，如獅子舞及傅統舞蹈等。巴士團也會到荻町城迹瞭望台，是俯瞰村落風光的絕好場所。想盡情暢飲,一嘗日式傅統小食，觀賞傅統舞蹈及歌謠表演，千萬不要錯過濁酒節特色巴士團，詳情如下:

      

日期: 2014年10月14日及15日(週二及週三)

集合時間 :下午13時40分

集合地點: JR高山站前巴士站

費用: 4,000 日圓(以1人計算) / 3,800日圓(只適用於在J-hopper高山住宿的旅客),包括來回高山到的白川鄉巴士車費(車程為50分鐘)及英語領隊。

 

活動詳情: 13:40-14:30 由JR高山站出發到達白川鄉

14:30-14:50 到荻町城迹瞭望台，俯瞰村落風光

15:00-17:00 到達白川鄉荻町及會場，是品嚐濁酒及地道的日式小食時間
          17:00-18:00 由會場出發返回JR高山站

查詢及報名: 電郵至tour@j-hoppers.com或致電0577-62-9545.

2014馬瀨川花火大會特色巴士之旅

2014馬瀨川花火大會特色巴士之旅

好消息!馬瀨川在2014年8月30日將舉行大型的花火大會，想感受日本夏日節慶，千萬不要錯過。試想想，看著七彩繽紛的花火在山川河流之間爆發，聽著那轟隆隆的爆炸聲，品嚐地道的日式小食，你會完全陶醉在這花火大會!以下是2014馬瀨川花火大會的特色巴士之旅詳情:

日期: 2014年8月30日(週六)

集合時間 :下午2時50分

集合地點: J-hopper高山旅館

費用: 3,600 日圓(以1人計算) ,包括來回J-hopper高山旅館到馬瀨川花火大會的巴士車費(車程

          為1小時)、馬瀨川花火大會入場門票、英語領隊、日式飯團便當及1罐含酒精或不合含

          酒精飲品。

 

活動詳情: 17:00-20:00 到達會場，品嚐地道的日式小食時間
                20:00-21:00 煙火表演
                21:00-22:00 由會場出發返回J-hopper高山旅館

查詢及報名: 電郵至tour@j-hoppers.com或致電0577-62-9545.

註:-為避免擠迫，約17:00到達會場。回程時間有可能因堵車而有所延誤，敬請原諒。
    -因大會不設座位，建議可自行攜帶小椅子或竹蓆。
    -如因天雨影響，花火大會將順延至8月31日。

2014 Amazing Bus Tour of Maze River Firework Festival

2014 Amazing Bus Tour of Maze River Firework Festival 

Good news!! A spectacular fireworks display is going to be held in Maze River on 30^th August, 2014.  Surrounded by heaps of mountains, you will be amazed with the boom of firework while enjoying traditional Japanese food and drinks!  Do not miss the last chance to indulge yourself in this memorable Japanese summer event!  Check out the bus tour details here and register with our lovely staff:

Date: 30^th August, 2014(Saturday)
Departure time: 14:50 p.m.
Meeting point: J-hopper Takayama Guesthouse
Tour Fee: 3,600 yen per person

Fee includes:  　-Round-trip bus tickets between J-hopper Takayama and Maze River (1 hour by bus)

-Entrance fee

- English-speaking tour guide

　　　　　　　　　　-A bento with Japanese rice ball and 1 can of drink(alcohol or without alcohol)

Schedule of the event: 17:00-20:00 Firework Festival Event + Free time to explore the 　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Japanese food stalls

                    　　　　　　  20:00-21:00　Firework

                      　　　　　　21:00-22:00  Bus back to J-hopper Takayama　Guesthouse

Enrollment and inquiries: email to tour@j-hoppers.com or call 0577-62-9545.

Remarks:

-  Due to the influx of tourist to the event, guests will arrive to Maze River around 17:00 p.m. 

　However, the return time may be delayed due to unexpected travel congestion.

-  Free seating.  It is recommended to bring a portable chair or leisure sheet to cover the　

　ground.

-  Bus tour will be postponed to 31 August, 2014 due to poor weather condition.