We have JR Rail tickets on a nonstop to Takayama and arrive early at the Kyoto Station so as not to miss our train. Ray does a good job of asking directions and after standing in the wrong place twice, we finally get to the correct track, and line for car 3. The train is comfortable and we roll along for 4 hrs out of the city, along the river past small towns and farms alongside heavily forested low mountains.
We arrive in Takayama, a small historic town northeast of Kyoto. Fortunately the rains have not yet arrived. The streets are lined with gutters, most of which have grates, but on the side streets, some are open and are 2 ft deep- don’t want to step into one by mistake!!
Since we are too early to check-in, we wander the streets of the quaint old town in search of lunch. Oddly, all the places we go in to require reservations, are full or sold out of food! The last option is a Hida burger made with specially raised Hida beef, a variety of Wagyu. It is quite good. We stop at a supermarket for fruit and like Osaka and Kyoto, the fruit, especially the grapes, are picture perfect.
Our room at Chusan Grand Takayama is spacious. But the hotel is older and has few amenities. The receptionist said our room was expensive compared to normal. She thought I had reserved through booking.com but I had not. It made me wonder if Japanese locals get a better rate on the hotel site. Takayama is a hard place to eat. The restaurants are either fully booked or need a reservation. After a lot of walking around, we eat at a tiny ramen shop- ramen was not the best.
Typhoon Kong Rey moving through Taiwan will bring rain to Japan today and tomorrow. Light rain has begun to fall. Tomorrow may be a museum day.