Day 03: Shinshu - Shin Hodaka - Toyama

We’ll be climbing up the mountain here we come~ Here we come! The Northern Alps Mountain or ShinHodaka is a spectacular range blanketed by heaps of snow and is a favorite skiing spot for the extreme sports enthusiasts. We’re only interested in taking pictures, not to mention our lunch stop is at the final station. Cold and hungry, just the way I like my afternoons to be. To be honest, it wasn’t that chilly, there were hardly any wind and we didn’t actually get to set foot on the mountain. Just on a platform overseeing the range (in a 180 degrees field of view).

The Shin-Hodaka Ropeway is one of Japan's most unique cable car ride. It has one of the largest elevation gains in the country as it climbs over 1000 meters up the side of the Hotake Mountain Range, which includes Oku-Hotakedake, Japan's third highest peak. But its most distinguishing feature is its double decker gondola cars, the first of their kind in Japan. Not for the faint of heart and those with a fear of heights. O yes, I totally recommend the bakery at the stop, the adzuki crossaint is to die for.

Now, should you ever be awed by the world of Princess Mononoke, Kenrokuen jumps out magically like that for me and should Moro choose to appear, I won’t scream as much I’m sure. To see using the eyes of a tourist is doing the garden much injustice. When you’re looking at an artwork, you have to see it through the eyes unclouded by the need to judge, but the want to slow down and appreciate its wonder. 

"In ancient times, the land lay covered in forests, where, from ages long past, dwelt the spirits of the gods. Back then, man and beast lived in harmony, but as time went by, most of the great forests were destroyed. Those that remained were guarded by gigantic beasts who owed their allegiances to the Great Forest Spirit, for those were the days of gods and of demons." - Narrator, Princess Mononoke

Ah Du mentioned that it is a private garden of a Kaga feudal lord for a Forest God. You see, this God (in a form of an old man) helps people who get lost in forests. But if you wanna entice him to live in your backyard, you have to design a garden that holds six attributes; spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, water-courses and panoramas, like this one. 

Garden walks are great, but after all those fresh air, you'd really wanna see how they incorporate architecture with nature. Higashi-chayamachi street is a great example of that. A perfectly calm neighbourhood with a stream flowing through, separating your home and the narrow road connected by small bridges. Another remnants of the Edo period, with traditional tea house style houses lining the street. Now where's my horsie?

Dodgy mini cars,
Vonnie S.