Well!
The travels through Japan continue.
Yep.
We're actually we were on our way to the train station and we saw this like crazy monkey
shaking a tree.
Yeah.
That is the first monkey we have seen in Nikko.
We knew they were in the area.
But yeah right before leaving.
I know.
We really legitimately thought we weren't going to see a monkey.
Yeah.
And then finally like literally the last minute as we walked to the station we see it.
It was a rowdy one.
But anyways it is a travel day so we are leaving Nikko behind and we are traveling to Takayama.
Yeah.
But we have to go via Tokyo in order to connect.
So we're going to be taking the train down to Tokyo.
Getting on the metro going to the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal and then getting on
a bus.
So it is going to be a long day.
I don't think we're going to reach our final destination until like 8:30 PM tonight.
Yeah.
But we're going to bring you along for the ride as usual.
Indeed.
Let's get started.
One person this price.
Okay.
Two persons.
Here is your departure time.
Nine fifty seven.
Platform number four.
Number four.
Okay so we are all sorted with our train tickets.
I think I already mentioned this on the journey up to Nikko but basically the Nikko Pass only
covers like the slowest mode of transportation to get here and back to Tokyo.
Yep.
But it involves like a whole bunch of transfers.
So we opted to upgrade our ticket and pay a little bit more and it is just directly
there.
We don't have to be hauling our luggage on and off on and off.
Our upgrade wasn't too much.
It was 2000 something?
Yen.
Yeah.
For both of us.
Like a little bit over 10 dollars per person to upgrade.
Which isn't bad.
That is not bad.
Which is great.
Which means we're on a faster more direct train.
Yes, and we can relax and enjoy the scenery.
So we're scheduled to arrive in Tokyo at 11:45 AM.
Which gives us about 2 hours.
No, even more.
Yeah, two and a half hours.
Two and a half hours at least.
To get to the bus terminal.
Have some lunch.
I think that is plenty of time.
We should be good.
Yeah.
Well well sitting here at the train station.
Let's share some impressions of Nikko.
Nikko was amazing.
In one word amazing.
We absolutely loved it.
I think I can say confidently for both of us that it is our favorite destination we've
been to in Japan so far.
Yes.
I think we just craved going to see the rural part of Japan and it just delivered in spades
here.
Like there was just so much to do.
Beautiful mountains.
The scenery.
The chilled vibe.
All of the things we got to do.
Go out on the lakes.
The different temples we got to visit.
Shrines.
You are just surrounded by nature here which is wonderful.
It is incredible.
And the thing is like we were we had two full days to explore.
The first day was really hot.
The second day was a little bit cooler.
But I think like we could have stayed for a few more days.
There was stuff that we didn't even get to.
Yeah I know.
Like with the four day pass.
Yep.
Technically if we had arrived earlier on the first day and we were leaving later on the
forth day we'd have way more time.
But it just didn't work that way with our connection.
So I think if you're going to visit this place it is definitely a long weekend kind of place.
Yeah.
Don't rush it just over two days if you have the time come for three or four full days
because it is so worth it.
This area is just incredible.
We loved it here.
You know they even say that you can come to Nikko on a day trip but that would only give
you enough time to like visit the temples and shrines and the town.
Yeah and the real beauty is in the outskirts.
And the beauty too is just hanging around in the town.
Like it is just such a chill town.
Locals were so nice.
Like I had this went into get groceries and I just had a single beer.
And this lady let me go ahead and was friendly.
We had like friendly service everywhere we went to.
We found some cats.
It had such a chill vibe here and this is the Japan we hadn't seen up until this point
in time.
Yeah.
Back in Tokyo.
Welcome to the Jungle.
Yeah, we're back in the urban jungle of Tokyo.
We just arrived.
In fact we arrived five minutes early.
It was incredible.
And uh yeah.
Basically we have to take a metro to Shinjuku.
We still have our transportation cards from Tokyo.
Yes.
We have a little bit of credit left on them.
We have the Suica card here.
And so yeah the plan is we still have over two hours before we catch the bus so we'll
arrive in Shinjuku find some lunch and then wait to catch the bus later.
What is going on?
We are back at Shake Shack.
How many times on this trip have we been here?
Three.
It is a little embarrassing right now.
This is our third video we've put it in.
We love Japanese food but we also love Shake Shack.
That is all we've got to say.
And it is our last day in Tokyo so we felt like we needed hamburgers before we leave
the city so yeah we're at Shake Shack.
And it is also right from where we are departing in terms of the bus.
Exactly, this place is right next to the what is it called.
The Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal.
Yeah.
So we were like how could we not.
How could we not.
Exactly.
Well we're not wasting any time right here.
We're not.
So guys this is basically the identical order that we did when we made a complete food review
of this.
Yeah, so we've got the double Smoke Shack.
It has got two patties, cheese and bacon.
You've got the single.
We've got the cheesy fries down below.
And we've got the peanut butter chocolate whatever.
Concrete.
Something.
You know what?
I don't have much to say I'm just going to make out with my burger right now.
Alright.
Let's allow Sam to have a moment with the SmokeShack double.
Oh yeah.
That is all there is to it.
Oh yeah.
We're just going to enjoy our food.
We are.
And this is Lake Suwa.
Check out this rest stop.
Lake Suwa.
We only have 10 minutes and we've used 3 or 4 in terms of a bathroom break.
So we have to grab some food quick.
Let's go.
We have food.
We got some Takoyaki.
Yep. 8 pieces for 550 Yen.
And we're rushing back to the bus.
The quickest tastiest snack we could find in there.
Yep.
Hopefully they have more food stops.
I think there is going to be one more rest stop and we'll probably get some more food.
Yes.
But yeah.
(Rain sounds)
Well we've arrived and torrential downpour.
Yeah, there is actually a storm.
There has been thunder and lightening now for about the past hour.
Yes.
And we've arrived and as we were coming in it is like basically the streets are flooding.
Yes, there were sections where there is a foot of water and people are like wading through.
Yep.
So yeah kind of crazy just looking at a map now.
We have to walk about 200 meters not too far.
It is not too far but we only have one dinky umbrella.
I'm not sure if there is a convenience store nearby we could pop into to get another one.
I think I'm just going to get wet.
My day pack has a rain cover so I'm going to sacrifice.
Welcome to Takayama.
Well the good news is that we have arrived.
The bad news is that we're soaked almost up to our knees.
Like halway up our calves.
That was a real adventure.
I mean I it might sound really bizarre but that was fun.
Haha.
Oh my gosh.
What wading through flooded streets.
Yeah.
Was fun.
Just added a bit of a adventure to this trip for sure.
We had to get help like we couldn't find our airbnb we were basically wandering up and
down the street.
Yeah.
At night on flooded streets and this older couple saw us from there living room and they
came outside to help.
Thank you.
So we are just going to show you what we're eating.
We went to a Family Mart for today's dinner.
Yeah, check this out.
Nothing super exciting.
It looks like an attempt at Okonomiyaki.
Okonomiyaki.
I got a cup of noodles.
Hopefully there is a kettle in the apartment.
Noodles.
I got a cheesecake.
Wow.
And of course wine.
Tea and wine.
When in Japan you drink Chilean wine.
Well, it was cheap and I feel like I need it after 12 hours out and about today.
So this is our little apartment.
Litte kitchen.
Living area.
We literally just checked in.
Ran over to Family Mart.
There is a single bed.
And then through here we have a double bed.
A TV.
It is a bit dark maybe we'll do a proper tour another time.
But yeah we're just going to eat and chill.
I'm trying to decide if I'm more tired or hungry.
It is a competition right now.
What will he do first.
Eat of sleep?
Probably eat.
I'll eat before I sleep but I'm exhausted so I think we'll call this an episode guys
and yeah we can't wait to show you around here.
So stay tuned.
More Takayama coming up.
Ciao.
Bye.