{"id":1666,"date":"2017-02-13T23:30:55","date_gmt":"2017-02-13T23:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/?p=1666"},"modified":"2018-08-14T00:34:28","modified_gmt":"2018-08-14T00:34:28","slug":"japan-8-days-self-drive-chubucentral-region-day-1-nakatsugawa-gifu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/2017\/02\/japan-8-days-self-drive-chubucentral-region-day-1-nakatsugawa-gifu\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan 8 days Self Drive – Chubu\/Central Region – Day 1- Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan 8 days Self Drive Chubu\/Central Region – Day 1 – Gifu Prefecture \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 ( 21 Nov 2015 )<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have been to Japan many times, and I also lived and studied in Kyushu for few years. However traveling to Chubu region was my first time. \u00a0Chubu mean Central, so we were about to explore 8 days self drive in Chubu Japan. \u00a0This region is the widest part of Honshu and has 9 prefectures in total. \u00a0Chubu is also\u00a0famous\u00a0for it high and rugged mountains.<\/p>\n

Arrival at Nagoya Airport<\/strong><\/p>\n

We arrived at Nagoya Airport at 8am and we immediately looked for the car rental outlet which we had already booked online. \u00a0All the car rentals outlets are located at the basement airport car park. \u00a0We went to\u00a0Nissan car rental outlet to get our rental Nissan Sylphy. \u00a0The seats in the Nissan Sylphy is quite spacious but I find the boot is a bit small. \u00a0It is a bit hard to squeeze in two large suitcases. \u00a0If you have 2 large suitcases, you may want to consider using Toyota Camry or Toyota Altis as the boots are bigger.<\/p>\n

There was a GPS attached to the car and I find the GPS in Japan is really accurate and smart. \u00a0Driver seat is at the right hand side, same as the other commonwealth countries. We obtained our international driving permit which last for 1 year before we arrived to Japan. \u00a0The roads in Japan are quite narrow in the cities but quite spacious in the freeway.<\/p>\n

Driving in Japan is quite easy as most <\/span>Japanese drivers are kind and patient with each other and quite civilized. \u00a0After all,\u00a0Japanese nation were impeccably well mannered.<\/p>\n

Highway in Japan use ETC card, but we did not have the ETC, so we used cash. \u00a0Toll attendant will be there to give you change and receipts, they may look old but they are still very efficient and polite to serve you.<\/p>\n

Togokusan Fruits Park\/\u6771\u8c37\u5c71\u30d5\u30eb\u30fc\u30c4\u30d1\u30fc\u30af<\/strong><\/p>\n

It took us less than 2 hours to arrive to our first destination, Togokusan Fruit Park. There is a huge car park opposite of the Fruit park, parking is free.<\/p>\n

We had an early lunch in the restaurant in the Fruits Park. \u00a0We ordered udon noodles and the restaurants also served free persimmons and we can eat all we want.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I heard the best time to visit this park is in April when the cherry blossom season, but we were here in the month of November, early winter.<\/p>\n

Togokusan Fruit Park is a rich natural environment with lot of green and facilitate children outdoor education.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Togokusan is about 198.3meters above sea level, but it was quite warm when we were there in the morning 10am, partly because it was a sunny day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In total there are 15 orchards for 15 kinds of fruits, including pears, peaches, apples, mikan\/citrus.\u00a0 <\/span>We find many tropical\u00a0 <\/span>fruits, including papaya and jackfruits where the local Japanese find them peculiar in this park.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Persimmons are a popular autumn fruit in Japan however we were lucky to see the persimmons in early winter. \u00a0It is native to China, and spread to Japan more than 1,000 years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Japanese also likes to hang the persimmons and dried them, \u00a0this way, the persimmon can be kept longer. \u00a0The dried persimmon is called Hoshigaki.\u00a0 <\/span>Japanese used them in the new year as part of the decoration ornament with big rice cake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I simply love persimmons and their trees, the dark orange color persimmon fruits look very cute hanging on the trees without any leaves, very much like the feeling in autumn.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

These yellow oval fruits, growing in clusters look like loquat\/pi pa to me. \u00a0The flowers have a sweet, heady aroma that can be smelled from a distance. \u00a0Loquat is originally from China as well and it was introduced and cultivated in Japan over 1000 years.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We also passed by the “mikan garden” \/ citrus fruits. \u00a0We called it mandarin or tangerine.\u00a0Mikan normally available in the early winter, that was why the mikan garden were full of mikan when we visited in November. \u00a0Similar to Chinese,\u00a0Japanese New Year celebrations often include some Mikan, because they ripen at just the right time.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Fruit picking is a popular family activity in Japan, I saw many families with small children came to pick fruit directly from the tree in the orchard. \u00a0There is also a fee charge for visitors for fruit picking activities.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There is also indoor garden in the park, it was quite warm inside the garden and tropical fruits and plants were found planting beautifully in the indoor garden.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It was really a nice sunny day in the early winter, weather was great to shoot more pictures.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Ginkgo tree or the Maidenhair tree also known as “autumn gold” is particularly stunning in the autumn. \u00a0Maidenhair tree has been described as a \u2018living fossil\u2019 because it is the sole survivor of an ancient group of trees older than the dinosaurs. \u00a0I simply love the yellow leaves falling down on me.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Japan is also famous for their red maple leaves in autumn. People normally rushed to see the ‘Koyo”\/\u7d05\u8449\u00a0from October till November. \u00a0We were lucky we were still able to enjoy the “Koyo”. \u00a0“Koyo” refers to the phenomenon of changing autumn colors.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Magome\/\u99ac\u7c60<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It took us about 2 hours to arrive Magome. \u00a0It was a mountainous ride but there were not many cars. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Magome is a small post town which served travelers connecting the major route from Tokyo and Kyoto in Edo period, 300-400 years ago.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This is a very beautiful old town. It still maintains everything from old time. You can see the spring water goes through the front of houses. \u00a0There is also a nice water mill there to attract tourists. \u00a0You won’t get bored by just admiring every houses you passed by.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It is undoubtedly a beautiful historical town, the main street up the hill is full of small shops with some interesting handicrafts and local foods. \u00a0Magome is nicely situated with the rather steep streets and you need some energy to walk up the hill. \u00a0Some old folks were using the walking sticks to help them moving uphill.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I<\/span>\u00a0bought one hot big “manju” in one of the stall. \u00a0Manju was originally called Mantou from China. \u00a0The manju in Japan normally tasted sweet, filled with sweet bean. \u00a0The one I had in the picture was Azuki Manju\/ red bean manju.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Visitors came here to enjoy the traditional atmosphere, with the ancient houses and cobblestones streets. \u00a0At the top of the central road, the view is amazing. \u00a0It is undoubtedly a beautiful historical town not to be missed if you are in Gifu.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Today I feel like I fall back to be a Gesha walking in the old town of Magome in Edo period, except I was not wearing kimono.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We went back to the car park to pick up our car before the sunset as\u00a0it could be completely dark without any street light. \u00a0This place is quite “inaka” – countryside.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Hotel Route Inn Nakatsugawa\/<\/span>\u4e2d\u6d25\u5ddd in<\/span>\u00a0Gifu\/<\/span>\u5c90\u961c<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We stayed in Hotel Route Inn Nakatsugawa<\/a><\/strong> on our first night, simply because it was just about half an hour drive from Magome old town. \u00a0What I like the most is there are few “family restaurants” next to the Hotel.<\/p>\n

Throughout our 8 days in Japan, we like to go to the “family restaurant” for our meals, mainly because of the easy drive through and big car park. \u00a0Most restaurant in Japan limit everything, such as 2 hour seating limit but Family Restaurants have no time limit and the food portion normally are big and cheap.<\/p>\n

Most Family restaurant has both Western and Japanese food items on the menu which appeals to all generation from granny to young kids in the family.<\/p>\n

Day 1 – Itinerary<\/strong><\/p>\n