What impressed me most about Hida Takayama Old Town was its traditional Japanese streetscape. Walking along the neat stone-paved roads, with beautifully preserved wooden townhouses on both sides, felt like stepping back in time. There are also many unique shops selling handicrafts, souvenirs, and local foods, allowing you to experience Takayama’s distinctive culture as you explore.
No visit to Takayama is complete without trying the famous Hida beef. Its melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich flavor left a lasting impression. Whether served as Hida beef sushi, grilled skewers, or another beef dish, every preparation highlights its delicate marbling and savory flavor. It was incredibly satisfying.
Hida Takayama Old Townscape | Review by BobbyJenny
Other Reviews by BobbyJenny
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Yufu Mabushi Shin Kinrin Lake Main Store
This restaurant offers three types of "Yufu Mabushi," a dish that explores the unique ways of enjoying rice in Yufuin. Served in clay pots, the dishes feature Bungo beef, local Yufu chicken, and eel, each accompanied by appetizers, pickles, condiments, and red miso soup.
Visiting Yufuin and dining at Yufu Mabushi Shin was an unforgettable culinary experience. The restaurant has a warm Japanese ambiance, and the simple, elegant setting feels welcoming. When the steaming clay-pot rice arrived, its irresistible aroma immediately whetted my appetite and reflected the care put into every dish.
The pleasantly chewy rice is cooked with fresh ingredients, allowing each grain to soak up their natural sweetness and savory flavors. Every bite highlights the comforting rice and delicious toppings. It is simple yet memorable. Savoring the meal slowly also offered a wonderful appreciation for the refinement and attention to detail found in Japanese food culture. -
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Hakata Ramen Shin-Shin Tenjin
This popular Hakata Ramen restaurant has six locations in Fukuoka Prefecture. The restaurant boasts a unique pork bone broth that is distinctly different from both Nagahama and Hakata ramen, based on the concept of "pure soup that everyone, young and old, men and women, will drink up.
Stepping inside, you can really feel the spirit of Japanese ramen culture. There is often a line of eager diners, but the wait only builds anticipation.
As soon as the steaming bowl arrived, the aroma of tonkotsu broth filled the air. Simmered for hours, the broth is rich without being too heavy, with a smooth, subtly sweet flavor that keeps you coming back for more. The thin Hakata-style noodles soak up the broth beautifully, while the tender chashu, green onions, and wood ear mushrooms add delicious flavor and texture. -
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Kyushu Natural Animal Park African Safari
The African Safari is the largest safari park in Japan where around 1400 animals of 70 species roam freely in its enormous area. The park is divided into two zones; the “Animal Zone” with its 6km safari road where visitors can get close to the animals from the “jungle bus” and the “Interacting Zone” where visitors can actually touch the animals.
My visit to Kyushu Natural Animal Park was a truly special wildlife experience. The park is enormous and feels like the African savanna. You can see lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants, and other wild animals up close while experiencing the beauty and vitality of nature.
Riding the jungle bus through the animal zone was the most memorable part of the trip. Watching the animals approach the bus and even feeding them by hand was both exciting and fun. It also gave me a better understanding of their behavior. In addition to the larger animals, there are plenty of interactive areas with adorable smaller animals, making this a great place for families with children. -
