Travel: Japan 2014 Day 7 // Takayama // Eat: Suzuya // Walk: Higashiyama Walking Course, Sanmachi Old Street

Sumiyoshi Ryokan's served hoba miso grilled on magnolia leaf for breakfast.

The cat outside our window <3

There is a morning market along Miyagawa river. It's alive with a lot of people (and pooches :)) from early morning. We did not miss sampling some food (because breakfast after breakfast? why not!)

Mind boggling variety for soft serve ice cream

Takayama has a great walking course that can be easily completed within less than half a day even with a very brisk walk. - the higashiyama walking course, where you will find a lot of beautiful temples and shinto shrines along the way.
Then - if you wish to, and it is still part of the walking route - go through Shiroyama forest park. Quite a bit of the route are uphills, so put on your good walking shoes (or just your determination).






































We found Sanmachi old street was particularly charming with beautiful old period houses that are still functional. You can lost yourself in lots of shopping, sampling local delicacies, or sampling local sakes.

Sampling local sake...

This is Soy Sauce Ice Cream. Yes you read that right. Taste pretty good though.

For a bit of a snack (again), we dropped by Hida Takayama Hanamizuki, where they sell Takayama Hida Beef Burger - JPY 690 (on 1/2heart's request of course).



I ordered their Hida Milk Chiffon Cake Set (which price escapes me). The milk somehow made the cake not as fluffy as chiffon cake should be.
The Burger was good, but not really special for me. Mince beef patty is still mince beef patty, I guess... .



May I just mention about Miyagawa river. It is so crazy clean and the water is so transparent. And what's with all the fish swimming around? What a sight.

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In the bid of trying great quality Hida beef, we dined at Suzuya

Suzuya (民芸食事 寿々や)

24, Hanakawamachi, Takayama-shi, Gifu, 506-0015

〒506-0015 岐阜県高山市花川町24

English menu as usual... .

I had their Sirloin Steak (JPY 6152) and as it is a teishoku (meal set), it came with miso soup and rice (and also salad).

Apparently this uses one of the best cut of Hida beef, and Oh-My-Beef! What a delight - it was so juicy and sweet. The beef smell was not overpowering, and when I sank my teeth into it, the meat crumbled with hardly any resistance; the juice and fat just burst and melted inside my mouth.

I wanted good Hida beef - man, did I get one. After tasting this one, all the other Hida beef cuts I have had prior Suzuya (the snacks I had in Shirakawa-Go, the beef served in Sumiyoshi's dinner) paled in comparison.
And to think that I thought the 9+ grade Wagyu beef I had at Prime (Sydney) a few while back was as good as it would get? Pffffttt, forget it.





Also good, but (in my opinion) not as good as the Sirloin, was the beef cuts in Amiyaki Teishoku (JPY 3198). If you still want good meat that still has some 'bite' and 'chew' - this is the one to order. It won't break your bank either.
We ordered this one becuse it would be interesting to compare the two different cuts of meat used for the steak and for the Amiyaki Teishoku.



You grilled the meat at your own table, completely in control on how 'done' you want your beef to be.





After completely satisfied with our Hida beef experience (and trying not to think about the word starting with 'c' and ending with 'l' that my GP would not be too happy about), we rolled back to Sumiyoshi to turn in for the night.