Take Time for Takayama
Nestled in the mountainous Hida region of the Japanese Alps and only a short train ride from Nagoya, Takayama boasts a traditional, rustic charm not found in other Japanese cities. The old town – an absolute treat to stroll through – remains a buffet of fabulously-preserved wooden merchant homes and sake breweries dating from the Edo period (1620-1868). Many houses are open to the public and some breweries may provide a taste or two. Lovely little canals coat the old town’s alleyways and brightly colored bridges shuttle people across.
In the winter, the falling snow creates an enchanting, almost poetic, tableau. Cedar branches slightly brushed with snow, the soft sounds of clear water running under half-formed ice, window-shoppers huddled together stalking the most exquisite of handy-crafts – these sights coalesce into an image of inviting warmth.
Away from the old town, a leisurely stroll can take you to some impressive settings. Following Tera-machi-dori north, you gradually climb to the top of a hill with Takayama gently emerging below. It is not difficult to see how Takayama held firmed to its traditional ways: its mountains provide ample fortification. The town appears cozy, glowing.
Past the bus station, along Hachiken-machi-dori, you will eventually come to Hida no Sato – a traditional folk village showcasing many A-shaped- farmhouses with thatched roofs called gassho-sukuri or praying hands. Many of the other houses are folk-craft workshops displaying some fine examples of regional art and carvings. In the winter, the village is marvelous: it is lit-up like Santa’s Village as the farmhouses burst with radiant lights. It is a sight to behold.
Several trails lead from the city proper into the cedar woods circulating the city. In here, you may quietly stumble upon a cemetery, a shrine or a temple. It is solitude writ large and a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
It is easy to spend a day or two getting lost in and around Takayama.
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