Takayama - the Japanese Alps

Another heavy morning. I have to wake up before 7AM, as I have my train at 8:33. Today I'm going to Takayama, which is located in the mountainous Hida region - the so called "Japanese Alps". I reserved my seats on the train two days earlier, so the only thing I have to do is to find the platform. In order to arrive to Takayama, I need to take two trains - first Shinkansen to Nagoya, and then a train to Takayama - both covered with Rail Pass.

I find my hostel - JR Hoppers Hida Takayama Guest House - I check in, and I immediately go to do sightseeing, I don't wanna loose any precious moment. Takayama is known for its beautifully preserved Old Town, but I decided to start visiting from the Hida Folk Village. It is an open air museum exhibiting over 30 traditional houses from the Hida region. The houses were built between seventeenth and nineteenth century and were relocated from their original locations to create the museum in 1971. The houses are from different locations, which means they also varies in style. Return ticket (departing from the Train Station) and entrance ticket costed 930 yen. Very peaceful place, very scenic and very beautiful. Also, it's quite interesting to see how the Japanese used to live.

Straight after I head to the Old Town - the Sanmachi-district, beautifully preserved with many buildings dating from the Edo Period (1600-1868) when the city was a wealthy town of merchants. The district is composed only of a few streets of buildings, but it's really impressive, and yet so different from everything I have seen so far in Japan. Now, the buildings are occupied mostly by shops, galleries and restaurants, which at that time - 5PM - slowly start to close.

Takayama also turns out to be a city of meat!!! I have a very difficult life here, because Takayama is famous for beef. I'm trying in two restaurants but all the menu is composed either of beef or pork. In the third one, the non-English speaking staff is somehow trying to explain me that they will prepare a vegetarian meal. I don't know what did they bring. The main dish was certainly cooked of vegetables only, but the rest - I am not sure what it was. I gave up though, was too hungry too resist.. Meat-lovers, do come to Takayama!!!

Exhausted after these last few days I go to bed very early. This time I sleep in the bunk bed, and share my room with other girls, but somehow manage to sleep.

In the morning I go for the last sightseeing to the Old Town, before hundreds of tourists will have the same idea. The streets are nearly empty. After the walk I desperately look for something for breakfast. I'm starving and I cannot see anything that would seem to be eatable. Really nothing, unless I buy cookies in the supermarket. Finally Eureka! I see some European like Cafe, which serves... toasts with cheese, tomatoes and basilic!! It was the most delicious food I had in Japan, I eat two portions ;-)

There is still one Takayama's attraction left to see - Takayama-jinya. It used to be a branch office of the government from 1792 until 1868. It is now designated as a National historic site and is the only existing building of its kind in Japan.

After the visit I go for my last walk in the Old Town. It was a very pleasant visit, it was very interesting to see something different that I have seen so far, and it was also great to finally breathe some fresh air!! Last but not least - I'm seeing something vegetarian!! It's mitarashi dango - skewers of grilled rice balls with a soy sauce, which are local speciality :)