Takayama
Trip Start
Apr 20, 2004
1
12
13
Trip End
Aug 28, 2005
Takayama,
Japan
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Our first trip is a bit of a blurry memory as it was a year ago but that trip we did a lot of the touristy things there. Just a quick note on Takayama itself - it's a small city in Northern Gifu. The city is quiet yet still bussling in its own way and has traditional Japanese feel. Old style streets lined with shops, inns and sake breweries. Pretty much the picture I had formed of old Japan. It lacks skyscrapers and the madness of the big cities and is a great escape for a few days.
We had our first true taste of temples and shrines in Takayama and spent a good part of the first day wandering the trail of these
Birthday celebrations
. Check out the picture of Dan and Jimmy - fully templed out! We didnt see much of the nightlife however there is a very smart Karaoke house that is both cheap and BYO drinks! Dont find those in the big smoke!
Hida-no-Sato is a large open air museum in the hills of Takayama and shows traditional houses with thathed rooves as well as Japanese demonstrating folk arts and crafts. The traditional houses were very basic - a lot more basic than a traditional house I have seen in NZ - mind you Japan is a lot older and im not sure they are of the same era? The had people making roof materials, straw sandles, straw hats, rice crackers. All in all a very interesting museum.
Our 2nd visit was for the Takayama Autumn Festival. Hachiman Matsuri as it is known is rated in the top 3 festival in Japan! Turned out that it rained most of the time we were there and so the main event of the festival, the big, old and expensive floats (dashi) could not parade. They did breifly bring one Dashi out for us to see. The crowds were just insane - apparently if you want to visit Takayama druing either Spring or Autumn festival time you need to book accomodation 3 years in advance!
Third time to Takayama - a chilled out and relaxing weekend. We had seen all the sights we wanted to see so spent the 2 days catching up with Jim and Becc. Usual routien - few drinks and nibbles, out to dinner (yaki-niku or Japanese indoor BBQ) followed up by karaoke for a few hours.
I enjoy wandering around the morning markets. Takayama has a morning market open everyday! Mostly selling fresh fruits and veges but also intersting unidentifyable Japanese foods and craft souviners too.
This trip was another fantasitc weekend in Takayama.
