THURSDAY 11TH MAY - TAKAYAMA AGAIN

Today we are at Takayama where we had the luxury of staying in the same place for two nights with a less demanding program. In fact, it was so less demanding we had a free afternoon this afternoon.

 

This morning we explored the local area by coach. We started out at the Hida Folk Village, a place to which local houses built in the 1700's have been relocated for the purpose of giving an understanding of how the locals lived in the shogun era. All of the houses are constructed of wood and have internal fire places. No doubt a few of them burnt down. This is an area where it can snow heavily in winter so the internal fire was no doubt essential.

From there we went to what is called the Hida Takayama Festival Forest (I suspect that something has suffered in the translation). It is a large cavern built into the side of the hill where reproductions of floats paraded in the annual forest festival are on display. Very underwhelming but obviously important to the locals. Peculiarly, there is another complex on the other side of town known as the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall which seems to be the same thing. We went past it on our walk this afternoon.

After visiting the festival forest, we went to the Takayama Jinya. It was the government building from which the area was governed in the era of the shoguns. Again quite underwhelming but we were very much entertained by the local guide who gave us an introduction to the complex. She was great fun.

 

Perhaps the highlight of the day was this afternoon's activity where Trish and I set off on our own to find and explore the Kitayama Walking Course and the Higashiyama Walking Course by reference to the local walking map, fortunately the English version.

We spent several hours walking and were able to visit many shrines where we were the only ones there. A very different experience to Tokyo.

Tomorrow we head for Kanazawa visiting Gokayama on the way, a world heritage listed area.
 

On the roof of our hotel is an onsen where one can immerse oneself in spectacularly warm spring water while enjoying the night time aspect. The only challenge is that you have to strip all your clothes off to enjoy it. It would be just as enjoyable with a pair of board shorts on but that isn't permitted. I enjoyed the experience last night and am heading back there tonight. Fortunately photography is not permitted and I am yet to encounter anybody I know. Hopefully I won't. Trish doesn't share my enthusiasm for the experience.