Takayama-5 (Last Day in Takayama)

It was the last day in Takayama, so sad to leave this beautiful small town.
The bus was scheduled to leave to Tokyo at 3 pm.
I still have time. So I decided to go to folk village area again.

I walked from teddy bear eco village(museum).
beautiful view of the Northern Japan Alps from yukonooka park.
3,000m class mountains appeared.

Takayama Vending Machine

I found local vending machine at Takayama bus center.

shin hodaka ropeway is
one of the most popular sightseeing spot in takayama.
great view of the northern japan alps is fascinating.

★Shin-Hotaka Ropeways by japan-guide.com

Takayama-4 (Shirakawa-go)

"Long, long ago, in a certain place, there were a granddad and grandmom.... "

In Japanese old story, a certain place is always a small village.
A thatched roof, a sunken fire place, laundry in a creek.
People work at a paddy field, man goes to a mountain for firewood gathering,
woman goes to a creek for laundry.

My mom read me a book every night when I was a little girl.
There were also animals in a story, such as monkey, fox, bird, dog, tanuki(Japanese raccoon dog).
Goddess and some kind of sprits or fairies appeared too.
It is amazing for little kids.

Shirakawa-go is a small, traditional village known as a UNESCO world heritage site.
It is so beautiful, spotted "gassyo-zukuri" farmhouses covered by snow remind me such a small village in a story.

from view point, 10minutes by shuttle bus
you can see the same view as postcard.

Takayama-3 (Hida Furukawa)

It was New Year's Day.

Many stores and restaurants, museums were closed.
People have traditional food at home, some people go back to their hometown to spend a couple days with family.
Some people go to shrines.

I was worried about dinner, I didn't want to miss my first dinner in 2014.... so I made a reservation for dinner at pension where I stayed.
OK, one problem was solved.
But another problem was... where should I go?

I went to the shrine on New Year's Eve.
Museums might not be open for today.
Train? No holidays for train!

I decided to go to Hida Furukawa by local train.

local JR train, takayama honsen.

Takayama- 2(Higashiyama Walking Course)

I had snow everyday when I was in Takayama.
Snow was cleaned up in Town, but piled about 30cm or more in a rural suburb.

I started to walk from morning market in front of Takayama Jinya.
Because next day was New Year, local farmer was selling traditional New Year's ornaments at the market.
From morning market, I walked to "Sanmachi" old town and then went to the ruins of Takayama's former castle in Shiroyama park via the Higashiyama Walking Course.

morning market

Takayama- 1(Takayama Jinya)

Hida-Takayama is a mountainous city in Gifu Prefecture. In the central Chubu region in Japan.
People call "Small Kyoto"... Takayama is a beautiful, small city with living traditional culture.

Access to Takayama is not easy, I mean there is no direct express train from Tokyo.
First we should to go to Nagoya(1 hour 40minutes by Shinkansen Nozomi), and then change to JR limited express to Takayama(2 hours 30minutes).
So, at least 4 hours in a train!
Another option is taking a highway bus.
I should be packed more than 4 hours in a bus...

But it's worth going!

at parking area near takayama.
I took bus to takayama.
snowed mountains in front of me.
I was so nervous to walk on icy ground like her.