Takayama

My boyfriend and I drove here in Autumn 2007, a little chilly, but very beautiful. Was madly crowded with tourists (but what tourist destination isn’t). It’s worth checking out the old town at night because there’s no one around and you get the same ‘old Japan’ feel.

Beef was AMAZING! Not in the restaurant though, in the Ryokan.

Went here two days agp, stayed for two nights, happened across a street festival – dancing festival, took some videos (watchable at Youtube – number 1 is here and number 2 (taiko drummers) is here) and filled a heap of memory cards with some photos. I wrote a post for Sushimatic about the whole trip and you can enjoy the pix over at Flickr

Takayama is one of the most amazing places I’ve been to yet in Japan. All the frills of Kyoto without the snobbery.

Perhaps my favorite town visited in Japan. It was worth it for the scenic train ride from Nagoya alone.

Ah, Takayama…

Where Kyoto overwhelms, Takayama embraces. So isolated that they were able to maintain autonomy from Tokyo and Kyoto even in the most severe times, Takayama has a rich history. And unlike so many places in Japan, the history is pretty well preserved.

Sure, Takayama is touristy, but it is still sleepier than Kyoto. A big advantage if you are visiting Japan in the summer—Kyoto gets no breeze and is incredibly hot. Takayama is still hot, but there is often a breeze coming off the mountains and it gets cooler at night.

The festivals in Takayama (spring and fall) are great events, and worth seeeing, even if it is the most crowded time of year for tourists.

The biggest advantage Takayama has is its manageable size. I actually prefer it to Kyoto. It’s possible to enjoy the city without rushing, or feeling like you’re so far from your hotel you’ll never get back. There’s historical museums, local sake breweries, the famous Takayama ramen (which is to die for, especially after a night out drinking). A couple days for Takayama itself, and then a few day trips to the nearby hot springs, or in the winter, ski slopes.

Local places I should point out:

• Cafe Flore – a great Parisian coffee shop, on the train station side of the river, on the road with the green bridge. The master is super friendly. Expect quality coffee and great jazz.
• Train Bleu – continuing with the French theme. One of Japan’s best bakeries. Seriously, people drive here from all over—check the license plates in the parking lot. The pastries and breads here are phenomenal. How good? Last time I spent $30USD to take pastries home to my friends in Tokyo. At Shin-Yokohama, someone stole my bread.

Easy to get to It’s only 5-6 hours from Shinjuku by bus. If you take the Shinkansen to Nagoya and the Hida Wide View up through Gifu-city, you’re in for an incredibly scenic train ride. Ask for seats on the left side as you head towards Takayama (being mindful that the train reverse directions at Gifu city, so if you start off on the right, it’ll be the left side as you head up to Takayama).