Takayama, Shirakawa-go & Kyoto

After Tokyo, we took a short two day trip to Takayama, a small town in the "Japanese Alps."  We stayed in a small Japanese style inn.  Takayama is picturesque and rural with an authentic old town and morning farmers markets.  There are local artisans, woodcarvers, sake breweries, and farmers.  A specialty of Takayama cuisine is Hoba Miso grilled Hida Beef, cooked on a magnolia leaf over a charcoal brazier.  A highlight was a trip to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural and historic value.  The village is noted for its old "Gassho-Zukuri" style houses with steep thatched roofs that resemble hands in prayer.  On September 26th we arrived in Kyoto.  We took a long walk through neighborhoods surrounding several temples including Kiyomizu-dera, Chion-in, Yasaka-jinja.  For dinner on Sunday we went to an Okonomiyaki restaurant and on Monday we went to a kaiten sushi restaurant.  Many more sights to see in only a few days.  Here are more pictures!



Rice fields on the way to Takayama



Our room at the Rickshaw Inn

Our room at the Rickshaw Inn

Yukata provided by the Inn

Takayama Old Town. "San-Machi"

Made to order Taiyaki with Azuki beans and Chestnuts

Delicious Taiyaki

Wood-working craftsman (over 50 years of experience)

One of many Takayama bridges

Nakabashi over the Miyagawa

Homegrown chilli peppers rice stalks

Seasonings being made at Takayama farmers market

Delicious local ringo (apple)

Sake at Suzuya Restaurant before Hoba Miso

Hida Beef Yaki

Hida Beef Yaki - Suzuya Restaurant

Shirakawa-go

Local chilli peppers

Manual rice harvest

Scarecrow pose

Rice field ready for harvest

Picturesque Shirakawa-go

Above the Shokawa next to Shirakawa-go

Yaki-udon, Sukiyaki style, at the Donguri Restaurant, Kyoto

Okonomiyaki, Donguri Restaurant



In Goeido of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-Ha

Overlook at Kiyomizu Temple

Peaceful walk down Ishibei-Koji



Maruyama-Koen





Maruyama-Koen



Japan's largest bell at Chion-in

Kaiten sushi, Kyoto