This is an authorized translation in English of a post in French by @japon: Départ pour Takayama

^{As my primary language is not English, there are probably some mistakes in my translation.}

Remember that the person that speaks here is NOT me, Vincent Celier (@vcelier), but @japon, a French guy.

---

I leave this beautiful city of Kyoto, not without a pinch in the heart. During these 10 days I lived extraordinary moments but my road leads me to a new destination: Takayama.

It is a small town in the heart of the Japanese Alps that seduces with its rural side and the charm of its small neighborhoods.

But before that, a few hours of train. First in Shinkansen to Nagoya, then a local train. These are moments a little privileged because they allow to discover other things than the Japan of the cities. Landscapes scroll, first the countryside then it becomes more hilly, we are gradually entering the mountain. Rivers, lakes, the landscape is sometimes beautiful and must be a delight for hikers.

I finally arrive at Takayama station. It's cool, much cooler than Kyoto. We are really in the mountains. Fortunately it is sunny, which promises a nice walk.

This village seems frozen in time, during the Edo period. The wooden houses with their front often decorated by these traditional curtains that are called Noren. They indicate the name of the restaurant or shop, if you can read the kanji.

At the station I went to the tourist office to get a map of the city that indicates the points of interest. I do not follow it to the letter, I prefer to take the crooked paths rather than follow the few groups of tourists.

I stop in front of some traditional shops, craftsmen of art, and then an enticing smell invites me to take a tasting break. A skewer of grilled rice, covered with miso. A surprising taste, it sticks to fingers and teeth but it's succulent!

The city is also famous for its sake distilleries and in the two main shopping streets it is possible to do tastings (with moderation of course). Hot or cold, it is according to the taste and the type of sake. Here, no bar, few chairs, you drink your glass of sake standing in the street.

We come to Takayama for this very traditional side, the old wooden Shogun residences. Nature and the surrounding mountains make it an interesting alternative to immerse yourself in the heart of Japan's feudal system.

I meet young Asian dressed in kimono, certainly tourists who rented costumes for the day. But it's so beautiful that I can not help but immortalize this moment with a beautiful photo.

My stroll continues in the small streets and these charming houses that do not leave me insensitive.

Yet Takayama is also an important historical and religious heritage, with a beautiful walk around several temples and shrines. But that will be for next time ;-)

-- @japon

---

01: Travel diary in Japan, by @japon
02: Tokyo, overcrowded city? Really? by @japon
03: Are the Japanese too disciplined? by @japon
04: Going to Japan without speaking Japanese? by @japon
05: Ueno, more than just a big park in Tokyo, by @japon
06: Asakusa, diving in the heart of Tokyo's historic district, by @japon
07: Ameyoko, Ueno's colorful market, by @japon
08: Tsukiji, the largest fish market in the world, by @japon
09: Climb the steps of Atago Jinja Shrine in Tokyo, by @japon
10: Hama Rikyu, an exceptional park in the heart of Tokyo, by @japon
11: Jimbocho, old books and tempura, by @japon
12: Shinjuku Gyoen Park and the best burger in the world!, by @japon
13: One night in Shibuya, by @japon
14: Takeshita dori : this little street dedicated to fashion (and good crepes), by @japon
15: They lie to you about Kyoto, by @japon
16: The temples and secret garden of Higashi in Kyoto, by @japon
17: Kinkaku-ji, the temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, by @japon
18: Ryoan-ji, the amazing stone garden in Kyoto, by @japon
19: The Ninna-ji Temple and its extraordinary gardens, by @japon
20: Kyoto Gyoen, the Imperial Palace Park, by @japon
21: Nishiki Market: A Must in Kyoto, by @japon
22: Ginkaku-ji, the temple of the silver pavilion in Kyoto, by @japon
23: Meditate on the path of philosophy, by @japon
24: Nanzen-ji, its impressive gate and two gardens, by @japon
25: Heian-jinju: the big shrine and its garden that I almost missed, by @japon
26: Eikan-do, the temple of the momiji maples in Kyoto, by @japon
27: Kodai-ji, a Kyoto temple dedicated to a woman's love for her husband, by @japon
28: Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, the streets of Higashiyama, by @japon
29: Kiyomizu-dera, the temple of pure water in Kyoto, by @japon
30: Tofuku-ji: the maple lookout point, by @japon
31: Makis, Yasaka-jinja Shrine and Maruyama Park, by @japon
32: Nijo Castle and its fabulous garden, by @japon
33:Departure for Osaka and its castle, and announcement of a typhoon, by @japon
34: Osaka, the garden Keitaku-en under a torrential rain, by @japon
35: Doguya-suji, the kitchen market in Osaka, by @japon
36: Dōtonbori, the bustling district of Osaka, by @japon
37: Back to Kyoto and Typhoons, meetings and reunions, by @japon
38: Sanjūsangen-dō, the temple of a thousand and one statues, by @japon
39: On the road to Fushimi Inari Taisha, by @japon
40: Daigo-ji, the large Buddhist complex built on a mountainside, by @japon
41: Departure for Nara, we look at the fallow deers and we mistake the garden, by @japon
42: Isui-en, the big Japanese garden of Nara, by @japon
43: Todai-ji, the temple with the huge Buddha statue in Nara, by @japon
44: Nara, from Nigatsu-dō to Kasuga, by @japon
45: Arashiyama, the district west of Kyoto and its bamboo plantation, by @japon
46: Tasting the serenity of Jojakko-ji Temple, by @japon
47: Tenryū-ji, one of the most beautiful temples of Arashiyama, by @japon
48: I finally find the Gio-ji, this little Arashiyama moss garden, by @japon
49: Daikaku-ji, the great Buddhist complex of Arashiyama, by @japon