Time Slip in Takayama, Gifu

It has been a long while since I last updated my blog, finally I had a chance to sit down, sorted out my recent photos and compiled a post for my photo diary. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a seminar in Takayama, Gifu prefecture; and had a bit of time to explore this interesting city hidden in the mountains of Hida region. The name itself is nowhere near other tourist powerhouses such as Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa, etc. I have heard the name Takayama for quite some time but never thought of visiting, well not even once due to the difficulty in getting there. From Tokyo, you need to switch train at Nagoya, then get on another express train, in total you will need about some good 5.30 hours (one way)!

Surprisingly there are a decent number of foreign tourists around the city (many Italians for some reason..), what may have attracted them (besides Takayama festival) is the preserved area of the old town as well as its ambience, the whole environment really makes you feel as if you travel back some years to the good old Japan. The old-town part of the city was renovated and mostly turn into shop, restaurant and gallery. You cannot miss Hida beef when visiting Takayama, it comes in a form of sukiyaki, shabushabu or yakiniku, depending on what suits your taste. Be warned it's not cheap thro (but is surely worth it!!).

Taken with Olympus XA, Agfa Vista 400, straight from the lab.