Not having much sleep due to Arvin's snoring, my mind wasn't operating at peak function. I went to the onsen for a dip to try and get in some me time and just wash off the fatigue.
During breakfast, it seemed like we were the only ones who had plans to explore Takayama Old Town. I used the map Roy got and planned the route for the day. We went to visit a Pagoda where I told them about Jizo and Kannon and how Shinto and Buddhism syncretized in Japan.
We went through the morning markets and stopped by several temples along the way, admiring the snow-covered streets and rivers. I introduced them to the Seven Lucky Gods when we spotted Daikokuten and Ebisu. The last stop was a tour of a palace where we had to take off our shoes. Our feet were freezing by half-time and we hurriedly finished the rest. We had to get back to the hotel either way.
It seemed like we had already explored much today but in reality, this was just the appetizer. The real gem of Takayama lies in the Hida Folk Village, a traditional village reminiscent of the ones in Shirakawago. This place was even more breathtaking than the old town. Everything was covered in snow with the Japan Alps on the horizon. The snow-laden frozen lake was the most eye-catching and easily commanded the attention of our phones.
The folk village was huge and it took more than an hour or so to cover them. These included visits to the traditional houses and some backtracking to make sure we didn't miss anything. We also met Dipa and her family along the way and I was able to take their family photo.Read more
January 28, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C