Vagabond Hearts

woke up this morning….

Takayama in the Japan Alps

Takayama is one of our favorite places in Japan.

The fresh mountain air coupled with preserved buildings from the feudal period lend an ancient feeling especially in the old town section

The round ball above the entrance marks a sake distillery and sake tastings

Pay 200 yen for a souvenir sake cup and a token worth one taste of the dozens of sake offered. More tokens are readily available!

There are two farmers markets in the town open daily.

Earlier in the day we visited Hida Folk Villag an open air museum exhibiting over 30 traditional houses from the Hida region, the mountainous district of Gifu Prefecture around TAkayama.
The houses were built during the Edo Period (1603-1868) and were relocated from their original locations to create the museum in 1971.

There are a number of gassho-zukuri farmhouses, which are named after their steep thatched roofs resembling a pair of hands joined in prayer (“gassho”).

All exhibited buildings at the Hida Folk Village are carefully preserved and open for exploration. They have unique wooden architecture and exhibit tools and utensils used in everyday life in the past. Interestingly, the buildings’ indoor fireplaces are lit every morning, making this outstanding open air museum a treat not only for the eyes but also for the nose.

Carving wooden ladles

A display shows sorting silk worms to create the silk thread and fabrics.

Our hotel is very nice. It has an ofuro in the garden.