Takayama
Takayama, famous for its nearby hot spring or onsen towns, stunning traditional residences, and as it turns out, its pristine canals and rivers which accommodate the towns koi fish during the warmer months, was a breath of fresh air after the albeit wondrous but fast paced and somewhat cramped Tokyo.
Now I can’t talk about Takayama without mentioning the journey to get there. The Limited Hida Express is a large windowed train, designed to show off one of the most beautiful parts of the country as it travels through it, boasting views of snow capped mountains, winding rivers and deep valleys as far as the eye can see. It was such a stark transition from Tokyo, where all that can be seen on a clear day is urban city for miles and miles. As experiences go, I would have been happy with just these sights alone. Saying that, i’m glad Takayama was at the end of the line, as it only added to the magic.