Takayama

Venturing from Tokyo, iroiro visits Western Honshu and the ancient town of Takayama, in the mountainous Hida district of Gifu prefecture. This well preserved town seems to have retained its historical atmosphere, a rarity in Japan, without feeling like a theme park. One senses that traditions have survived quite naturally. Visitors can enjoy friendly morning street markets, traditional food specialties (the soba is a highlight) and see plentiful examples of the local woodworking skill that has been renowned across Japan for centuries. Generous signs and explanations in English are an additional and very welcoming plus for foreign visitors.

This area, called Sanmachi, was the center of the old town.