Take me to Takayama

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After riding another bullet train from Mishima to Nagoya, I caught a regular train to the mountain city of Takayama. On the train, I met a Korean girl who was studying tourism at Texas A&M. She was traveling in Japan for a week before heading to Korea to visit family. Just my luck that she also spoke and read Japanesse as a tour guide (especially for ordering food) was a welcome addition for a bit. I will save you all the details and let the photos and captions do the description. One note though...it seems the weather has been cooperating with me as I move. On the days I travel, it seems to rain, but the next day it is sun shine as I sightsee.

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Photos

Giant Torii
Sunyoung and I under the Giant Torii in Takayama

Karakuri Dolls of Takayama
These amazing dolls use a similar system to the cogs of a watch to operate. The one in the picture is swining from one trapeze to the next....six in all!

Hida no Santo
open air museum of traditional Japanesse houses from the 1700s. In the distance are the Japan Alps.

Hida no Santo
The museum is a popular place for school trips. The children yelled "hello" to me as I walked by so I endulged and took a photo with them and spoke to them a bit.

New World Shrine
A new sect has emerged in Takayama featuring a hint of Shinto and Buddahism. They have one heck of a temple with a huge gold colored roof (not to mention the star of David).

Big Cat
Sunyoung and I in front of big cat stature outside Hida no Santo.

School Exercise
In Japan, no kickball or jumping rope...instead, they take it a bit more seriously as you can see.

Buddahist on Bike
As I rode my bicycle through town, so did this buddahist priest.

Bond..James Bond
When I saw this photo, I immediately thought of the James Bond movie when he goes to Japan.