Takayama

When planning the trip we decided to go to Takayama as the festival, which is known as one of the three most beautiful in Japan, was on. Lucky timing as it only happens twice a year!

Our train got us into Takayam for about 3.30pm, when we went to the tourist office they told us the festival was finishing in 30 mins! We'd been travelling since early morning so there was no way we were going to miss the festival, so we quickly found the action and got snapping. The festive floats were being pulled around the town by groups of men of all ages and there was a parade going through the streets too.

Fortunately the festival went on a little longer than we were told, so we had a couple of hours to soak it all up. We then wandered along the streets and popped into the shops selling food to nibble on all the tasters. No need for dinner now! After that we checked into the temple we were staying in which was in a beautiful wooden building. It's the only temple I've ever been in with internet access and heated loos!

View of a festive float on the bridge

And another...

And another

The men were wearing special shoes to give them extra grip

Shishimai (Lion Dance)

These 'lions' would dance outside each shop in the street and then run into the shop

Old dude

Group of kids dressed up for the festival parade

Drum procession

Close up of the floats which were amazingly beautiful

Old street in the heart of Takayama

Puppet show on one of the floats

Float coming down the narrow Old Town streets

The 'gang' infront of their float

Takayama's old town has been beautifully preserved, with many buildings and whole streets of houses dating from the Edo Period (1600-1868), when the city thrived as a wealthy town of merchants.The southern half of the old town, especially the Sannomachi Street, survives in a particularly pretty state with many old homes, shops, coffee houses and sake breweries, some of which have been in business for centuries.

The entrance to the temple we were staying in

This lovely little garden was at the back of a shop!

One of the floats back in it's resting place after the festival

Weird little statue on the bridge

Pagoda

Shrine in a shop window

Old town streets at night

Blossom over the river

Me on the bridge

Our room at the temple. There was a strict wake up regime - 7am get up, 7.30am breakfast. We were catching an early train, again, so were out by 7.15am.