JAPAN - 2005

Takayama

"Bell tower" is part of most temples and shrines. (In Japan, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines very frequently overlap and the two religions mix together.) This is one of the temples at the edge of hills surrounding Takayama.

Old wooden houses are preserved (and well kept) in many streets of Takayama, giving the town a very traditional ambiance.

Here is a display of dinner selection at a sushi restaurant in central Takayama. Displays like this are meant to attract customers, but to non-Japanese speaking tourists represent an essential help.

Kamikochi - Japanese Alps

 Despite the overpopulation of Japanese coastal areas, mountains of the central Japan are sparsely populated. Japanese Alps have peaks towering over 3000m.

Kamikochi valley offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Japan and is a starting point for many hikes in the Alps. Most Japanese tourists tend to stay on easy trails throughout the valley, but there are strenuous day-hikes up to the mountain peaks, as well as multiple-day hikes further deep into the mountains.

Takayama - open-air museum

The folk museum of Takayama is an amazing place to learn about architecture of traditional Japanese farm houses. Some houses from villages that were flooded by recently built dams were moved to this museum and provide collection representing building styles from several regions. The age of the houses range from the 17th to 20th century.

Common patterns of Japanese architecture are fire-pits in the middle of the house (or in several rooms), tatami mats, sliding wooden doors (occasionally only wooden frames covered with paper) and wooden floor. Every house also had a barn as part of itand there was always altar room (which was the best kept room of the house).

In houses of wealthier people, the tatami mats covered the entire floor and walls were beautifully decorated.

Japanese railroads are famous for being amazingly on-time, to the exact minute. However, even busses tend to be very accurate. At the major stops bus drivers wait for the exact minute of the departure.

Vending machines are available everywhere and offer much wider range of products than at most other countries - including articles like cigarettes and beer.

This is a busy Shinkansen station. Luckily for tourists train signs are both in English and Japanese.

Nara

In Nara I was staying in traditional Japanese Ryokan with this beautiful garden. (Gardens or at least some greenery are essential parts of traditional houses and even in cities many people try to put at least some bonsai trees in front of their houses.)

Five-story pagoda in Nara.

Todai-ji is claimed to be the largest wooden building in the world. This temple is on the list of UNESCO world heritage sides and houses an enormous bronze statue of Buddha.

Entrance to the temple is guarded by two huge protector deities. 

The bronze statue of Buddha in Todai-ji temple.

Common sight of school children being photographed. "V" sign is just as important as our "cheese". 

The historical park of Nara offers nice walks in a wooden park with many other temples and shrines. It is also famous for its deer population. Stone lanterns line many pathways, adding to the charm of the place.