Honshu, Japan Pt. 2

On one sunny day, my friend drove us (through multiple tunnels and over narrow mountain passes) to Takayama & Hida. My friend told me that Takayama is renowned for its morning market. It was lovely, but more intriguing for me was the stretch of well-preserved merchants' residences dating from between the 17th and 19th centuries found off the main drag through town. I didn't get the best shots of the merchant streets, but here are some of 'em anyway.

Entrance to merchants' area; the smaller sign reads: no smoking.

Sake and rice shop. Giant orb over door signifies sake, but I don't know why.

Wood/bamboo siding on one of the merchant buildings

We strolled through the market just before it closed at noon. We certainly aren't the only tourists to visit; many of the shopkeepers use English, both in speaking & on signage, to entice folk to their stalls. I needed no barker to help get me to the espresso stall. The proprietor roasts his own in beans, and takes great care to make a balanced, flavorful espresso. His sort of fun gimmick was serving macchiato in edible cups. I opted for paper, but my friend had the 'cookie' cup. I think she said it tasted of ice-cream cone.

Espresso in an edible cup.

Peaches that would have made Roald Dahl proud.

At the market: cukes and one lone tomato for 50 yen a piece.

Morning market welcome sign.

Red bridge, Takayama

The Hida folk village was about a 30 minute drive from Takayama. We parked well above the village & were rewarded with this view--

Hida Folk Village 

I should have put up a pencil for scale. Massive Hibiscus.

Hida Folk Village manhole cover. 

Koi in a small brook, Hida 

--more to come!