Kiso Valley

Kiso Valley is located in the Nagano Prefecture. We went there via the JR Express train from Matsumoto. It's a great place to go to if you're in for a good hike. There are actually five towns, in the valley, though we only went through 2.

Magome is a post town that was preserved from the Edo period. There are shops around the carefully tended town that sell traditional Japanese products.

It says in the tourist information that you can hike from Magome to Tsumago via Nakasendo. It's a 7.7 kilometer hike that we attempted to walk, but we took a bus instead. We saw a sign that said that, though not in season, it is advisable to bring a bell to alert the bears that you are there so that they won't attack you. Afterwhich, the trail ends after the steps below and you find your path. At least, that's how we understood it.
Tsumago is another post town, a bit rugged in structure though also preserved from the Edo period. What I remember most is that this is the place to buy good quality sake.

Sarubobo

We noticed while walking around Takayama that they had a lot of these red dolls with no faces. They come in all sizes and can be seen EVERYWHERE. It's called a Sarubobo, which means "baby monkey". A Sarubobo is a Japanese amulet made during the Edo to protect children from sicknesses. They believed that evil spirits were afraid of the color red, and that it would protect small kids from misfortune. During the winter, when the kids could not go outside to play because of the snow, their grandparents made this doll for them to play with.
Nowadays, the Sarubobo is a popular souvenir item in the Hida region. They come in keychains, necklaces, cellphone hangers, etc. Some even come with the face of Hello Kitty.

Matsumoto Castle

When you see one castle in Japan it seems like you've seen them all. But this is not true for Matsumoto Castle. Unlike Osaka Castle, the interior of Matsumoto Castle was preserved in all its history. The high steps leading up to the top floor and into the hidden floors are as it were, so you can experience what it was like to be a soldier climbing the steps at those times. Matsumoto Castle has seven floors, two of which are hidden. Within those floors are glass cases of the kinds of armor and weapons they used for war. Once you reach the top, you get a glimpse of the view of Matsumoto.
The garden area around the castle can now be used for many occasions. We had the privilege of witnessing a tea ceremony during our visit. Had we stayed well into the evening, we would have even been part of the moon viewing ceremony.
On the outskirts of the castle, but well within the castle grounds, there's a museum for tourists to see more of what they used during those times. There's also a diorama of the castle grounds so you can get a bird's eye view of the place.

Shin Hotaka Cable Car Ride

Should you happen to stay in Takayama or finish up with Kamikochi early, Shin Hotaka makes an interesting side trip. This is ideal if you don't want to climb to the peak of Kamikochi. My sisters and I decided to take the cable car to the peak of another mountain instead.
In all honesty, the cable car ride to the peak looked very promising. It was enjoyable and worth the experience. The problem was that it started to get really foggy, hence, the next two photos. When we reached the peak, it started to get really cold and the fog had reduced what would have been a fantastic view of the valley below to a white background. But it was a fun experience, nonetheless.

Hida no Sato

The Hida Folk Village (or Hida no Sato) is another one of those open air museums or theme parks. Located in Takayama, it has become a home to about 30 traditional farmhouses in the Shirakawa region. These are actual houses that were literally transferred from their previous location to the folk village, and preserved.

Walking in Takayama

What I love most about Japan is how clean and safe it is. I was amazed at how clean the sewage system of Takayama is. It's so clear that the color reflects the blue of the sky and the green of the trees. The best part is that you can see the Koi living in it.And if only the rest of the world were this safe. I used to wonder about anime, how kindergarten kids go to and from school on their own, like in You're Under Arrest. I was so amazed when I saw it with my very own eyes in Takayama. The kids are so independent, and the neighborhood is so safe.

Hida Takayama

When I look back at our September 2008 Japan trip I tend to think most fondly of our stay in Takayama. Compared to the more popular cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Takayama feels very laid back. The town is more intimate and peaceful. Everything here is more relaxed and everyone seems to know each other.
This area is what they call "The Old Private Houses". As its name suggests, they were private houses that have now been converted into specialty shops. There's a miso house where you can sample miso soup and buy soy sauce; across the street is a sake house; there even are houses that sell all forms of clips, magnets, Japanese fans, paper, you name it.

Kamikochi

One of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, Kamikochi boasts of breathtaking landscapes, fresh water and great food. It is located at the Nagano Prefecture in the Chubu Region of Japan, just an hour by bus from Takayama. Kamikochi, also known as the Japanese Alps, is popular among mountaineers and hikers.What I enjoyed most about this place is the view. Every turn is something new. We visited the alps towards the end of the Japanese summer, September, so it was pretty cool when we did our hike. I also appreciated how friendly the people are. A lot of hikers are men and women in their 60s and 70s. Every time you pass anyone, they will bow their heads and say, "Konnichiwa!"

Meijimura

Based on our 2008 Japan trip, there's really nothing much to do in Nagoya... Or we probably just didn't see the right places. But we learned that Nagoya is the best place to bunk if you want to see The Museum Meiji-Mura in Inuyama. Just a 30-minute train ride via the Meitetsu line, and a 15 minute bus ride from the Inuyama Station to the theme park
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Meiji-mura is like a museum/theme park with over sixty buildings and structures brought from the Meiji era, some of which were rebuilt for museum purposes. Most of the buildings were brought to the site and preserved rather than left to be destroyed. It's an interesting way to keep their history intact and ready for younger eyes to see.

See more photos of Meiji-mura at My Photo Site.

View by Train

As a follow up to my previous post, here are photos from the train on the way to Takayama from Nagoya. They were taken at around 5 pm on September 7, 2008.Japan, wherever you are, is truly a beautiful place with beautiful sights. I tried to sleep during this two-hour ride, but I couldn't help but look out the window.

A New Photoblog via Japan Railway

Just this afternoon my friend, Caramel, convinced me to start a blog showcasing my favorite photos. I had actually been building my portfolio for some time now and realized that I have so many photos waiting to be seen. It's my dream to become a travel photographer and Caramel said that aside from my website I should also write about the places I've been to alongside the photos.
I thought of starting out with a shot I took of the Japan Railway. This was from my first Japan trip. I just loved how clean, polished, and easy it is to take the train in Japan.