The last of the Cherry Blossoms, Takayama.

Moving on from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, I went in search of some Old Town vibes, and if you're like me who prefers a bit of tranquillity accompanied by some great scenery, history and local cuisine – Takayama, Gifu Prefecture is a must!

Takayama Old Town

Takayama is a city in the mountainous Hida region, about 4.5 hours (one way) from Tokyo. Though the trip may seem long, it is a scenic one, especially on the JR Hida Limited Express from Nagoya bound for Toyama, the train winds its way through river valleys offering panoramic views of the countryside.

Takayama city itself is relatively easy to navigate, it has a series of bridges along the Miyagawa River, each in its own district. The Nakabashi Bridge in Kawaharamachi is the most recognisable and one of the main bridges leading into Old Town. I was fortunate enough to catch the last of the Cherry blossoms in full bloom along the river's edge and along many of the quiet side streets where you can get a glimpse of the locals as they go about their day.

Nakabashi Bridge, Takayama.

Old Town, however, is a hub of activity, from tourists to local merchants selling anything from souvenirs to locally brewed sake. The narrow streets of Old Town (Sanmachi Suji) is lined with traditional timber buildings and houses dating back to the Edo period, and once served as a merchant town of Takayama and hence it is also known as 'small Kyoto in Hida'.

My recommendation:
Grab yourself some fried Hida beef patties or grilled mochi skewers and stroll the length of Old Town. You can also sample sake and miso soup from local vendors.

Shop lined streets of Old Town, Takayama.

Grilled mochi skewers.

Takayama Jinya

Takayama Jinya.

Not far from Old Town is the Takayama Jinya, a one-time branch office of the Edo government from 1692-1868. If you're interested in a bit of Japanese history and traditional architecture, it is definitely worth a visit since it is the only remaining building of its kind in Japan.

As you wander through many of its rooms and along the well-worn timber walkway, you get a good sense of how its inhabitants once moved along those exact corridors as they went about their daily business. The Japanese-style garden is the focal point within the complex, though visitors are not permitted to set foot inside the garden, but they are more than welcome to sit along the timber walkway and take in the tranquillity of this Edo period garden.

Many of the buildings were restored in the mid-90s, however, the rice storehouses, conference room, front gate and entrance hall are still original. Unlike many other popular tourist spots, you can really take your time wandering through the halls of the Jinya.

Hida Beef

For me, Takayama really turns on its charms after sunset. when most of the tourist groups have moved on. The streets of Old Town are quiet, lanterns outside restaurants are lit and only a few scattered tourists here and there looking for places to eat, it makes you realise and appreciate why it is referred to as 'small Kyoto in Hida'. Many of the restaurants in and around Old Town are home-run, and if you peer through the lattice windows, the interiors are simple yet full of warmth.

Takayama at night.

A must eat when in Takayama is Hida beef, a specific name given to beef from Japanese black-haired cattle raised in the Gifu Prefecture for about 14 months, It has beautiful marbling and can be enjoyed either thinly sliced in Japanese sukiyaki or grilled with miso paste. If you can't decide, just have both for they are both very different dining experiences!

Hida beef.

Strengths:
 - Rule of thirds composition
 - The use of leading lines
 - Black and white post processing heightens the sense of drama
 - Retained distortion, in this case it helps to lead the eyes into the image and again heightens the sens of drama

Weaknesses:
 - Blown out highlight in sky
 - A figure in the foreground would provide a sense of scale
 - A tighter crop

Taken with Canon 70D, EF-S-10-18mm-f-4.5-5.6-IS-STM

Hope this will help you also, and if you have any tips that you'd like to share, let me know!

Great Buddha, Kotokuin Temple Kamakura

While I was planning my Japan trip, I was tossing between whether to spend a day in Nikko or Kamakura. In the end, I decided to go with Kamakura, and what a great day that turned out to be! If you're looking for a day trip destination not far from Tokyo, read on as I will show you what Kamakura has to offer!

History of Kamakura

Kamakura is just a little over an hour from Tokyo on the JR Rail. It is a coastal city steeped in military culture and was the birthplace of Japan's first Kamakura Bakutu or military government, it was also once a political capital along with Kyoto and Nara. It wasn't until the 19th Century that Kamakura flourished as a temple town and became popular for its beaches and resorts. Today, when people tell you about Kamakura, I'm sure there will be no shortage about the Great Buddha of Kamakura, and that was precisely my first stop on the list.

Great Buddha, Kotokuin Temple

I chose to walk from Kamakura JR Station to the Great Buddha, a good, solid 30mins walk but a rather scenic one through quiet neighbourhoods with blooming Wisterias.

The Kamakura Daibutsu or the Great Buddha of Kamakura is in Kotokuin Temple. The temple gate holds a plaque with the temple's official name – Daii-san and also two Nios or guardians that are commonly found in Buddhist temples. Entering the temple grounds, the giant bronze statue of the Amida Buddha dominates the scene, it dates back to 1252 and is today a National Treasure. It is definitely the main attraction and draw in large crowds from devout Buddhists to tourist and even local students. For an extra 200 yen, you can peek inside the statue itself, though space is fairly cramped inside.

Kotokuin entry gate with two Nios.

 Walking around the temple grounds, there were many large, nonuniform stone slabs dotting the garden used by me as a bench to rest my feet. They are actually the cornerstones once used in the construction of the hall that originally housed the Great Buddha, today they are used as garden stones or water basins.

Tip: At Kamakura Station, ask station staff for a city map and my recommendation is there is no better way to explore the city than on foot.

Great Buddha.

Hasedera Temple

Kazaridaru.