We are staying two nights in Takyama which is in the central mountains of Japan. We took a short train trip from Kanazawa to Toyama where we changed to a slower train to Takayama.
Our train arriving.
The Shinkansen trains use standard gauge tracks but the the older Japanese trains use 3'6" gauge.
This train is a hybrid much like a Toyata Prius that uses regenerative braking to charge a battery that powers the engine.
This is a very nice regional express and it's comfortable with large clean windows. For me, I enjoyed it more than the faster Shinkansens.
Unusually, most of the passengers were Westerners with very few Japanese. Takyama is a famous tourist town and the scenery is stunning through the mountains.
Most Japanese houses are on flat land where there are still paddy fields. You don't see many houses on hillsides.
You can see the mountains in the distance.
We followed this river through the mountains.
Interesting red bridge.
Again, houses on flat land.
Another new highway bridge.
A particularly depressing unused old building. I wondered what it was used for.
I don't know what the pipe is used for. This area gets plenty of snow in winter.
Autumn is two weeks late this year.
Anywhere there is flat ground there are paddy fields.
There are several dams along the river.
Finally approaching Takayama.
We are staying at a hotel near the station as Robin found a soba noodle restaurant just around the corner. At 5:30 we got the last table.
The local craft beer was excellent.
Two Japanese ladies who were seated next to us spoke English and suggested what we might try.
Mine was all vegetable.
The white stuff was grated yam which I don't need to try again but the rest of it was very tasty.
The area is famous for its beef and the small piece I tried from Robin's bowl was very tender.
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