The Japanese Alps
Japan is about mountains, it is the landscape more associated with the country and it is truly fascinating. This area north of Tokyo even if they are called Alps they really don't resemble the Alps at all. The tip of the mountains have a particular rock formation that makes little humps and they are covered by a tick vegetation of evergreens. To cross one valley to the next we drive in this 10 km tunnels and between a tunnel and another they are lake and dams and green and more green.
First stop was taking a hike to check out on the snow monkeys that are totally unfathered by the human presence and they continue their monkey business. The next hike is in this beautiful national park, the walk is particularly meditative along a Caribbean blue water river. It is a easy walk that gives time to enjoy the environment.
The gem town of the area is Takayama where we rent a little cottage along the river. We sleep on tatami floor and when it is yoga time the bed is rolled and the mat is displayed. I discovered the pleasure of the tatami floor for my yoga practice.
Takayama is an ancient town, the summer retreat for the Edokko (that is how the people of Tokyo are called), has an all Japanese charm. The pedestrian area has little shops and restaurant and ice cream or sushi parlors. Every place isn't ostentatiously glamorous just elegant and delicate. I think that is an appreciable quality of Japanese, their wealth is discreet.
The visit of two traditional villages still inhabited, they have houses with the roof made of straw. The elaborate construction technique allows the roof to be strong enough to sustain the weight of the snow. In between the layers of the roof they were raising silkworm. All around the village they are small patch of rice fields and other vegetable gardens. At first because everything is so well preserved you think that is a village-museum, but in reality it is a regular village just people are very mindful of keeping everything in order and pretty.
First stop was taking a hike to check out on the snow monkeys that are totally unfathered by the human presence and they continue their monkey business. The next hike is in this beautiful national park, the walk is particularly meditative along a Caribbean blue water river. It is a easy walk that gives time to enjoy the environment.
The gem town of the area is Takayama where we rent a little cottage along the river. We sleep on tatami floor and when it is yoga time the bed is rolled and the mat is displayed. I discovered the pleasure of the tatami floor for my yoga practice.
Takayama is an ancient town, the summer retreat for the Edokko (that is how the people of Tokyo are called), has an all Japanese charm. The pedestrian area has little shops and restaurant and ice cream or sushi parlors. Every place isn't ostentatiously glamorous just elegant and delicate. I think that is an appreciable quality of Japanese, their wealth is discreet.
The visit of two traditional villages still inhabited, they have houses with the roof made of straw. The elaborate construction technique allows the roof to be strong enough to sustain the weight of the snow. In between the layers of the roof they were raising silkworm. All around the village they are small patch of rice fields and other vegetable gardens. At first because everything is so well preserved you think that is a village-museum, but in reality it is a regular village just people are very mindful of keeping everything in order and pretty.
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