Japan (7) - Takayama

13 July 2010 - It is raining today, but I arrived in Takayama (aka little Kyoto in the mountains). This town is surrounded by the 3000 meters peaks of the Japanese Alps, so the bus ride here was breathtaking - sometimes scary. It's an old town - founded in the 16th century - and it is modeled after Kyoto. With a rich supply of timber provided by the surrounding forests, its carpenters are supposed to be legendary, creating not only the merchant's houses here but also the Imperial Palace and temples in Kyoto. The streets are narrow and clean, and flanked by tiny canals of running water as it rains here a lot. Rising from the canals are one - and two story homes and shops in gleaming dark wood with overhanging roofs. Theer are also six sake breweries her, so I will try to find and sample some sake.