Shirakawago & Takayama

Our families are in town for the holidays! Currently Miklos's mom and dad are in town. Tori's mom will land on 12/17.

While we have lot of fun events and travel plans, we really wanted to squeeze in a trip to Shirakawago and Takayama. This was the only day we had free, so we made it happen!

Our adventure started by going to the old town center in Takayama. Takayama is a town tourists will visit if they're interested in experiencing a rural-like feel, as it is not a big city, and far removed

from the busy hustle and bustle of modern day cities. The old town center is absolutely beautiful! We walked around the old town center for a bit, tried some unique foods and treats (including local sake, rice cakes, and hot ginger tea) and then headed over to Shirakawago.

Shirakawago is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a well known tourist destination (again for people wanting to experience a rural area). It is a mountain village that remained fairly untouched for quite a long time, which adds to its allure. The area gets a lot of snowfall, making it necessary for the homes to have thick, thatched roofs. Check out some of our photos!