JOURNEY TO THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGE IN JAPAN

Getting bored of contemplating red and yellow leaves in Kyoto, I caught Shinkansen train to Nagoya, then deposited some stuff in locker to catch bus to the festival of light in Nabana No Sato. After immersingmyself in a maze of joyfullight, I took the last bus back Nagoyain that night and then waited for the earliest train to Takayama in the following morning. It was a night in late autumn and right at weekend, so, I could not find any cheap motel. I went tokaraokesand game stores near the station for hope to find a place to stay overnight, but they were full of people. Nagoya Station was not a 24/24 operating station, so it was also closed right after the lasttrain. After managing to find a place for staying, I finally found a24/24 coffee shop named Dennys thanked to support of a Vietnamese friends on Facebook living in Nagoya.I sat there drinking coffee and waiting for morning to come when the temperature was down to 3 – 4 Celsius degrees.

I took the earliest train to Takayama in the following day and arrived there at 10am. Temperature in Takayama was just 1 Celsius degree, making me shudder carrying my backpack, walking on empty street. I left my luggage at the inn, put on some more clothes and strolled around Takayama.

I had fallen in love with this pretty little town at my first time here in spring with blooming Sakura. Takayama  was about 200 km from Nagoya. Perhaps, in my opinion, Takayama was just a buffer  where tourists came for staying while they were on journey to ancient village – Shirakawa-go. Because there was nothing special  in this region. But I found myself in love with this place owing toits gentle calm and homeliness.

Takayama was not too large for me to get tired. It was encapsulated in a few cross streets along with Japanese shops interspersing on ancient small streets. These stores sold goods that’s”Made in Japan”, very homelinesswith not any offering or loud voice. That was the reason why tourists seemed to be “infected” with the placidity of sellers, making up a lovely quiet Takayama.

I loved cafes in Takayama. This time, I discovered Don cafe – the oldest cafe here.  This cafe was small but cozy with nice music and very good coffee. The owner and and the waitress seemed aging but always gaveguests cheerful friendly smiles and loving gazes. On any given day, in morning or afternoon, I had Don’s hot cup of coffee and mesmerizing pastry. Thought I had been addicted to Don café,on the day I left for Shirakawa-go early without Don coffee… And that made me missDon so much. I missed the warm space with fragrant smell of coffee, the coffee cup’s emission with gentle melodies of Christmas songs, and myfamiliar seat viewing to the road outside.