Day 5 - Tokyo to Takayama

Time to (temporarily) say goodbye to Tokyo - checked out of the hotel, walked to Shimbashi station and made our way up to Tokyo Station to catch our first bullet train of the trip - yey!!! Had about 30 minutes on the platform to watch them glide in and out. This chap was one of the dapper "drivers" (although pilot would seem a more apt name) - quite happy to pose followed by mutual bowing.

Found our alloted space on the platform (which are marked with distinct lines for embarking and disembarking passengers), and right on time our train was ready to board. Bought "bento" boxes from one of the numerous kiosks, along with a can of Kirin beer (mmm), and we were all set. We were soon gliding along at very-fast-mph - saw Mount Fuji in the distance through clouds - tick!

After two hours we got off in Nagoya and caught the "Hida Express" to Takayama - arguably nicer inside, with huge panoramic windows through which we could take in the spectacular journey. Stunning scenery awaited - rivers, mountains, traditional houses and villages. Listening to a couple of my favourite albums and taking it all in was arguably one of my highlights of the trip so far. Two and a half hours later we pulled into the small town of Takayama - what a contrast to Tokyo!

We'd booked a traditional Japanese ryokan for two nights, 10 minutes walk from the station. The longest running family accommodation in town apparently - creaky floorboards leading us to our basic room with tatami mats, a low table and cushions and two futons to sleep on. No bathroom or private toilet - men's on the ground floor, women's on the 2nd. Needed to freshen up so down to the 'onsen' it was - communal bathing in theory but had it to myself for the whole time I was there. A bit like a 70s bathroom with a huge hot bath in practise - not quite the picture promised on the website!

Takayama was a bit of a ghost town at night (but a welcome change to the aforementioned Tokyo). Dinner was in a traditional Japanese restaurant that seemed to have every other Western couple in town in. The local Hida beef for dinner, washed down with beer. Then a quick night cap in the form of sake in a tiny cosy bar on the main street. All very relaxing.