Against the backdrop of the Northern Japan Alps, isolated and picturesque Takayama, in Gifu Prefecture, is a welcome retreat from big-city life.
Brochures promote it as the "home of the Japanese spirit." Such an abstract superlative is debatable, but countryside tradition pervades Takayama's morning markets, functioning old town, preserved folk village, temple-walking course and one of Japan's must-see festivals.
But while Takayama ("tall mountain") is not alone in considering itself a "Little Kyoto," it at least has an historical connection to this coveted moniker. The Hida Takayama region is blessed with natural resources, especially timber. The city became a recognized center of carpentry, and its skilled workers contributed to the temples and palaces in the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara.