Nestled deep in the mountains, the small city of Takayama preserves numerous examples of traditional late traditional, early modern urban and rural architecture in its well-maintained historic district and, on the outskirts of town, a farmhouse village museum.

Japanese visitors especially appreciate the traditional ambiance -- the machinami -- of the San-no-machi area running parallel to the river at the heart of town. The atmosphere here (as the photographs below illustrate) definately is enhanced and enlivened by the multiplicity of "street furniture" -- shopsigns, displays of seasonal plants and flowers, lanterns and lamps, hanging cloth banners called noren, benches -- along the roadway.

- NOVEMBER 1, 2005

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