On the road to Takayama. We would give the kids breaks at the rest stops. This one had free giveaways that day. Since our kids were the only kids, we BUSHELLED! So, if you want a safety bling for your phone, I'm bringing them home, I'll give you one! The toll roads here have special cars to come help you out if you break down on their roads.
I love this rest area. It is north of Mt. Fuji, so you get great shots. William is as tall as Fuji on his own mound of dirt here! :)
This isn't the most enjoyable view of my friend, Hallie, but she's the one who found out about this, and set up this trip. Takayama is in Gifu Prefecture. It's in the mountains, and the sakura are beautiful here. Each year, they do a spring and an autumn festival.
We drove through Matsumoto on the way there, and through the mountain passes. It was gorgeous. I even got a phone call on the way, offering a place on base, if we wanted to move. It was surreal. A beautiful mountain valley, and Hallie on the phone, negotiating for me, while I drove.
We didn't know specifics, but we got there in time for a parade! We were to later find out that they hold a ton of these in the two days. :)
The different castle logos and the samurai type guys. I love the woven slippers.
Taiko, or drums. Love the authentic dress.
I've seen these played at Shrines for weddings.
And these flute type instruments, too.
It was a pretty big 'marching band,' if you will.
A small, golden mikoshi.
That's William running down a side-street when the parade was finished.
And, we got over to this bridge in time for what I like to call...
...the money shot. The mikoshi crossing the red bridge with sakura in front of it with perfect lighting. Only thing better...
...would be to have my son in the shot.
There were many different ones. They are on wheels and pulled, not carried. They are pretty big.
I can prove I took that last shot! :) I told Hallie at this point, that the trip had been a success.
The trees were gorgeous.
The river scenes idyllic.
And being that it's in a cold place, sake is made here. I loved how much sake was being consumed with the long shadow on it. This is the tree's shadow that you saw in the previous shot.
The mikoshi were in 'old town' now, staged to re-cross that river for the night parade.
They were really tall. Some had drums inside.
Takayama had a lot of wood. So, you'll notice the intricate carvings on the mikoshi.
This is one of the storage areas. There are many in the old town, dispersed throughout. For some reason, William did a pilgrimage on his knees here. Hallie's boys followed. Just doing our part to keep it clean.
This one has the drum on top, where you can see it. Not inside, like some. They've attached wooden brackets, and hung lanterns from it, in preps for the night parade.
The wood carvings were phenomenal. Most of these were made early 1800s.
They're quite a sight to behold. The gold was added mid-1800s.
It was a peaceful evening in old town Takayama. The lanterns are already lit.
All the store owners hang out these lanterns, with the town logo on it. And they use REAL candles. Fire hazzard? You betcha! They turn off all the electrical lights for the parade.
Lots of shops had mini-shrines set up, or displays of artifacts. It was a cool twilight time.
On the road to Takayama. We would give the kids breaks at the rest stops. This one had free giveaways that day. Since our kids were the only kids, we BUSHELLED! So, if you want a safety bling for your phone, I'm bringing them home, I'll give you one! The toll roads here have special cars to come help you out if you break down on their roads.
I love this rest area. It is north of Mt. Fuji, so you get great shots. William is as tall as Fuji on his own mound of dirt here! :)
This isn't the most enjoyable view of my friend, Hallie, but she's the one who found out about this, and set up this trip. Takayama is in Gifu Prefecture. It's in the mountains, and the sakura are beautiful here. Each year, they do a spring and an autumn festival.
We drove through Matsumoto on the way there, and through the mountain passes. It was gorgeous. I even got a phone call on the way, offering a place on base, if we wanted to move. It was surreal. A beautiful mountain valley, and Hallie on the phone, negotiating for me, while I drove.
We didn't know specifics, but we got there in time for a parade! We were to later find out that they hold a ton of these in the two days. :)
The different castle logos and the samurai type guys. I love the woven slippers.
Taiko, or drums. Love the authentic dress.
I've seen these played at Shrines for weddings.
And these flute type instruments, too.
It was a pretty big 'marching band,' if you will.
A small, golden mikoshi.
That's William running down a side-street when the parade was finished.
And, we got over to this bridge in time for what I like to call...
...the money shot. The mikoshi crossing the red bridge with sakura in front of it with perfect lighting. Only thing better...
...would be to have my son in the shot.
There were many different ones. They are on wheels and pulled, not carried. They are pretty big.
I can prove I took that last shot! :) I told Hallie at this point, that the trip had been a success.
The trees were gorgeous.
The river scenes idyllic.
And being that it's in a cold place, sake is made here. I loved how much sake was being consumed with the long shadow on it. This is the tree's shadow that you saw in the previous shot.
The mikoshi were in 'old town' now, staged to re-cross that river for the night parade.
They were really tall. Some had drums inside.
Takayama had a lot of wood. So, you'll notice the intricate carvings on the mikoshi. 
This is one of the storage areas. There are many in the old town, dispersed throughout. For some reason, William did a pilgrimage on his knees here. Hallie's boys followed. Just doing our part to keep it clean.
This one has the drum on top, where you can see it. Not inside, like some. They've attached wooden brackets, and hung lanterns from it, in preps for the night parade.
The wood carvings were phenomenal. Most of these were made early 1800s. 
They're quite a sight to behold. The gold was added mid-1800s.
It was a peaceful evening in old town Takayama. The lanterns are already lit.
All the store owners hang out these lanterns, with the town logo on it. And they use REAL candles. Fire hazzard? You betcha! They turn off all the electrical lights for the parade.
Lots of shops had mini-shrines set up, or displays of artifacts. It was a cool twilight time.
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