Up early today and out, lots of things to see. First off I went to the Festival Float museum. Takayama has a festival twice a year, in many respects its for the same thing as our Harvest festival celebrates. However they do it with a little bit more pomp and flare. They have 11-14, 3 storey high floats that they parade through the streets. They are covered in decorations and gold and lanterns. Plus, 4 of the floats have mechanical puppets on them that through a complicated system of pulleys and levers move and perform for the audience. It takes about 8 guys to move 1 doll. Impressive. So in the museum I saw 4 of them, 1 of which is the main shrine float. But its heavy, about 2 tons in weight. Its made of solid iron and gold. It takes about 40 men to lift and move it.
Also visited a museum dedicated to the puppets that they use on the floats. I was able to see a small demonstration of the puppets as well. Very impressive. They seemed so realistic. From there I went to the Sakurayama Nikkokan museum which is a museum of a miniature set of a Palatial palace and all of its buildings. There must have been around 100 buildings, all reproduced in miniature to the exact detail of the original. It was all done by 1 guy and it took him around 10 years to do. wow!
Afterwards I went for a walk around the village. Did some shopping. enjoyed some yellow snow.......not in that way. One of their favourite treats in Japan is crushed ice with a sauce poured over it. I had lemon, hence yellow snow.
Went out with some french guys I met, Suzanne and Adrien for the night. Had a nice time in a sushi bar. Enjoyed some beer and fish. Takayama was a very enjoyable town.
