I’m combining two days as there was not a lot to report yesterday, except for our incident-free train journey from Shimoda to Takayama, via Atami and Nagoya.

Lyn took the opportunity to finish a painting while speeding along on Odoriko Super-View #2.

Waiting at Nagoya for the Hida Express to Takayama.  Hand luggage only.

Our Takayama hotel, the quaintly named Associa Resort, is gigantic (needs to be to accommodate the Russians — lots of them here) but the rooms, meals and ofuro are excellent.

Now for today (which, in case you’re not keeping up, is Thursday, November 9).  Great weather, if a little chilly (11 deg when we ventured forth) and kōyō (autumn colours) everywhere to incentivate artist and photographer alike.

The painting began in the morning at the Higashiyama temples and shrines overlooking Takayama city.

Some of us were a little more exuberant than others!

Samples of the morning’s efforts.

It was hard not to be inspired by the natural beauty that surrounded us (and pretty much it was just us — don’t know where the other tourists got to, but they weren’t up where we were).

After lunch, we moved down to Sanno-machi and the old homes and sake warehouses that make Takayama such a popular place to visit and paint.

Even a bride and groom in a rickshaw:

Off to see more kōyō and mountains tomorrow.  Meanwhile, I’m heading for a soak in the rotemburo.