Our last day in beautiful Takayama — and we had rain and a wintery blast (temperatures didn’t make it above 9 deg all day) to farewell us.

Our artists spent the day under doorways and awnings in Sanno-machi and accomplished a variety of sketches, while others explored and indulged in the ubiquitous softo-cream — so many flavours, including sake and black sesame, but peach is the best.

After lunch, we walked to the Takayama Festival Museum of Floats (yatai) and the Hachimangu shrine.  These incredibly tall floats are paraded through the streets each April and October and are intricately decorated.

A last look at some kōyō on the way back to our hotel for a final ofuro and meal before heading tomorrow to the final stop on this year’s Jaunting around Japan Art Tour with Ev Hales.

Glorious, even in the rain.