Japan old and new

Our trip to Central Japan with a guided group tour earlier in the year gave me a chance to see a mixture of the old and modern aspects of Japan.

Some of the old streets in Hida-Takayama 飛騨高山 look pretty time-frozen with traditional architecture.

Traditional architecture in Hida-Takayama 飛騨高山, Gifu Prefecture 岐阜県.

Transportation in Hida-Takayama.

Our visit to the magnificent Kenroku-en (兼六園) or Six Attributes Garden in Kanazawa 金沢 was on a rainy day. Parts of the garden date back to the 17th century. Its name was inspired by the six attributes of a perfect garden: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, waterways, and panoramas. In this regard, I think the garden is very aptly named.

Kenroku-en (Six Attributes Garden) 兼六園 in Kanazawa 金沢.

As for the new, there is plenty of modern architecture in Nagoya 名古屋.  The downside of a group tour is the rushed schedule. Half a day at this city is hardly enough to take in all that it has to offer. It certainly calls for a second visit in the future.

TV Tower, Nagoya 名古屋. The oldest TV tower in Japan, completed in 1954.

Nagaoya street scene, on the way to do some shopping.

Nagoya Tower and Oasis 21.

Oasis 21 in the Sakae (栄) district of Nagoya.

View of Nagoya Tower from the glass roof of Oasis 21.

Oasis 21.