like a paper boat

like a paper boat

Getting to Takayama 高山市, located in the alps of the Gifu Prefecture 岐阜県, meant the chance to make my first trip on one of Japan's famous Shinkansen 新幹線 bullet trains, followed by a winding journey up through the mountains on a local train.

For my time after Tokyo 東京 I'd planned an itinerary that would cover a few thousand kilometres, so before coming to Japan I purchased a Japan Rail Pass. The pass, available in standard or Green Car versions, grants unlimited usage of the JR network, including reserving seats in advance. I made use of the pass the previous night at Tokyo Station 東京駅 to book my trips for the day ahead, so it was just a matter of showing up.

Dragging my suitcase through the stations and the Yamanote Line 山手線 to Shinagawa Station 品川駅, I waited just a few minutes, taking the photo above, before boarding an N700 series express Hikari ひかり (Light) on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen 東海道新幹線 from Tokyo 東京 to Nogoya 名古屋.