I fell in love with Takayama, the snow, the beautiful shrines and temples, the lovely streets and buildings. Small town surrounded by snow and trees covered hills, and mountains behind that. I had Hatsumode in the Shrine : first temple visit in the new year, with sake and a tiny bag with dried seaweed and fish. They had big bonfires to burn last year’s fortunes, and to keep warm. There were only a few people around, so that was lovely. I bought an amulet of the ‘almighty’.