Your opinion on Takayama

I have seen a beauiful poster of Takayama at the shinkansen station in Kyoto...

I have been thinking about that scene and really deciding to go Takayama next year.. but I am also very keen to visit Hokkaido....

Which can be the better choice..? any opinion of Takayama from local Japanese? (instead of looking at general tour guide)

I went to Takayama last year, but I've never been to Hokkaido... Takayama is really nice, peaceful and quite tiny - if you want to go have a look at rural Japan, then it's a pretty good bet ~ it's a little touristy, but aimed at native Japanese instead of gaikokujin. Completely different to Tokyo or even Kyoto ^^ There are a couple of really nice daily markets, gorgeous scenery and extremely friendly locals There's also a full on traditional village only a short ride out, full on smoking fires, huge thatched rooves, gigantic carp in muddy ponds... If you go, say hi to the owner of the Bow-Bee Okonomiyaki Restaurant!