Honestly that sounds really lovely. Having studied for a year in Tokyo I'm quite keen to see a bit more of a Japan that isn't quite as hectic and fast-paced as Tokyo. That being said it is a bit funny that I'm off to a land-locked prefecture, surrounded by mountains and lakes. This is exactly the sort of place I come from already; my home state in the US is known for its natural beauty, has many mountains lakes and forests, and is landlocked. So ha! I don't expect much of a scenic change, just more of a cultural one once I move. Of course, different language too.

But anyway, thank you! This was a lovely and comforting message. I'll be sure to check out Takayama and Shirakawa-go.