Every Takara I've seen has been of '70s or so vintage; okay frame of hi-tensile tubing, double crank with 6-speed freewheel for 12 gears, caliper brakes, 27" wheels, etc. I rode across the Alps on such a machine but was wishing the whole time I had something more suitable, like the Novara Randonee you mention and which a friend of mine has, a bike built for touring. I don't think you'll regret the additional expenditure but there are plenty of other suitable machines out there if you know what to look for, so if you skip the Novara keep doing your research and saving your money for the right bike.

That said, you can tour on anything and people do, but you might like it more on a different machine. Your Trek is better than my old bike but it looks like a short-wheelbase machine with a road double crank and you probably want lower gears at least.