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City in Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Photo: (WT-en) Jpatokal at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Takayama (高山市 Takayama-shi), sometimes called Hida-Takayama (飛騨高山) to distinguish it from other towns of the same name, is a city near the northern Japan Alps of Gifu prefecture, in the Chubu region of Japan.
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飛騨民俗村 Hida Minzoku-mura, 飛騨の里 Hida no sato
An attractive open-air museum assembled from real buildings that effectively recreates an entire traditional mountain village. Artisans continue to work in many buildings; you can buy their crafts and even try your own hand at a number of activities. The architectural highlights are the traditional thatched-roof gasshō-zukuri houses, built with roofs like hands in prayer to withstand the heavy snowfalls in this region. More whimsically, there is a giant maneki-neko cat outside, standing over 4 m tall.
飛騨高山まちの博物館 Hida-Takayama-machi no Hakubutsukan
The museum is in 17th-century warehouses once owned by the Yajima family who ran a timber business and the Nagata family who owned the best sake breweries in Takayama. There are 14 exhibition rooms dedicated to individual themes ranging from the Takayama Festival and traditional houses to the city’s history and local artists.
光ミュージアム
A beautiful, sprawling building completed in 1999 inspired by the Nayan complex at Tikal in Guatemala. The collection is good, but sparse. There is a good exhibition of Japanese art, a small collection of European art (a Renoir, a Van Gogh, a Monet, etc.), and a smattering of artifacts from the world's ancient cultures.
からくりミュージアム
Museum displays mechanical dolls which get mounted onto the Takayama festival floats. The museum also shows over 200 lion dance masks from around Japan.
Kusakabe Heritage House, 日下部民芸館
The Kusakabe house is a restored old merchant's home built in 1879. The home is filled with artifacts and crafts from that time period.
まつりの森
Literally "Festival Forest," Matsuri no Mori displays floats and other key items from the Takayama Festival. Similar to the Takayama Float Museum but larger. Also contains large taiko drums and hosts performances. Museum is roughly a 15-minute bus ride south of the city center.
桜山日光館
Admission is included in the ticket to the Takayama Festival Float Museum. The hall displays one-tenth-scale replicas of 28 buildings from Nikko's Toshogu shrine, created by craftsmen in intricate detail.
さんまち
It is a very pretty section of Takayama's old city. Consisting of three narrow lanes packed with wooden buildings housing sake breweries and little boutiques, some of the larger merchant houses are now open as museums. The area, though it is definitely worth a visit, is quite touristy now and you will find many tourists around browsing the lanes flanked by tourist-oriented shops. The area is a 10-minute walk to the east of the station.
高山陣屋
This is a beautifully preserved government building from the time of the shogun and still used as local government building until 1969. Many rooms at the beginning of the visit are basically empty tatami rooms with some indication of what the original use was. In the rice storage area there are interesting displays and information (mostly in Japanese) about how local government worked in the Edo era. The two storage buildings alone, the biggest such original buildings still present in Japan, are worth the visit.
高山祭屋台会館
Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall. This is the hall where the festival floats are stored. Takayama hosts a famous yearly festival and the floats are quite ornate. The floats on display are rotated.
昭和館
A popular culture museum with exhibits from the mid-Showa Period (1950-60s). Various streets and shops display Showa-era memorabilia. You can explore the toy shop, appliance store, restaurant, doctor's office, movie theatre, and barber shop. There are also electric collections of battledores, war relics, plastic anime and manga masks, cameras, movie posters and children's toys.
山王祭り
八幡祭り
東山遊歩道
A 3.5-km-long hiking trail through Takayama's temples and shrines, past some of its more rural neighborhoods, and through Shiroyama Park, the former site of Takayama Castle. The course starts and ends at the Hida Takayama Museum of History and Art.
宮川朝市
Local vendors set up stands along the Miyagawa River each morning to sell their wares, ranging from crafts and handmade items to produce, flowers, and snacks.
宮川緑地公園
A long, simple park along the Miyagawa River which peaceful views of the water. A great spot for cherry blossom viewing in the spring as the park is lined with over 100 cherry trees.
あ蔵
An excellent restaurant in Takayama built out of an old warehouse, Agura serves Western-style pizza and a variety of other Japanese and vegetarian friendly fare. A good place to go if you need "something for everyone". Hours are a little odd, dinner only. Prices are moderate, ranging from ¥800-1,500. They do accept credit cards.
牛まんカフェ喜八郎 上三之町店
A great stop for lunch or a quick snack, this small shop in the middle of Sannomachi is most well known for its beef buns. They also serve small lunch type food, such as sakura pudding, tea, and beer.
ちとせ
A casual restaurant specializing in yakisoba, a dish made from fried soba noodles. English menu available.
クレープとワイン はんちくてい
One of the best dessert shops in town, this tiny crepe and wine store has amazing treats and the owners are super friendly! It's still open later in the evening when many of the surrounding shops are closed.
鳩谷
Traditional Japanese restaurant specializing in Hida beef. They are especially known for their sukiyaki, which is hot pot cooked beef dipped into raw egg and eaten. A pricey splurge but totally worth it! Group plans available.
丸明
Traditional Japanese restaurant with reasonably priced Hida beef. English menu available, friendly staff, grill and hot pot options.
坂口屋
Traditional Japanese restaurant located on the main sannomachi street. The menu has local soba and miso dishes. They have excellent hōba miso steak. You get a large piece of beef which is of high quality. Good value for money. This place is popular among Japanese tourists.
Cozy cellar whiskey bar with plenty of vinyl records from the 1960s through the 1990s. Owner knows a lot about music.
No phone number. No menu. No actual name. Locals simply know it as "Doya". No sign out front, just a blue and white curtain with two big circles on it. Cool urban jazz and a very earthy, hip atmosphere. The proprietor speaks decent English. Despite the lack of menu, drinks are varied and priced reasonably up to ¥700. Light food is also available. Room for only about 12 at the bar only, but worth coming back later if it's full. The bottled Bintang Beer from Indonesia served here is a rare find in Japan.
結
Yuichi Sano, the owner, is very friendly and welcoming. Great cocktails, even better conversation!.
レッドヒル
Stocks imported beer and serves the usual cocktails and liqueurs. Light food such as pasta, salads, snacks, etc available. The proprietress, Hisayo, speaks fairly good English. Expect to pay ¥600-800 for drinks. Popular with local foreigners.
A lot of different shochu and rum. Owner speaks English; good place to finish after "Doya." Best to ask your way from Doya; the Rum dance hall is very close.
ひだ高山天照寺ＹＨ
A temple-affiliated youth hostel on the eastern outskirts of the city, a 20-minute walk from the station.
飛騨高山善光寺
Clean and spacious rooms. No meals, but there is a kitchen. The owner speaks very good English.
ベストウェスタンホテル高山
Western-style hotel with free Wi-Fi, business center, room service, restaurant, and spa. Close to Takayama Station.
高山グリーンホテル
Japanese and western style rooms and breakfast buffet. Amenities include a large bath, fitness center, karaoke room, free parking and WiFi. A 10-min walk to downtown. Bicycles available to rent.
ひだホテルプラザ
Western and Japanese style rooms available with meal plans in this modern hotel which is a 15-minute walk from most tourist locations. Free Wi-Fi connection available in public spaces as well as six dining options, hot spring facilities, and a heated swimming pool.
おやど古都の夢
A romantic ryokan close to Takayama Station and within walking distance of Old Town. Hotel features indoor/outdoor onsen, private full bathrooms, free yukata rental, free Wi-Fi, and an English-speaking staff. Included dining plans available.
本舗飛騨さしこ
All hand-made, beautiful stitching goods are displayed in the style of an art gallery. All of the arts and goods are for sale. Media often report Hida-Sashiko as Japanese traditional art with the beauty of goods and its skills.
An inexpensive supermarket, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
By train
The Hida (ひだ) limited express train runs from Toyama in the north, 1½ hrs (¥3,360), and Nagoya in the south, 2-2½ hrs (¥6,030).
By bus
From Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nohi Bus provides a bus service for ¥4,000. The 3½-hour trip requires a transfer in Meitetsu bus center in the Nagoya train station.
Takayama is small enough to cover on foot, but bicycle rental (¥600 per day from the youth hostel) is also a good option.
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