Takayama

Takayama was settled as far back as the Jomon period, a city in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. It is believed carpenters from Takayama worked on the Imperial Palace in Kyoto and on many of the temples in Kyoto and Nara. To differentiate it from other places named Takayama, the city is also commonly referred to as Hida-Takayama. Takayama retains a traditional atmosphere, especially in its well preserved old town. It now enrolls the list in travelers wishing to add a rural element into itineraries.

Sanmachi Suji

Sanmachi Suji is a collection of three streets that make up Hida Takayama’s famous historic district. The area located in the center of Hida Takayama served as a bustling merchant town in the past.

Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall

Four of the autumn festival's eleven floats are exhibited at the Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan, a hall next to Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine.

Takayama Jinya

The Takayama Jinya served as the local government office headed by the officials dispatched from Edo

Matsuri no Mori

Located outside of Takayama's city center, the Matsuri no Mori showcases the key aspects of the Takayama Festival, which takes place for two days each spring and autumn. The festival is known as one of Japan's three most beautiful, along with Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the Chichibu Yomatsuri.

Hida Minzoka Mura Folk Village

Hida Folk Village is an open air museum exhibiting over 30 traditional houses from the Hida region, the mountainous district of Gifu Prefecture around Takayama

Takayama morning Market

Two morning markets (朝市, Asaichi) are held in Takayama on a daily basis from around 6:30 (7:00 in winter) to noon: the Jinya-mae Market in front of the Takayama Jinya, and the Miyagawa Market along the Miyagawa River in the old town. Most stands sell local crafts

Hachiman Shrine

Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine (Sakurayama Hachimangu) stands in the northeastern area of Takayama's old town. The shrine's festival, the Takayama Autumn Festival, is celebrated annually on October 9-10.

Kusakabe Heritage House

A high-raftered merchant’s house from the Edo era, in a picturesque part of Takayama.

Hirayu Onsen Okuhida

Okuhida is famous for its outdoor hot springs baths, with views of the surrounding Northern Japan Alps. Five onsen towns have developed along Okuhida's valleys, each with its own unique character and hot spring water, as they are fed from different hot spring sources.

Nakabashi Bridge

The Nakabashi Bridge, located over the Miya River right at the center of the city of Takayama, is a famous landmark of Hida Takayama. This red bridge blends itself in great harmony with the surrounding cherry blossoms to create a truly beautiful scenery.