Japan is much more than its big cities. And Takayama is the living proof of that. Arriving at this small town feels like going back in time, where the more traditional and rural side of the country comes alive. The beautiful combination of History and nature makes Takayama a very worthy stop in the mountainous Hida region. We’ve spent two wonderful days wandering around town, and want to share with you the unmissable places we’ve come across.
Takayama OLD TOWN
The old town is the reason why many travelers decide to include Takayama on their itinerary. Incredibly well preserved, the wooden houses and buildings date back to the Edo Period. Be amazed by their marvelous architecture, and get a taste of the street food you’ll find along the streets. Pay a visit at some of the Heritage Houses that are open to the public, and buy some traditional crafts to take back home with you.
Sleep on a tatami mat
Tatami is a traditional flooring used throughout Japanese homes. After putting a futon mattress on it, they promise you’ll have the best night of sleep in your life. We were skeptical at first, but after choosing the incredible cup of tea as our Takayama home, we were left with no choice but to “sleep on the floor”. It’s a unique experience that we recommend everyone to try while in Japan. And doing it in the historical city of Takayama certainly has its special charm. (YES, it’s very,very comfortable!!)
Take the Higashiyama temple walk
Imagine spending a couple of hours passing through a dozen temples, shrines, a thick forest, and even the ruins of a castle. The Higashiyama Walk will take you to a quiet side of Takayama, perfect if you wish to lose yourself into nature. There are even bears living inside the forest – although we didn’t see any, (and you probably won’t either) there are warning signs along the walk. It’s only 3,5km long, so it’s really up to you how much time you want to spend there.
You can also head to Kitayama park, and sip a tea at the peculiar Ichii cafe. Located on the mountain top, it has some beautiful views of Takayama and the surrounding mountains.
Hida Village
You’ve probably heard about Shirakawa-go. It’s a historic and postcard-perfect little village, attracting more and more tourists each year. From Takayama, it takes about 50 minutes by bus to get there, and we couldn’t make up our minds whether to go or skip it. Luckily, we’ve discovered Hida Folk village: an open-air museum comprising original old buildings, where you can learn a lot about how people used to live in this mountainous region. It remains a secret, compared to the packed Shirakawa-go, and it’s an incredibly enriching experience! We decided to walk there (about 40 minutes), but there’s also a 10-minutes bus from Takayama station.
Sneakpeek Tip: On our way there, we stumbled across an impressive building with a golden roof. Apparently, it’s the headquarter of a spiritual organization called Sukyo Mahikari. If you get curious about it, like we were, pay a visit inside this imponent shrine.
HIDA BEEF
Hida beef is a variety of wagyu beef, coming from a black-haired cow breed grown in Gifu Prefecture. It tastes delicious, and it’s one of the things you should definitely try, while in Takayama. You’ll find it everywhere, and you can decide to eat it in various forms: grab a tasty steamed bun, wait in line for the Hida beef sushi sold in the main street of the old town (believe me, you’ll find it), or take a seat at one of the many restaurants where you can grill your own meat.
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