Takayama City

Takayama City - Gifu

March 22, 2019

Located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture, Takayama City (高山) is said to be in the heart of the Japanese Alps. It also currently has the largest geographic area of any municipality in Japan.

Takayama City (高山)

Takayama City History

Takayama City is also called Hida-Takayama in reference to the old Hida province and also to differentiate it from other places in Japan with the same name. The name Takayama means "tall mountain", probably in reference to the mountains that surround it.

Takayama City's famed Sanmachi Suji

Part of the town near the Old Town District as seen from our room in the hotel

Walking the streets of Takayama City

Crossing the Nakabashi Bridge

The history of the creation of Takayama started with its establishment in 1889. During that time, it was the most populous municipality in Gifu Prefecture. In 1936, the town merged with the town of Onada forming the city of Takayama. It continued to grow as it annexed the villages of Josue in 1943 and Ohachiga in 1985. Then on February 1, 2006, the towns of Kuguno and Kokufu and the villages of Asahi, Kiyomi, Miya, Nyukawa, Shokawa, Takane, and Kamitakara were merged into Takayama which made it the largest city in Japan with a total land area of 840.78 square miles.

Miyagawa (river)

Miyagawa Morning Market

Ashinaga Statue

You should try out the Hida Beef in one of the restaurants in Takayama

You'd see a lot of the Sarubobo dolls in Takayama. It's also the city's mascot.

Takayama City is known for the Takayama Festival. It is comprised of two festivals namely the Sanno Matsuri which is held on April 14 and 15 and the Hachiman Matsuri held on October 9 and 10. The highlight of the festivals is the parade of the matsuri yatai festival floats through the streets of Takayama.

Takayama Station

Inside the Takayama Station

Some street art at Eki mae Chuo Dori

They look happy

The city is also famous for its local delicacies like the Takayama ramen, soba, sake, wakasana (river fish), sansai (mountain vegetable), and Hida beef. For souvenirs, Takayama is associated with the sarubobo which was once a charm traditionally passed by older women to the young girls in their family. Today, these doll-like figures are commonly sold as souvenirs or as designs for keychains, ref magnets, and other stuff. Other things that you might want to bring home are; pots, lacquerware, and even wooden furniture as Takayama is also known for its skilled carpenters called Hida no takumi.

Check out Takayama's manhole cover design

Bring home some Sarubobo doll souvenir

Aside from food and souvenirs, Takayama also boasts some places worth seeing and visiting. Check out the places that we have visited during the 16th day of our 2018 Japan visit.

Sanmachi Suji District (Takayama Old Town)

Sakurayama Nikkokan

Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan

Nakabashi Bridge

Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine

Hie Shrine

Nakabashi Park

Other places worth visiting are:

Takayama Jinya
Hida no Sato (Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village)
Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum
Higashiyama Walk
Karakuri Museum
Museum of History and Art
Shiroyama Park
Teddy Bear Eco Village

Why visit Takayama City?

Takayama City is a city rich in culture, food, and history. It is worth spending a day or two, or even more, to fully explore it and enjoy what it has to offer. If you can visit during the Spring Festival which is held every April 14 and15 or during the Autumn Festival which is held every October 9 and 10.

Getting to Takayama City:

From Tokyo, ride the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama and transfer to the JR Hida limited express train to Takayama. The whole trip takes about 4 1/2 hours and costs around 14,000 Yen.

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