Easy Travel in JapanTakayama
A beautifully preserved mountain town in the Hida region, known for its old town and twice-yearly festival.
Takayama sits in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. Its remote location and direct control by the shogunate during the feudal era left it with a traditional character that’s rare among Japanese cities today.
Where to go
The old town’s preserved merchant streets are the main draw, alongside Takayama Jinya, the former local government office, and the Higashiyama walking route past temples and the former castle site. Daily morning markets and the Takayama Festival, held each spring and autumn, are considered among Japan’s best.
Good to know
JR Takayama Station connects the town to Nagoya and Toyama, and it’s a common base for day trips to the thatched-roof villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama.
Useful services for this trip
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