A sample course to see all the highlights of Hida Takayama (2 days)

JR Takayama Station "Takayama Station". There is a tourist information center in front of the station where you can get maps in various languages. There are coin lockers nearby so you can leave your luggage there and walk to the station.

Hida Kokubunji Temple was founded in 746. It is said that the large ginkgo tree was planted at that time and is over 1,200 years old. The three-story pagoda is magnificent. The main hall of the temple was built in the Muromachi period (about 600 years ago). It is decorated with valuable Buddha statues. It is the oldest temple in Hida.

This morning market is held every morning on the street along the Miyagawa River that runs through the city. It is open from 7am to 12pm every day. It started around 1862 and has changed location several times, coming to its current location about 60 years ago.
They sell vegetables, fruits, flowers, drinks, food, and miscellaneous goods that farmers have grown. In winter, the number of shops decreases.
There are stairs leading down from the street to the riverbed, where you can sit on a bench and enjoy the view of the river while eating the fresh food you bought at the morning market.

This building was constructed in 1879. Hida Takayama receives a lot of snow in the winter, so it was built to be sturdy and able to withstand the heavy snowfall. Along with the neighboring Yoshijima family residence, it was the first townhouse building from the Meiji period onwards to be designated an Important Cultural Property.
Hida Takayama is located in the mountains and has historically produced many skilled craftsmen in woodworking and architecture. In ancient times, carpenters with outstanding skills were dispatched to the capital in exchange for paying taxes and were involved in the construction of important buildings.
The Kusakabe Folk Crafts Museum and the neighboring Yoshijima House can be said to be a culmination of the traditional architectural techniques handed down in Hida.

It is said to have been founded around 377. In 1875, there was a big fire in Hida Takayama, and many of the shrine buildings were burned down. The current building was built around 1900.
The Autumn Takayama Festival, one of the two most famous festivals held in Hida Takayama, is hosted by this shrine.

The highlight of the Autumn Takayama Festival are the 11 floats. Many spectators from Japan and around the world flock to see the gorgeous floats, adorned with golden ornaments, gorgeously embroidered tapestries, and intricate carvings. At the Takayama Festival Float Hall inside the shrine, three of the floats are constantly on display, with a rotating rotation, allowing visitors to experience the glittering atmosphere of the Takayama Festival.

The museum recreates the streets of Japan in the 1950s. During this time, which coincided with Japan's period of rapid economic growth, many new products were produced and the town was full of energy. You can experience the old, yet new scenery, just like you would see in an old Japanese movie.

A place to enjoy sightseeing and shopping in Hida Takayama. The foundations of Hida Takayama were established about 500 years ago. The area that was established as a merchant's town at that time is still the center of tourism and commerce today, and is called "Furui Machinami" (old townscape).
In this "old townscape" lined with buildings constructed about 150 years ago, you can pick up and purchase handicrafts such as carvings and lacquerware produced in Hida Takayama. There are also seven historic sake breweries, some of which have been brewing sake for 400 years. All of the breweries offer tastings, allowing you to try fine sake that can only be found in this region.

There is a bus stop next to Takayama Station, where buses depart for the city's tourist attractions.

A morning market is also held in front of Takayama Jinya. This market, which is only attended by farmers, sells more agricultural products than general goods popular with tourists, allowing you to get a better feel for the local area.

Long ago, this was one of the residences of the lord of Takayama Castle. After about 100 years of rule by the castle lord, the Tokugawa Shogunate took direct control of Hida Takayama, and Shogunate officials conducted politics at Takayama Jinya. These types of government offices are called jinya, and there used to be many of them in Japan, but Takayama Jinya is the only one that remains today, making it a very valuable historical site.

Miyagawa River runs through the center of Hida Takayama. The red bridge over this river is one of the most representative landscapes of Hida Takayama. You can enjoy beautiful scenery throughout the seasons, such as cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snowscapes in winter, making it a popular photo spot for tourists.

This is an open-air museum where traditional buildings from Hida Takayama and the surrounding area have been relocated and the interiors are open to the public. It is one of the most representative sightseeing facilities in Hida Takayama. There are about 30 buildings, which blend in well with the landscape of the fields and mountains, creating the atmosphere of an old farming village. Each house displays tools used in daily life in the past, and sometimes even has demonstrations on how to make the tools.
Taking advantage of the spaciousness of the grounds, a music festival is held every year, which is a huge success.

Koito ware is a type of pottery unique to Hida Takayama. The pottery made by the fourth-generation head of the family has a slightly rough texture that becomes smoother and changes color with use. Blue pottery is difficult to produce, and Koito ware is the only pottery manufacturer in Japan that produces it. If you wish, you can also tour the workshop.