Takayama Old Town, or Old Quarter, is about one hour from Shirakawa-Go and two hours from Nagoya city. It is located in a basin surrounded by beautiful, scenic mountains.
Takayama is also well known for the famous Hida Beef, the traditional Old Quarter of Takayama, the Morning Market, and Takayama Jinya, an interesting government house museum.
Takayama is also well known for the famous Hida Beef, the traditional Old Quarter of Takayama, the Morning Market, and Takayama Jinya, an interesting government house museum.
Takayama Old Town
While you visit, it is highly recommended that you explore the Old Quarter of Takayama on foot. There are many things to see, and you can sample the local Japanese snacks and food.
Two-morning markets are located here: the Miyagawa Morning Market and the Takayama Jinya Morning Market, both next to the Miya River.
Two-morning markets are located here: the Miyagawa Morning Market and the Takayama Jinya Morning Market, both next to the Miya River.
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| Japanese local snacks are sold at the morning market. |
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| Morning market vendor selling local homegrown produce. |
The morning market is another exciting place to visit as the vendors here sell freshly picked fruit, homemade pickles, Japanese sweets and local Japanese handicrafts.
This place is also best visited in the spring and summer as it tends to be much more lively than winter.
Among the other things around Takayama are crafts like pottery, ‘Ichii Ittobori’ wood carvings, Hida furniture, and famous Japanese sake breweries.
This place is also best visited in the spring and summer as it tends to be much more lively than winter.
Among the other things around Takayama are crafts like pottery, ‘Ichii Ittobori’ wood carvings, Hida furniture, and famous Japanese sake breweries.
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| Sarubobo. |
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| Satubobo dolls hanging outside a local home. |
One of the must-get items is the traditional good luck charm called
Sarubobo, one of the famous souvenirs in Takayama. A dialect of
Hida, Sarubobo means baby monkey to protect one from evil and
provide good luck.
It is also used for good luck in matchmaking, marriage, and safe childbirth, while different colours depict the various types of luck.
These are sold in various sizes; a keychain-sized one will cost about RM3 to RM5 each, while a medium-sized doll will cost about RM50 to RM100. They do have much larger ones which cost about RM300.
It is also used for good luck in matchmaking, marriage, and safe childbirth, while different colours depict the various types of luck.
These are sold in various sizes; a keychain-sized one will cost about RM3 to RM5 each, while a medium-sized doll will cost about RM50 to RM100. They do have much larger ones which cost about RM300.
Below are random photos taken around Takayama Old Town in Nagoya during winter 2014, mid-January.
Photos of Takayama Old Town
Photos of Takayama Old Town
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| Takayama Old Town Street. |
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| Various shops along a walkway at the old quarter. |
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| Souvenir shop in the old quarter of Takayama. |
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| Another souvenir and snack shop is in the old quarter. |
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| Japanese Ice Cream and snack shop. |
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| Shop selling local snacks. |
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| A local shop selling snacks and grilled food. |
Takayama Jinya Museum
Address: 1-5 Hachiken-machi, Takayama city, Gifu
Walking: 10 minutes from Takayama Station
Hours: 8.45am - 5.00pm
Entrance: 420 Yen
Takayama
Jinya is a former government outpost established to bring the Hida Province under the direct control of Edo Bakufu, a
Shogun.
The main building was reconstructed in 1816 and remains intact today; however, the building complex was in official use until 1969 and is now a museum.
You will find well-maintained tatami mat rooms that once served as offices, conference rooms, guest rooms, residential spaces and a very interesting interrogation room. Recommended for those who love history.
The main building was reconstructed in 1816 and remains intact today; however, the building complex was in official use until 1969 and is now a museum.
You will find well-maintained tatami mat rooms that once served as offices, conference rooms, guest rooms, residential spaces and a very interesting interrogation room. Recommended for those who love history.
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| Inside Takayama Jinya. |
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| Layout of Takayama Jinya. |
Takayama Food
While it is a must-try for food lovers, the Old Quarter offers some interesting traditional and modern-day Japanese dishes.
When exploring Takayama Old Town, you should try the famous ‘Mitarashi Dango’, skewered rice balls painted with sweet soy sauce. They can be found throughout the area.
There are a variety of other local snacks; therefore, it is best to walk around and try them all over town. Be sure to have a slight chance when doing this, too.
When exploring Takayama Old Town, you should try the famous ‘Mitarashi Dango’, skewered rice balls painted with sweet soy sauce. They can be found throughout the area.
There are a variety of other local snacks; therefore, it is best to walk around and try them all over town. Be sure to have a slight chance when doing this, too.
For food lovers, the must-try dish when you are here is, hands down, the Hida Beef, which is available in ‘Gyukushi’ - grilled skewers, ‘Gyuman’ - beef
filled steamed rice buns, raw Hida beef sushi or simply best eaten in
any of the restaurants or hotels around here.
Hida Beef comes from black cattle raised in rich natural surroundings, and the finest quality, called ‘Hida-Gyu’, can only be found at restaurants and hotels in Takayama.
So, if you see Hida Beef being sold on the streets, these are the lower-quality cuts of beef.
Hida Beef comes from black cattle raised in rich natural surroundings, and the finest quality, called ‘Hida-Gyu’, can only be found at restaurants and hotels in Takayama.
So, if you see Hida Beef being sold on the streets, these are the lower-quality cuts of beef.
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| Mitarashi Dango or Skewered Rice Balls. |
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| Stewed beef, vegetables and a raw egg. |
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| Takayama Sake barrels. |
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| Takayama Old Quarter. |
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| Takayama Trishaws is one of the attractions here. |
How to get to Takayama?
Budget long-haul airline AirAsia X used to fly to Chubu Centrair Airport in Nagoya, the third destination in Japan after Tokyo and Osaka. But they stopped the service, and you can now use other local Japanese airlines.
You can also take the scenic route by taking a train, bus, or rented car to Takayama. However, language can only be problematic if you know your way around it.
From Tokyo, it will take roughly four to five hours to drive one way to Takayama, and from Osaka, it will take just under four hours.
Budget long-haul airline AirAsia X used to fly to Chubu Centrair Airport in Nagoya, the third destination in Japan after Tokyo and Osaka. But they stopped the service, and you can now use other local Japanese airlines.
You can also take the scenic route by taking a train, bus, or rented car to Takayama. However, language can only be problematic if you know your way around it.
From Tokyo, it will take roughly four to five hours to drive one way to Takayama, and from Osaka, it will take just under four hours.
Conclusion
If you plan to visit the village and want a hassle-free experience, it is recommended that you use a tour company. You need at least one to two full days to visit Takayama Old Town.
If you plan to visit the village and want a hassle-free experience, it is recommended that you use a tour company. You need at least one to two full days to visit Takayama Old Town.
Batik Air flights to Nagoya have been available since March 2023, making it much easier to visit the many places around here.