Takayama is a city located in Gifu prefecture. With its high altitude and separation from other areas of Japan made the area to develop its own culture over about a 300-year period. Takayama is also referred to as HIda-Takayama. You can easily access by train or bus from other prefecture. Here are our recommendations for what you should do and eat while you are visiting Takayama.
Place to Visit:
Takayama retains a historical attractions, especially in its beautifully preserved old town. I suggest you 4 places in Takayama including historical, nature place and famous festival.
Takayama Old Town
Takayama Old Town district is one of the best preserved historic districts in the entire country and definitely a must-see destination. The Old Town can be reached in an easy ten minute walk from Takayama Station. These are 3 streets called “Ichinomachi”, “Ninomachi” and “Sanmachi”. Particularly worthwhile is Sanmachi Street which has many old homes, shops cafes, and sake breweries, some of whilch have been in business since the 17th century.
Shirakawago
Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, Shirakawago is famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukuri means “constructed like hands in prayer”, as the farmhouses’ steep thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer. You can visit all the seasons, but I highly recommend visiting there in winter since the farmhouses covered with snow is a blessing view. (Keep warm!)
Okuhida Hot Springs
Okuhida is famous for its hot springs, and especially for its outdoor baths. There are a variety of baths, and you can enjoy staying overnight at a ryokan with hos spring baths. While bathing, you can enjoy the view of surrounding Northern Japan Alps.
Takayama Festival
The Takayama Festival is one of Japan’s three most beautiful festival alongside Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and the Chichibu Yomatsuri. The festival is heal twice a year in spring (April 14-15) and autumn (October 9-10) in the old town of Takayama and attracts large numbers of spectators.
What to Eat:
Takayama has a good variety of restaurants that welcome foreign visitors. The local speciality is HIda-gyu, which is a type of Japanese beef. The food in Takayama takes its influences from both the Kansai and Kanto regions of Japan creating unique local dishes that cannot be found anywhere else in Japan. Here are some of our suggestions you would not want to miss when you are there.
Hida Beef Nigiri
Hida Beef Nigiri is sushi made with Hida beef what you can eat at Sannomachi Street. Interesting thing about this food is that they use senbei (rice crackers) as a plate for sushi. Enjoy senbei after you eat the sushi!
Takayama Ramen
Takayama ramen is famous for its thin curly noodles and soy-based broth. Since the taste and ingredients vary depending on the shop, so try different ones and compare them!
Mitarashi Dango
Mitarachi Dango is a rice dumplings covered with a soy sauce glaze. Mitarashi Dango has been eaten for more than 600 years in Japan. Other parts of Japan, commonly, the sauce sweetened with sugar is used. However, in Takayama, the dumplings are grilled with unsweetened soy sauce. Enjoy its wonderful smell!
Japanese:
内陸、岐阜の北に位置する高山では、歴史ある古い町並みをはじめ、白川郷や奥飛騨温泉など自然あふれる見どころが盛りだくさんあります。古い町並み付近には、最近おしゃれなカフェや雑貨屋さんもできたので、何度いっても楽しいオススメの場所です。観光スポットはもちろん、食べることが大好きな人にも食べ歩きはオススメ。甘くない、醤油の香ばしい香りがするみたらし団子は高山の名物です。隣県からのアクセスもしやすく、四季折々の景色を楽しむことができます。ぜひ訪れてみてはいかがでしょうか。
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