Overview
Commonly known as Hida-Takayama, this city is the largest municipality by area in Japan. It is celebrated for its Sanmachi Suji historic district, featuring dark wooden merchant houses from the Edo period. Famous for the bi-annual Takayama Festival—considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful—the city is a hub for master carpentry, sake breweries, and world-class Hida Beef. Its morning markets along the Miyagawa River offer a glimpse into local rural life.
What to see in Takayama
Takayama is full of traditional Japanese features, making it an interesting place where many of Japan’s ancient cultures and customs still can be observed, such as the shogunate government office, the morning market and float festivals.
Takayama Jin’ya
In the center of town is Takayama Jin’ya, a branch office of the Tokugawa Shogunate that has existed since the Edo period.
Miyagawa Morning Market
A morning market is held every day along the Miyagawa River that runs north and south through the city. Lined with stalls selling Takayama’s traditional crafts and agricultural products, the market is bustling with locals and tourists alike.
Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall
Takayama holds a traditional event called “Takayama Festival” every April and October, each of which lasts for two days. The main attraction of this festival is the parade of floats, which start from the main approach to Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine, the town’s largest shrine, and go around the town of Takayama in a counterclockwise direction.
It can be difficult to arrange your trip to attend a festival that only takes place for four days a year. Takayama Hikiyama Kaikan is a facility for those who want to see at least the floats, even if they can’t see the actual festival.